• WHAT THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS ARE ALL ABOUT... Whakarewarewa Forest on the southern outskirts of Rotorua contains one of the oldest trail systems in the country. These master crafted trails have an unbeatable blend of proximity to the city centre, riding surfaces, topography and they are surrounded by trees that have size & variety.
Riding on the trails is free to all as the costs of building and maintaining MTB trails is met and informally shared by:
• the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club (Inc) through volunteer efforts.
• the channelling of charitable trust funding into trail development (to pay contract part-time trail-builders since 2005).
• enthusiastic freelancers who give up their own time to build and maintain trails like Old Chevy, Hot X Buns, Rockdrop, Pig Track, Gunna Gotta, The Tickler, Be Rude Not To and Mad if you don't.
• Red McHale from the Department of Corrections who organizes PD work crews ("do the time" comes to mind but all power to their elbows). Notable work by them over the last few years: the "hard landscaping" on HXB and Old Chevy including the two bridges.
• and a team of helpful staff employed by the local Rotorua District Council.
The forest land is owned by Te Arawa; the tree crop itself is owned by a US investment company. The commercial forest management operations are conducted by a local private company as a production forest and they generously allow recreational use in the forest.
The Redwoods is a trail system that has been growing since the late 80s, and it has been designed to pack as much fun into a small area as possible. You can take a 2.5 hour ride without any repeated sections, while never getting further than about 2 kms in a straight line from the trailhead. Even when the carpark is full, the mainly one way system keeps the forest from feeling crowded. The trails are ideal for introducing friends and family to the sport, as they are generally pretty mellow. But they have enough challenges if the speed is cranked up that expert class riders come back again and again.
The trail system is continually being extended and enhanced. Further afield there are heaps more trails than a fit rider can do in a weekend and various groups are always building new ones.
This is crown land, with recreation managed by Rotorua District Council. There is a legal right of access by the public for recreational activities but forestry management go far beyond their obligations to make the forest such a great playground for bike riders.
There is a Visitor Centre on Long Mile Rd where you can get up to date information and a trail map. Call in and tell the staff how cool the trails are. The Redwood grove around this area is full of walking tracks, and horse tracks, and is off limits to bike riders. If you want to start your ride here, go to the far end of Longmile Rd from Tarawera Rd and go around the gate to head up the tarsealed climb of Nursery Road. The trail system has an entrance at the top of the hill.
RideRotorua.com - live since 17 August 2007
07/01/09 ...the week in Rotovegas...Big 1 lappers return!
• BIKEVEGAS SUMMER CUP...Three race series of big one lappers is on again...Round 1 is on this Sunday January 11 and the COURSE MAP is up on the Nduro web site - enter online now...
• 09 BikeNZ/MTBNZ Raboplus North Island Cup Series...
Rotorua hosted the first North Island XC on Saturday January 3 - Mike Northcott of Mangakino and Rotorua's Annika Smail won the Elite categories - FULL RESULTS.
• Downhill Round 1 was on Sunday January 4, on The Taniwha - Scotland's Ben Cathro and Emmeline Ragot of France took out the Elite titles - FULL RESULTS.
• 2009 RABOPLUS NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND MTB CUPS...Rotorua will host DH North Island Cup Round 2 on Jan 16 & 17... VOLUNTEERS NEEDED...
The Whakarewarewa Forest will also be the venue for the NZ Marathon Champs in April as part of THE HIGHLANDER...
• TRAILS: Top week in Rotorua - fine and mild for the next few days.
Even with the rain since Xmas, the trails are drying out fast.
Just a little bit of mud - so, no skidding, please.
Generally, the trails are in excellent condition following a good mix of long, dry spells and a bit of rain to keep the dust down. Overgrown in places, but with rain and warmth it's perfect growing weather.
Great holiday season riding...
• WEATHER UPDATE... COMING UP...
• AY-UP 24/12 HOURS of ROTORUA...Summer night race returns - the 24 Solo category is the qualifier for the World Champs of Adrenalin - enter now
• 2009 PIG & WHISTLE NZ SINGLESPEEDS...entries are open for the Anzac Weekend event.
• CATEYE MOONRIDE...24/12/6 hour race on May 9, 2009...
• TOP CLASS BIKE TRIALS RETURNS IN 2009... Rotorua will host the fifth and final round of the UCI Trials World Cup series...
• BIKE TRIALS 06...Take a look back at the 06 Trials World Champs in Rotorua...
• Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides...Edition 7 of the legendary Kennett Bros MTB guide out now...
• NEW TRAILS: DRAGON'S TAIL... off Red Tank Road just down from the Pipeline/Direct Road intersection and on the opposite side to Be Rude Not To. TURKISH DELIGHT... from the end of Lion to Nursery Road between Tokorangi Pa and Katore Roads..
• IMBA TRAIL BUILDING...Definitive guide on video, on line,
on Ride Rotorua...
