MOUNTAIN BIKE ROTORUA
WHAKAREWAREWA FOREST TRAILS
THE WHAKAREWAREWA FOREST
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Drive just 15 minutes from Rotorua Airport or 10 minutes from the Rotorua City Centre and you arrive at one of the worlds most popular mountain bike parks, Whakarewarewa Forest.​
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Spanning over 5,500 hectares you will find over 300kms of purpose built mountain bike trails from mellow, family friendly options to world class DH lines and everything in between.
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Access to the trails is free for recreational users. While the forest is privately owned by local tribes, they, along with the land managers, allow recreational users to use the trails for free.
Commercial users like us, photographers and events for example, must apply for and pay concession fees to operate our activities.​
THE BIKE PARK
Yup, it's a big bike park with heaps of trails to froth over. If you're a local, you probably know exactly where to go for the ride that your mood wants to take you on, but if you're not a local, it can seem a bit daunting.​
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Our bike park is made up of over 100 trails ranging from Grade 1 & 2 (White & Green) to Grade 6 (Double Black Diamond). These trails are generally 1-4 kms long and you can link them in many different ways to make your perfect ride day.
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Generally, most riders base themselves from the Waipa MTB Carpark where the park entry is right next to our hire shop and you'll find the first of the trails just 100m or so from our doorstep. We also have a pump track right in front of the shop too.
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The Waipa entrance to the forest is great for anyone, in particular those wanting to either ride the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop or access some of the lower grade trails.
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The Redwoods / Titokorangi entrance to the forest is where you will find lots of locals as it is only a quick pedal from the Lynmore, Owhata, Fenton Park and Glenholme suburbs. While it does start with a steep climb up Nursery Rd, or an even steeper climb up As You Do trail, this also means you get to finish with a sweet gravity track like Box of Birds or New Exit.
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Te Putake o Tawa carpark is a recent addition to the forest and this entrance will likely become more and more popular as the trail network continues to become more centred on this area. Not only are there container shops here (our bike rentals and a basic cafe), the Tawa Waka Public Shuttles and the Buggy Private 4WD Charters are also based here which means you can get straight out of your car and straight in to shuttle uplifts.
THE TRAILS
To choose your route is worth first thinking about where you want to start, what trail grade is appropriate for you and then heading to our Trail Map page and looking at how to link the trails you want together.
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The trail signage in the forest is great for showing you the start and end of each trail, however there is not a lot showing you how to get to those trail heads. What is handy is that the forestry roads you will generally ride to link between the trails are signposted, so between your ride plan and the map, you should be able to comfortably navigate your way around the forest.
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In addition to the Bike Park, the forest is also home to one of New Zealand's official Great Rides, the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop. We have more info here.
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Our staff are also very knowledgable so feel free to pop in to either of our bike shop, or chat to our shuttle drivers, and they'll be able to help you with making a plan or getting around the forest.
TRAIL GRADING AND FOREST SIGNAGE
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE...
The story of how Rotorua became one of the best trail networks in the world revolves around a key theme, partnership.
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To understand the awesomeness of the forest you need to first understand who is involved and it starts with our mana whenua, who are the kaitiaki of the land. Ngati Hurunga, Ngati Whakaue and Tuhourangi are the people of the land that makes up the Whakarewarewa and Titokorangi Forests. The land is owned by CNI which holds land titles and manages assets across the North IIsland on behalf of a confederation of eight Iwi.
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The land is managed by Crown Licence holders Timberlands for the production and harvesting of plantation forests but the management of recreation activities has been delegated to the Rotorua Lakes Council on behalf of CNI and Timberlands.
There are many stakeholders that operate in the forest such as Mountain Bike Rotorua, Tohu Experiences, events companies, the huge and awesome volunteer workforce maintaining trails, looking after wildlife, pest management and more!​
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The partnership between all these partners is what keeps the trail network world leading and absolutely free for all to use. That's right, riding on the Whakarewarewa trails doesn't cost you a cent.... no entry fee at all.
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The crew of Mountain Bike Rotorua are active in maintaining trails, with trail maintenance shifts scheduled effectively weekly, heading out at doing vegetation and water control. However there is one entity that is primarily responsible for maintaining the more than 300kms of mountain bike trails, the Rotorua Trails Trust...
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At Rotorua Trails Trust, we are passionate about creating and maintaining world-class trails that connect people with nature and adventure. Based in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, we are dedicated to enhancing the outdoor experience for locals and visitors alike.
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Our Mission.
Our mission is to develop, maintain, and advocate for sustainable trails that promote active lifestyles, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. By fostering a shared sense of responsibility for our trails, we aim to ensure their longevity and enjoyment for generations to come.
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What We Do
Trail Building and Maintenance: Our team of professionals work alongside volunteers tirelessly to construct new trails and keep existing ones in top condition, catering to a range of activities including mountain biking, horse riding, walking, hiking, and running.
Community Collaboration: We partner with volunteers, local businesses, iwi, and government organizations to create a thriving trail network that reflects the spirit and needs of the Rotorua community.
Advocacy and Education: We champion the importance of sustainable trail use and provide resources to educate users about best practices to preserve our environment.
Events and Engagement: From races to trail-cleanup days, we host and support events that bring people together to celebrate and care for our trails.
Learn more about the Rotorua Trails Trust by clicking the link and consider donating towards the awesome mahi the trust undertakes.