Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Travel

GO NZ: Mountain biking in Rotorua - your ultimate guide

4 May, 2021 05:55 PM6 minutes to read
Bennet & Slater captured their adventure around Rotorua, stopping at the Whakarewarewa Forest, gates of Government Gardens and the Luge.

Bennet & Slater captured their adventure around Rotorua, stopping at the Whakarewarewa Forest, gates of Government Gardens and the Luge.

NZ Herald
By Sarah Bennett
Not for sale

In the latest instalment of our monthly column, Sarah Bennett finds Rotorua's mountain biking scene is on fire

Elevator Pitch

When it comes to cycling, Rotorua talks a very big game, claiming itself "undisputedly the mountain biking capital of New Zealand".

When I ask deputy mayor, Dave Donaldson, to back up the boast, he comes back with some pretty serious creds.

"We've hosted Crankworx six times, the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Champs, and the Singlespeed MTB World Champs twice. Our mountain biking manaakitanga is globally renowned."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

But hey. Lee and I aren't here to win the Slopestyle. We're middling off-roaders in town for four days of fun. Let's see how much riding there is for mere mortals.

The lay of the land

Between its big lake, shooting geysers, steaming vents and bubbling mud pools, Rotorua is a dramatic backdrop for outdoor activity.

On the city fringe, Whakarewarewa Forest (also known as the Redwoods) is a mix of heritage trees, native bush and pine plantations. It's big, mostly beautiful, and incredibly popular for walking and biking.

There are key entrances: the main one with an i-SITE on Titokorangi Drive, the Waipa MTB hub just south of town, and an impressive new Pūtake o Tawa hub on the road to Tikitapu/Blue Lake.

Whakarewarewa's trails range from super-easy, to extreme downhills and everything in between. Photo / Supplied, Graeme Murray
Whakarewarewa's trails range from super-easy, to extreme downhills and everything in between. Photo / Supplied, Graeme Murray

Getting your bearings

The excellent Whakarewarewa Forest Mountain Bike Tracks map ($5) details the trail network stretching to all corners.

The free Rotorua city map shows a few urban cycleways including Te Ara Ahi ("the pathway of fire"), the off-road trail linking the town with Whakarewarewa Forest and geothermal parks further afield.

Related articles

Travel

Touring on two wheels: Nelson by bike

06 Oct 03:00 AM
Travel

On your bike: The rise of gravel trail cycling in New Zealand

27 Mar 03:18 AM
Travel

Epic adventures through the 'Trail Town'

06 Apr 10:44 PM
Travel

Easy riders: Top tips for seeing Christchurch by bike

02 Mar 01:00 AM

For ride advice and directions, check in with one of Rotorua's bazillion bike shops, many of which offer bike hire.

A town tour

Rotorua's visitor mag claims biking is the best way to see the city sights, but we beg to differ. The car is king here, and cycleways seem thin on the ground. (Google "Rotorua Cyway" to find an interactive map of available options.) You're better off exploring the centre on foot.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Our town cycle tour was pretty much limited to riding around Sulphur Point and along Te Ara Ahi via the must-see Government Gardens. We also took a spin around Kuirau Park where you can see geothermal activity for free.

Take a spin around Kuirau Park where you can see geothermal activity for free. Photo / Lee Slater
Take a spin around Kuirau Park where you can see geothermal activity for free. Photo / Lee Slater

Whakarewarewa Forest

This is where it's at, with a whopping 200km of purpose-built trails. Since the last time we rode here, the park has undergone some major improvements courtesy of iwi, council, Rotorua Trails Trust and a generous contribution from the Provincial Growth Fund.

As well as new wharepaku/toilets, car parks and other public amenities, there's also a terrific new entry level trail, the Forest Loop. It's 35km long, generally smooth and wide, mostly grade 2, with reasonably gentle hill climbs. E-bikers will love it.

A satisfying sightseeing tour taking 3–5 hours, the loop passes through various forest types and skirts neighbouring lakes, Tikitapu and Rotokahaki. The loop also follows a stretch of Te Ara Ahi along busy State Highway 5, which we avoided by taking well-marked alternative MTB trails.

Rotorua: Ride through a mix of heritage trees, native bush and pine plantations. Photo / Lee Slater
Rotorua: Ride through a mix of heritage trees, native bush and pine plantations. Photo / Lee Slater

A second day saw us tackle a fairly sticky climb up As You Do before flying down Tokorangi and the Dipper trails to the Waipa hub where we soaked in the Secret Spot hot pools. It was an awesome afternoon out.

But we barely scratched the surface. Whakarewarewa's trails range from super-easy and wheelchair accessible, to extreme downhills and everything in between. There are skills areas, bike washdown, picnic spots, and cafes. You need a week.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The Redwoods has never looked better, but there's more mahi in the pipeline. A series of new interpretation panels will share the pakiwaitara/stories of this richly historic area.

The naming and renaming of forest landmarks advances this kaupapa. Longmile Rd is now Tītokorangi Drive. The new Tarawera MTB hub is Te Pūtake o Tawa. And the whole forest redevelopment project comes together as Moerangi, a name gifted by mana whenua in honour of a forest maunga.

Getting high

Upping the fun factor on this trip was the luge at the top of the Skyline gondola. Gravity-fuelled go-karting down a tight, winding track, at high speed, egged along by some healthy competition from the husband. I turn 50 this month, but the luge made me feel 10.

The views from the Skyline are pretty epic, too, stretching over Lake Rotorua, Mokoia Island, the city and surrounds.

Daring downhill mountain bikers may also be tempted by the 12km of challenging singletrack accessed via gondola uplift. We opted for a cuppa in the cafe instead.

Chowing down

Eastwood is a stylish new cafe housed inside the Whare Nui o Tuteata building at the main Redwoods entrance. Architecturally splendid, airy, and big on triangles, the whare is essentially the foyer of Scion, the Crown's timber research institute.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Bunches of dishevelled bikers did little to detract from the clean lines of layered and laminated wood. It's chic-as.

The architecturally splendid Scion Centre, Rotorua. Photo / Lee Slater
The architecturally splendid Scion Centre, Rotorua. Photo / Lee Slater

As well as brunch, pizza and nibbly things on the menu, there's a cabinet with tantalising food good to go. Our chicken bagel, healthy salad and peanut caramel slice were scrumptious. We'll be back for pizza next time around.

Don't miss

In a not-very-secret spot at the Whakarewarewa's Waipa entrance, the Secret Spot is a flash hot pool-cum-pub complex that opened in 2019. Lush, leafy landscaping provides a modicum of privacy for 12 hot tubs, leading off from a central garden bar with great afternoon sun. Pretty Puarenga Stream babbles by.

We were totally sold on hopping straight off the bike and into a hot pool, especially once we discovered the call button for more beer.

Hazards and cautions

Whakarewarewa may have trails for everyone, but not everyone should ride all the trails. Get above grade 2 and you could be tackling slippery roots, rocks, ruts and drops. And then there are the accidents that just happen, often at slow speed.

The Rotorua Mountain Bike provides a standby paramedic service during busy riding times. How cool is that?

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Bike Town Rating

A few years ago Lee and I went to Crankworx in Rotorua where we interviewed US MTB legend, Jill Kintner. She said she loved riding Rotorua, not only for its great trails and geothermal landscapes, but for the way the community supported and developed mountain biking.

Comparing it to other riding destinations worldwide, Jill remarked that mountain biking is often seen as an "outlaw sport".

"Mountain biking is embraced here," Jill told me. "Everyone in town seems to ride. The community seems to get it and support it. I think Rotorua is ahead of the curve."

Based on our visit, it looks like it still is.

Start Planning

rotoruanz.com

For more New Zealand travel ideas and inspiration, go to newfinder.co.nz and newzealand.com

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Travel

Family disgusted by four-hour flight in vomit-covered seats

18 Aug 10:00 AM
Travel

'Moron' tourists hunted down by Venice Mayor after surfing along canal

18 Aug 01:00 AM
Premium
Travel

Tech hacks to make travelling right now less of a headache

18 Aug 12:30 AM
Travel

Very Impressive, Perth: Eleven ways to find luxury on a Western Australian city break

17 Aug 10:26 PM
Travel

Bali is back: Nusa inbound with these top travel deals

17 Aug 08:00 PM

Most Popular

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM
Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge
New Zealand

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge

18 Aug 06:18 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP