Planning is officially underway to rebuild the much-loved Swing Bridge, says Roy Fraser, Chair of the Rotary River Pathways Trust.

“The Trust has always been clear – the Swing Bridge will be rebuilt. The first step already underway is to get an up-to-date cost estimate. We know delays have been frustrating, and costs have climbed, but our commitment hasn’t wavered. Now we’re putting together a plan to raise the funds needed, and it will take a big community effort.”

The Trust will be launching fresh fundraising initiatives and reviving the popular ‘Friends of the Trails’ programme to give locals the chance to play their part. “Watch this space – very soon we’ll be asking the community to join us in making the bridge a reality again.”

The Swing Bridge has always been more than wood, steel, and concrete. It was a place where cyclists, walkers, picnickers, and visitors gathered – a place of connection. It linked Waipawa and Waipukurau, connected people with each other, and opened a gateway to nature along the Tukituki Trails.

“Rebuilding the bridge isn’t about pointing fingers at the past – it’s about looking forward. It’s about this community coming together, as it did before, to make something special happen again.”

When the bridge was first built, the community raised around $300,000, gifting the finished project to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as trail guardians. That idea began almost as a joke – a casual comment about linking the towns by a bridge – but it quickly sparked the imagination of locals. The result was a loop ride that attracted both residents and visitors, feeding into the national boom in cycle tourism alongside the Otago Rail Trail, Alps 2 Ocean, and the Timber Trail.

The Swing Bridge became a symbol of Central Hawke’s Bay’s vision: a place people wanted to visit, and a reason people wanted to stay. “Amenities like our trails, our bridge, and the mountain bike park make this district not only a destination, but a great place to call home,” Fraser said.

Now it’s time to rebuild – together.

It’s been a while since we last issued a newsletter, and we can report that there are currently a number of things happening.

The bridge at Black Creek (Kahahakuri Bridge) is being reinstated. The support piles have been driven in place—next each will get a concrete cap before the bridge and approaches are then attached.

This will mean that the Ashcott Loop trail will be rideable once more. Hooray!

The trail that runs towards the stopbank then east to Ford Road or Taiparu Road has been rerouted. It is now  formed further west along the stopbank and down nearer the SH2. This joins into the trail adjacent to Higgins carpark off Lindsay Road.

The trail that goes west from the carpark has been reinstated.  This trail, which continues on to the stopbank, was significantly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. It will take a while for the surface to bed in.

The cost of this work and the bridge reinstatement has come from the Trusts funds.

We purchased this motorised wheelbarrow using the generous donation received from MTF Finance. This will speed up track repairs and maintenance.

Seen trees down or damage to trails? contact Roy @ 0275904551, Dennis @ 021830373 or Don @ 0274789432

There will be a working bee at the Gum Tree Mountain Bike Park on Saturday 28th September from 9:00 for about 2 hours.  We plan to rake or blow rubbish from the tracks. Bring rakes and/or blower and some morning tea. Subject to the weather being good.

Subscriptions and Donations

The Tukituki Trails are managed and maintained by the Trustees of the Rotary River Pathways Trust and many volunteers. Most of the manpower is given willingly by these people and its monetary value is priceless. Maintaining, repairing and developing this trail complex is expensive and we are thankful for all the generous support we receive.

If you have a subscription with us, now is a good time to renew it—if you feel inclined to make a donation we will appreciate any amount. Annual Subs $50 single or $100 for a family, Life Membership is $500. Go to our website for more info.  www.tukitukitrail.com

Our bank account details are:  Waipukurau Rotary River Pathways Trust—ANZ Bank

06 0781 0094950 00

Gum Tree Farm Mountain Bike Park

We have been lucky to have the Gum Tree Farm mountain bike park as integral part of our trails.  The park escaped significant damage due to Cyclone Gabrielle and then it became a very popular place for Hawkes Bay bikers. New trails and ongoing maintenance continues.

There is currently some refurbishing of Camino trail going on and we will be tidying up in the middle and wetter areas. Also relieving the hill climb towards the end where there was some cattle damage has taken place through the winter.

A fair few hours of work has gone in to refurbishing and freshening up The Gabriel’s Gully track with the help of a couple school students this is 90% complete—they were working towards Duke of Edenborough and William Pike Challenges.

There is a team constructing a new track which runs the length of the eastern side of the park that will have some exciting features—a lot of great work here. Now the Weather is settled we will get back into the McKiwi Trail extension from the shale pit.

Over the winter months a couple of volunteers have been great doing that thankless task, blowing and raking some of debris from the trails. Thanks.

 We aim is the refurbish and tweak one maybe two trails a year and try to relieve/ repair muddy areas and keep on top of the ongoing maintenance.

There will be a working bee at the park on Saturday 28th September from 9:00 for about 2 hours.  We plan to rake or blow rubbish from the tracks. Bring rakes and/or blower and some morning tea. Subject to the weather being good.