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Defined by a series of volcanic lakes, the area that forms the Virtually on Track Rotorua Eastern Lakes Gem is the home of adventure tourism in New Zealand. Part of the Gem is located just five minutes from downtown Rotorua, where you can escape into the beautiful and magical
Whakarewarewa Forest.
Known to locals as 'The Redwoods', the 5600ha forest is a perfect playground for walkers, hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers with magnificent stands of towering native and exotic trees, including the gigantic Californian Coast Redwoods. Redwood trees evoke a mystical, peaceful stillness as you walk through the forest. In fact, the earliest Redwoods showed up on Earth shortly after the dinosaurs - and before flowers, birds, spiders, and of course humans.
Amateurs to experts from across the country and around the globe agree mountain biking doesn't come any better, with free access to a plethora of scenic, continually evolving forest trails. Unsurprisingly, Whakarewarewa Forest was voted as New Zealand's favourite place to mountain bike in 2014 and 2015. The unbeatable blend of riding surfaces, topography and scenery cater for all skill and fitness levels with more than 70 trails ranging from Grades 2 (beginner) through to Grade 6 (expert) levels.
Walkers and horse riders are also catered for. All tracks are well marked and signposted and maps are available from the Redwoods Visitor Centre. One of the latest additions to the Forest is the Waipa outdoor fitness trail, which is located near the Rotorua Mountain Bike car park on Waipa State Mill Road.
