Carterton, a region in New Zealand's Wairarapa, offers a diverse landscape for outdoor pursuits. Situated at the gateway to the Tararua Forest Park, the area features varied terrain, from the rugged interior of the park to the scenic Waiohine Gorge and more gentle reserves. This geographical mix supports several sports like road cycling, mountain biking, jogging, hiking, and more, making Carterton a compelling destination for active exploration.
For those seeking things to do in Carterton,…
97
Routes
4.1
(59)
Average rating
1280
People visited

4.4
(5)
11
riders
57.9km
04:05
460m
450m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.6
(5)
10
riders
29.4km
01:55
200m
200m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3
riders
47.3km
03:19
460m
460m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.0
(1)
5
riders
47.9km
03:12
390m
390m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
119
riders
62.9km
02:27
200m
200m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
54
riders
49.8km
02:35
450m
450m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.5
(2)
59
riders
16.5km
00:41
50m
50m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

51
riders
61.5km
02:40
280m
280m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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57
runners
5.49km
00:34
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
runners
9.78km
01:02
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
14
runners
19.1km
02:06
120m
120m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.0
(1)
11
runners
16.0km
01:40
40m
40m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(4)
26
hikers
18.7km
04:52
120m
120m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
31
hikers
11.9km
03:10
120m
120m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
25
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
10
hikers
10.3km
02:38
40m
40m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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15
riders
23.0km
01:18
50m
50m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
19.9km
01:13
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
35.7km
02:03
130m
130m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
4
riders
33.4km
02:12
320m
320m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
37.2km
02:23
270m
270m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
31.0km
01:50
100m
100m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Carterton offers a range of outdoor activities including Road cycling, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Hiking. Komoot features 195 routes in the region, with an average rating of 4.34 stars from more than 8,000 visitors.
Carterton provides numerous road cycling routes, with 92 routes available on Komoot. The Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network is developing nearly 200 kilometers of trails, enhancing connectivity for cyclists. For detailed options, refer to the guide Road Cycling Routes around Carterton.
The Carterton Mountain Bike Park is a key attraction, offering 2.1 miles (3.4 km) of Grade 3 trails and a skills area. A 3.7-mile (6 km) ride up Mt Dick provides views of the Wairarapa valley. Trails like the Waiohine Gorge Loop also offer significant elevation descent for mountain bikers. More information is available in the guide MTB Trails around Carterton.
Hikers can explore trails ranging from short loops to more extensive paths. The Carter Scenic Reserve (Uhi Mānuka) features a 30-minute loop track through a recovering wetland. The Tararua Forest Park, accessible from Carterton, offers various hiking opportunities. For more options, see Hiking around Carterton.
Carterton offers options suitable for various skill levels, including family-friendly routes. The Carter Scenic Reserve (Uhi Mānuka) provides a gentle 30-minute loop track. For easier hiking options, consult the guide Easy hikes around Carterton.
Notable natural features include the Tararua Forest Park, offering rugged landscapes. The Waiohine Gorge features a 328-foot (100-meter) suspension bridge over the Waiohine River. The Carter Scenic Reserve (Uhi Mānuka) preserves a remnant of kahikatea forest and wetland.
Carterton is suitable for gravel biking, with routes available for exploration. The diverse terrain, including parts of the Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network, can accommodate gravel bikes. For specific routes, refer to the guide Gravel biking around Carterton.
Komoot currently lists 195 routes for outdoor activities in the Carterton region. These routes cover sports such as Road cycling, Mountain biking, Jogging, Hiking, and Touring cycling.
Outdoor routes in Carterton have an average rating of 4.34 out of 5 stars on Komoot. This rating is based on feedback from more than 900 individual ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Carterton, including Road Cycling Routes around Carterton, MTB Trails around Carterton, Hiking around Carterton, and Gravel biking around Carterton.
The official website for the Carterton District Council is cdc.govt.nz. This site provides local information and services for the region.
The main phone number for the Carterton District Council is +64 6-379 4030. This number can be used for general inquiries regarding the Carterton region.

