Stretching 87 kms from the stunning Bay of Islands to the tranquil Hokianga Harbour, Pou Herenga Tai Twin-Coast Cycle Trail is one of Ngā Haerenga, or Great Rides of New Zealand – the country’s premier collection of cycle trails. It is the northernmost of these, comprising four sections, and can be ridden in  either direction.

Offering stunning scenery with magnificent views, Pou Herenga Tai traces the ancient trading route between both Far North coasts and provides a fascinating journey through the earliest Māori and European settlements in Aotearoa.

Haigh Workman has had the honour and privilege of being involved in the design and construction of the trail from the earliest days of its inception. There was an immense amount of work necessary to bring the trail off the map and onto the ground, and our infrastructure engineering handiwork is evident on almost every kilometre of the ride.

This input spans route feasibility and design (ensuring manageable gradients on the stages where there was never a former railway for the trail to follow), preliminary geotechnical investigation (to ensure the resilience of the trail and the safety of riders) and the actual earthworks involved in creating the trail. We also designed and prepared structural design drawings for much of the infrastructure on and along the trail. And we developed engineers’ contracts for local organisations tasked with actually building the trail.

Complexities, there were many. Not least of which being the sometimes-delicate balance between what was needed for the integrity of the trail and the wishes of the owners of the private land through which several sections traverse.

Another significant complication arose from the fact that, in the early days of the trail, cyclists shared the rail corridor with a functioning rail service operated by the Bay of Islands Vintage Rail Trust. Very young and not-so-young cyclists sharing the permanent way with a steam train – what could possibly go wrong? Predicting the answers to that question, and addressing them, kept several of our team awake at night for a fair while.

There were collapsing tunnels and rickety rail bridges that required our attention. And several sections of the track needed to be converted from permanent way to a smooth, durable cycling surface. This, too, required specialist input from our team of engineers and designers.

These days our team occasionally breaks out the bikes, whips out the lycra, fills up the camelbaks and heads out along a section, or in some cases the whole thing, for a bit of competitive or not-so-competitive bonding. And, as we ride along, we take quiet pride in the hours and expertise which have delivered such a wonderful piece of infrastructure for Kiwis from right around the country to enjoy.