Graeme Simpson: We would be nothing without our volunteers

Volunteers are at the heart of Rotorua's mountain bike trails. Photo / Mark West

People often say it's worth taking the road (or trail) less travelled.

But they don't often mention who builds it.

Which, in the case of a lot of mountain bike trails built in this country since the mid-1980s, including in the Whakarewarewa Forest, is where volunteers in the hundreds come in.

"Many of the trails worth taking around New Zealand are built thanks to the long hours put in by these volunteers and those who support their efforts financially," says Meagan Robertson from Trail Fund New Zealand.

"However, taking a person or company's desire to support trail building, and turning it into something concrete - or in this case, dirt - isn't always the most straightforward process."

Trail Fund was founded in 2012 and has supported projects all around New Zealand, helping mountain bike clubs and community groups succeed with the projects that are close to their heart and their homes.

"Trail Fund doesn't limit itself to distributing funding," Meagan continues. "It also focuses on educating the public regarding sustainable trail building, best practice guidelines and the benefits of these trail projects."

The annual Trail Fund Conference held in Rotorua late in September provided about 50 people from around New Zealand with varying trail building backgrounds with a chance to ride and dig together and find out more about what's going on in the trail building space around the country.

It was co-hosted with the newly formed NZ Professional Mountain Bike Association. After a morning spent riding the Whakarewarewa Forest the team came together for a series of "lightning" talks.

"Andrew Wilson, from Rotorua Trails Trust, kicked it off with a summary of the economic impact study conducted on trails in the local bike park," says Meagan.

"Then, Jamie Mead from Skyline Bike Park, who's part of the New Zealand Professional Mountain Biker's Association, discussed the association's reason for being and the adventure safety guidelines that would be created for mountain-bike activities."

Other topics included an update on the Backcountry Trust, an overview of the new mountain bike instructor guidelines being developed and a presentation from Taupo-based engineer Michael Robertson about the regime for inspecting trail building structures.

The evening's most discussed presentation was delivered by Trail Fund chairman Russel Garlick and was an update on developing national trail qualifications.

"After dinner, there were a number of trail talks from volunteers around the country, before concluding the evening with the annual Trail Fund debate, which was as heated and hilarious as expected," Meagan adds.

"On Sunday, the Trail Fund team led builders from around the North Island through its Trail Crew and Trail Leader courses."

To learn more about these courses or to host one for your trail building group, get in touch with Trail Fund on trailcrew@trailfund.org.nz

Need money for your trails? Trail Fund's next general round closes on November 1, so get started on your application now: www.trailfund.org.nz/pages/about-us

You can also make a donation or buy something from Trail Fund's fine line-up of clothing and tools.

If you need money for a trail on public conservation land, get in touch with the Backcountry Trust: www.backcountrytrust.org.nz