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The Timber Trail, originally known as the Central North Island Rail Trail or Pureora Timber Trail, in the
/ref> including eight large
North Island
The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...
of New Zealand is an cycleway (also used by walkers and hunters) in Pureora Forest Park, fully opened in 2013, with 35 bridges (built by DoC staff, community max workers, or contractors),Ediface constructors/ref> including eight large
suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (bridge), deck is hung below suspension wire rope, cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridg ...
s (one of the longest on a New Zealand cycleway, much more stable than the swing
Swing or swinging may refer to:
Apparatus
* Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth
* Pendulum, an object that swings
* Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus
* Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse
* Swing rid ...
bridges used on older tracks). It is one of several cycleways developed as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail and passes through some of the last remaining podocarp forests of rimu, tōtara, miro, mataī and kahikatea, as well as some exotic forestry and regenerating bush. About half the trail is on the track-bed of the old Ellis and Burnand Tramway, including a spiral
In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.
Helices
Two major definitions of "spiral" in the American Heritage Dictionary are:SH30 between Te Kuiti and Mangakino.
*Centre – from Piropiro campsite at the end of Kokomiko Rd, Waimiha.
*South – Ongarue, signposted from SH4.DoC Timber Trail information
/ref>
Two large suspension bridges cross tributaries of the river at Bog Inn Creek () and the similar sized Orauhora crossing.
23–40 km — Angel’s Rest – Okauaka Ford – Maramataha River
Uses a logging road for some , then mainly Okauaka Road. beyond the concrete ford and neighbouring trail bridge over Okauaka Stream, the track joins a tramway, crosses Okauaka Road again, and continues through the bush to Kokomiko Road and Piropiro campground. After the campground, the track rejoins the tramway to Maramataha Rodd, then follows Piropiro Stream on a new track to the Maramataha Bridge.
A 30-minute climb from the Piropiro campsite leads to the Maramataha Bridge, some above the Maramataha Gorge and the largest suspension bridge of its kind along any cycle trail in New Zealand. Construction required much rock drilling and anchor work. It is supported on high glulam towers.
52–64 km — Maramataha River – Deer Park junction – Waione Stream
South of the bridge the steepest climb on the trail zigzags to a plateau on a new track. From the plateau quad tracks lead to the north end of the Ellis and Burnand Tramway, Ongarue tramway, which the trail then mostly follows on easier gradients to Ongarue. These tramways were cleared in 2011.Poutama update August 2011
/ref> 64–74 km — Waione Stream – Waikoura Stream – Goat Creek A suspension bridge crosses Waione Stream, then the tramway runs to Waikoura Stream, passing No. 11 and No. 10 camps, and the No. 9 tramway junction. The information board says Waikoura Camp at No. 9 was the largest and last camp on this tramway, built in 1950 and closed in 1963, with 6 houses and 9 single men's huts. A suspension bridge crosses Waikoura Stream and a tramway links to the Mangatukutuku suspension bridge, then No. 7 tramway runs to Goat Creek. 74–83 km — Goat Creek – Ongarue Spiral – Mangakahu Rd A three span, curved, timber trestle bridge crosses Goat Creek, resembling many of the tramway bridges, then of tramway cleared in 2011 leads to the spiral.
The Ongarue Spiral took the tramway up on a grade the
/ref> It was then that the contract with the Ministry of Economic Development for community max and taskforce green workers ended. 12 staff had been trained in 12 months in basic woodwork, track construction, quad bike and 4WD driving and health and safety. DoC employed five from the MED scheme for six months to build bridges, shelters, other structures, and some track construction. Another went on 'community max' with the recreation team. Ongarue Spiral restoration work began in July 2011. The tunnel was strengthened and the stream re-diverted out of it (it had been diverted in when the tramway was replaced by logging trucks). The tunnel ceiling was reinforced with mesh, a lower bridge built to the right of the original bridge to preserve bits of the original and remnants of the upper bridge preserved in the new trail bridge. Negotiations were held to build a suspension bridge over Mangakahu Stream to end the trail further east on Mangakahu Rd, but the trail as built has another of undulating ride keeping north of the stream, roughly following the tramway (see map below) to within of Ongarue. In July 2011 Maramataha, Waione, and Waikoura bridges were tested to their 10-person weight limit using
Most of the Timber Trail's southern section follows the tramway built by J. W. Ellis and
/ref>
Sparse Timber Sawmillers: Ken Anderson, 2007
– a history of the logging, tramline and mill from 1903 until the mill closed in 1966.
Timber Trail New Zealand1:50,000 map of Timber Trail (35MB).Climax lokey on Mangatukutuku viaduct with a train of logs.Recent photos of former tramway on FlickrBush trams – Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ
Biographies of Ellis & Burnand directors –
Henry Valder – Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZJ W Ellis obituary – 1918 Auckland StarEllis & Burnand
was bought by Fletcher, now trading as
Camp Epic
{{New Zealand Cycle Trail Hiking and tramping tracks in New Zealand New Zealand Cycle Trail Hiking and tramping tracks in Waikato Transport in Manawatū-Whanganui
/ref>
Northern section
Pureora to Piropiro (39.5 km) Track category: Intermediate/Grade 3 0–8 km Easy/Grade 2 Pureroa DoC Centre to the first shelter. The trail begins in Pikiariki Ecological Area, about from the DOC Pureora Field Base on Barryville Rd, turning left a few metres into thebush
Bush commonly refers to:
* Shrub, a small or medium woody plant
Bush, Bushes, or the bush may also refer to:
People
* Bush (surname), including any of several people with that name
**Bush family, a prominent American family that includes:
*** ...
, on a boardwalk, then winding some through tall podocarps (frequented by kākā), over Whareana Stream, through a Douglas fir
The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...
plantation, across Whareana Road and Cabbage Tree Rd before winding up through an area of regenerating toitoi
The common bully (''Gobiomorphus cotidianus''), or toitoi (Māori), is a fish endemic to New Zealand, and is present throughout the country. There are three other bully species that can be confused with common bullies. There are few characterist ...
, cabbage tree, five finger Five finger is a common name for several plants and may refer to:
* The genus '' Dasiphora''
* The genus ''Potentilla''
* Carambola
* ''Pseudopanax arboreus'', a shrub native to New Zealand
* ''Tabebuia
''Tabebuia'' is a genus of flowering plan ...
and kamahi
''Weinmannia racemosa'', commonly called kāmahi, is an evergreen small shrub to medium-sized tree of the family Cunoniaceae. It is the most abundant forest tree in New Zealand, occurring in lowland, montane, and subalpine forests and shrublan ...
. It crosses Tui Rd, to the shelter below Mt Pureora.
8–23 km — Mt Pureora to Angel's Rest grade 3 (intermediate)
The trail winds to , within a 40-minute walk of the Mt Pureora summit, through various stages of regenerating bush to the existing native bush edge to the top of the Ongarue River and an old logging road.
Two large suspension bridges cross tributaries of the river at Bog Inn Creek () and the similar sized Orauhora crossing.
23–40 km — Angel’s Rest – Okauaka Ford – Maramataha River
Uses a logging road for some , then mainly Okauaka Road. beyond the concrete ford and neighbouring trail bridge over Okauaka Stream, the track joins a tramway, crosses Okauaka Road again, and continues through the bush to Kokomiko Road and Piropiro campground. After the campground, the track rejoins the tramway to Maramataha Rodd, then follows Piropiro Stream on a new track to the Maramataha Bridge.
Southern section
(Easy/Grade 2) 43 km Piropiro to Ongarue 40–52 km – Piropiro to Angels Rest Intermediate/Grade 3
A 30-minute climb from the Piropiro campsite leads to the Maramataha Bridge, some above the Maramataha Gorge and the largest suspension bridge of its kind along any cycle trail in New Zealand. Construction required much rock drilling and anchor work. It is supported on high glulam towers.
52–64 km — Maramataha River – Deer Park junction – Waione Stream
South of the bridge the steepest climb on the trail zigzags to a plateau on a new track. From the plateau quad tracks lead to the north end of the Ellis and Burnand Tramway, Ongarue tramway, which the trail then mostly follows on easier gradients to Ongarue. These tramways were cleared in 2011.Poutama update August 2011/ref> 64–74 km — Waione Stream – Waikoura Stream – Goat Creek A suspension bridge crosses Waione Stream, then the tramway runs to Waikoura Stream, passing No. 11 and No. 10 camps, and the No. 9 tramway junction. The information board says Waikoura Camp at No. 9 was the largest and last camp on this tramway, built in 1950 and closed in 1963, with 6 houses and 9 single men's huts. A suspension bridge crosses Waikoura Stream and a tramway links to the Mangatukutuku suspension bridge, then No. 7 tramway runs to Goat Creek. 74–83 km — Goat Creek – Ongarue Spiral – Mangakahu Rd A three span, curved, timber trestle bridge crosses Goat Creek, resembling many of the tramway bridges, then of tramway cleared in 2011 leads to the spiral.
The Ongarue Spiral took the tramway up on a grade the bush
Bush commonly refers to:
* Shrub, a small or medium woody plant
Bush, Bushes, or the bush may also refer to:
People
* Bush (surname), including any of several people with that name
**Bush family, a prominent American family that includes:
*** ...
lokeys could cope with (for the gradient averaged 1 in 30). Below the spiral the tramway was built by cutting a ledge in the ignimbrite cliffs. It continues to drop until reaching the bank of the Mangakahu Stream. The final are undulating to the end of the trail in a car park beside Mangakahu Road, from Ongarue.
History
The Timber Trail, originally known as the Central North Island Rail Trail, cost about $5.5m to build. It was one of the seven ' Quick Start' Projects announced in 2009, which were publicised as promoting economic growth The Timber Trail took longer to complete than some later projects, so it was the tenth New Zealand Cycle Trail to be completed since Prime Minister John Key had launched the cycleways with the Green Party. By mid-2011 only was open, with tenders still not let for interpretation panels and five bridges.Cycleway update Aug 2011./ref> It was then that the contract with the Ministry of Economic Development for community max and taskforce green workers ended. 12 staff had been trained in 12 months in basic woodwork, track construction, quad bike and 4WD driving and health and safety. DoC employed five from the MED scheme for six months to build bridges, shelters, other structures, and some track construction. Another went on 'community max' with the recreation team. Ongarue Spiral restoration work began in July 2011. The tunnel was strengthened and the stream re-diverted out of it (it had been diverted in when the tramway was replaced by logging trucks). The tunnel ceiling was reinforced with mesh, a lower bridge built to the right of the original bridge to preserve bits of the original and remnants of the upper bridge preserved in the new trail bridge. Negotiations were held to build a suspension bridge over Mangakahu Stream to end the trail further east on Mangakahu Rd, but the trail as built has another of undulating ride keeping north of the stream, roughly following the tramway (see map below) to within of Ongarue. In July 2011 Maramataha, Waione, and Waikoura bridges were tested to their 10-person weight limit using
water weights
Water weights are water filled bags which are designed as a safe, practical and economical method of non-destructive testing and checking the structural integrity of cranes, davits, lifeboats, link spans, ramps and lifts, floors and bridge
...
to get council consent and of track was built (though not surfaced). Maramataha Bridge was finished in early October 2012 and opened on 1 November 2012. The northern end Bog Creek and Orauhora suspension bridges were ready by December 2012.
On 1 December 2012 southern section opening day 150 cyclists rode its four suspension bridges, the tramline, and Ongarue Spiral.
The Timber Trail was declared fully open when the Minister of Conservation cut the ribbon on Saturday, 30 March 2013.
After the opening improvements and maintenance continued; in winter 2013 additional pumice was helicoptered to boggy patches on the Mt Pureora section. Other changes are likely. For example, there were concession negotiations about lodgings at Piropiro Flats to supplement the existing campground, where stumps had been cleared.
Most of the Timber Trail's southern section follows the tramway built by J. W. Ellis and Harry Burnand
John Henry Davis Burnand (2 December 1850 – 25 March 1919), known as Harry Burnand, was a New Zealand engineer and sawmiller. He was born in London, England on 2 December 1850.
He was an engineer at Poro-o-tarao tunnel from 1887.
He wa ...
. Their timber sawmill at Ongarue was fed with logs (especially rimu) by a gradually growing network of tramways from 1903 until floods damaged the lines in 1958. From then until closure in 1966 the tramway was converted for use by logging trucks. However, as one of the best preserved bush tramways, it is considered a nationally significant site.DoC Ongarue Tramway information/ref>
Economic development
One of the purposes of the cycle trails was to encourage economic development in remote rural areas.See also
*Bush Tramway Club
The Bush Tramway Club is a heritage railway west of Huntly along the Rotowaro Road, in the Waikato region of New Zealand. It regularly operates restored locomotives along a Rotowaro-Glen Afton section of the former Glen Afton Branch. Open day ...
* Ellis and Burnand
* New Zealand Cycle Trail
* Rail trail
A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...
Further reading
*A national history overview on bush tramways: Mahoney, P, 1998, The Era of the Bush Tramway in New Zealand, IPL, Wellington.Sparse Timber Sawmillers: Ken Anderson, 2007
– a history of the logging, tramline and mill from 1903 until the mill closed in 1966.
References
External links
Timber Trail New Zealand
Biographies of Ellis & Burnand directors –
Henry Valder – Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ
was bought by Fletcher, now trading as
PlaceMakers
PlaceMakers is the trading name of Fletcher Distribution Limited, the retail trading arm of Fletcher Building in New Zealand. PlaceMakers also manufactures wall frames, roof trusses and structural components at various frame and truss operation ...
Camp Epic
{{New Zealand Cycle Trail Hiking and tramping tracks in New Zealand New Zealand Cycle Trail Hiking and tramping tracks in Waikato Transport in Manawatū-Whanganui