Bulls to Feilding

Haere mai ki te Manawatū.

This section of the trail, from Bulls to Levin, is 110.5km long and will take 4-5 days to complete. For through-hikers, you will pass the halfway mark and spend some time in the halfway city Palmerston North (Papaioea) for resupply. Other settlements where you will have opportunities to mix with the locals include Feilding, Bunnythorpe and finally Levin, a 10km side trip off the trail if you need to resupply for the remote Tararua Ranges.

The Manawatū section of the trail is well-marked throughout. Whilst it starts for southbound walkers with 24km of walking on quiet country roads, as your journey proceeds, you will increasingly be experiencing long stretches of bushwalking in the lower Tararua Ranges, finishing with two days (40km) of backcountry tramping trails.

Bulls to Mt Biggs School – 12.5km / 3 – 3.5 hour

• Leaving Bulls, heading south, follow the footpath beside State Highway 1 on the west side of the highway, crossing the bridge over the Rangitikei River.
• At the junction of Tangimoana Road, carefully cross State Highway 1 to Wightmans Road.
• From here, the route is well-marked on posts with Te Araroa logos and chevrons.
• Looking south on Wightmans Road gives a good view of the Tararua Range where you are heading after Palmerston North. Wind turbines can be seen north and south of the Manawatū Gorge. On your left are views of the Rangitikei River.
• Passing Ohakea Defence Base outbuildings, continue along Wightmans Rd until you reach the intersection with Hurst Rd.
• Turn right into Hurst Rd, then left onto Wilsons Rd after 1.5km.
• Follow Wilsons Rd, using the off-road path where available, for about 2km, then turn right into Ngaio Rd near the Ohakea Radar Station.
• After 2km you will arrive at Mt Lees Reserve on your right, where overnight camping is available. Toilets, water and kitchenette, outdoor seating.
• The 2.5km bushwalk around the reserve is a good side trip with some impressive specimen trees.
• From Mt Lees Reserve, follow the off-road path alongside Ngaio Rd, continue right onto Mt Stewart - Halcombe Road as far as Mt Biggs School
• Turn left into Sandon Road at My Biggs School

Mt Biggs School to Feilding - 8.5km / 2-3 hours

• Continue east along Sandon Rd for 5.5km to Ranfurly Rd. Warning: Sandon Rd is a busy road with little shoulder. Take care.
  • An alternative (slightly longer) route to the main trail is from the Lees Rd/Sandon Rd intersection. Follow Lees Rd to the Awahuri Rd intersection, turn right then after 1km, turn left into Kawakawa Rd. Enter Kitchener Park on your left, follow the boardwalk and walkway beside the Makino Stream and alongside Manfeild Racetrack, crossing Rimu St to the Kowhai Park exit to meet the trail on South St. This alternative is not marked with Te Araroa signage.
• Turn right off Sandon Rd into Ranfurly Rd, Feilding. The urban footpath network begins here.
• After 2km, turn right into West St then second left into South St.
• Continue along South St for 1.5km to Aorangi St /Waughs Rd (at the end of South St). There is a public toilet at Kowhai Park on the right of South St.
  • At the roundabout on South St, a left turn into Kimbolton Rd takes you to Feilding town centre for cafes and services.
  • From further along South St, a left turn into Manchester St takes you to the Feilding Sale Yards — renowned as the largest sale yards for selling sheep in the southern hemisphere; they are worthy of a visit on a Friday (being “sale day”, when the country comes to town).
  • On the right side of South St is the Coach House Museum, with lots of interesting machinery and objects from bygone days. Worth a visit as it has toilet facilities and a place to sit down. Open from 10am till 4pm.