The Timber Trail Bridges - Pureora - Onegarue
Project Location
Pureora Forest Park, Ruapehu District
Client
Department of Conservation
Services Provided by Frame Group
Feasibility Studies and Options Assessment
Solutioning, Concept Design and Visualisation
Detailed Design and Engineering
Consents Management
Construction Management
Partners
Tonkin + Taylor – Geotechnical
Walkway Solutions – Construction Contractor
Edifice Construction – Construction Contractor
Originally known as the Central North Island Rail Trail or Pureora Timber Trail, The Timber Trail is one of the 22 Great Rides developed as part of Ngā Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail. The 85 kilometre cycle trail stretches from Pureora Village in the north to Ongarue in the south, passing through rugged bush in the heart of Pureora Forest in the central North Island.
The trail closely follows historic bush tramline alignments and former logging roads, linked by new track sections and structures to create a continuous riding experience. It features a significant number of bridges, including several large suspension bridges as well as numerous timber beam and pole bridges designed to suit the forest environment and historic context. In total, the trail includes 35 bridges, including major structures such as the Maramataha suspension bridge, which spans 141 metres and sits approximately 50 metres above the stream bed.
Frame Group was engaged by the Department of Conservation to design and project manage the trail and associated bridge structures, with a strong focus on retaining and reusing historic tramway features wherever practicable. This included the upgrade of the historic Ongarue Tramline Spiral and Tunnel, with safety works undertaken to enable public use, as well as the design of structures such as the Caterpillar Crawler Tractor Shelter. New infrastructure was carefully integrated alongside existing formations to preserve the heritage character of the route while enabling safe, long-term public access.
