It described how the black dirt single track through the “deep, dark” forest added to the experience, with the trails resilient to the damp climate.
“Professional trail building, including grade reversals, berms, and tons of jumps, not only provide supremely entertaining trails but also drain water well, too.”
It gushed about the mountain bike-related amenities in the city, with a “plethora” of bike repair and rental shops, local guides, and shuttle services.
Another point was scored as the forest was “one of the few” mountain bike parks where all services were available year-round.
It said Te Tihi o Tawa Trail in the Whakarewarewa Forest was a “must-ride” and urged enthusiasts to head to the Skyline Bike Park which was “New Zealand’s first all-year gondola downhill mountain bike park”.
Visitors who came to Rotorua in 2021 for the sole purpose of mountain biking spent $103.4m, a report commissioned by RotoruaNZ in August 2022 showed.
The report showed that other visitors who mountain biked while staying in Rotorua for other reasons spent a further $36.4m, a total boost of $139.8m to the local economy.
