The Bends
- 0.9 mi
- round trip
- 1,406 ft
- climb
- 1,136 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
The Bends is an out-and-back trail, 0.9 miles each way (1.8 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. It runs between about 580 ft and 1,140 ft above sea level, with roughly 670 ft of climbing one way. Most of the way is dirt. The nearest town is Tokomaru, about 5.2 miles east of the trailhead. Peaks within about 3 miles include Te Mata and Aruwaru. Fould's Falls and J White Falls are within about 3 miles. For camping, Kahuterawa Reserve and Camp Kilsby are within about 6 miles. There are 10 other mapped trails within about 3 miles, so you can combine or extend the outing. Distances, elevations and the route shape here come from OpenStreetMap and the Copernicus 90 m elevation model. Trails, access rules and conditions change, so check locally before you go.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Geoff McKay from Palmerston North, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Aruwaru Loop Track
~4 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 1.0 miles each way (2.0 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Back Track
Next door
A 4.8-mile point-to-point route in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Te Arapiki o Tawhaki
~30 min drive
A 2.2-mile loop in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
Photo: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Te Araroa - 04 Manawatū-Whanganui - j Feilding to Palmerston North
~29 min drive
A 11-mile point-to-point route in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Emergency Access Track
~57 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 1.5 miles each way (3.0 miles round trip) in Wellington, New Zealand.
Photo: Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Te Araroa - 04 Manawatū-Whanganui - g Whanganui to Bulls
~41 min drive
A 40-mile point-to-point route in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
Photo: Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Te Araroa - 04 Manawatū-Whanganui - h Bulls to Feilding
~41 min drive
A 13-mile point-to-point route in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Kissing Rock
Next door
An out-and-back trail, 0.5 miles each way (1.0 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Arapuke Hill Climb
~1 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 0.4 miles each way (0.9 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
HIKE
Te Ara Kaikohi
~1 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 2.6 miles each way (5.2 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.
Also worth it near here
Conditions and forecast
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at The Bends for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
