TRY THESE... PUARENGA - is the new trail linking the end of Mad if you don't with the bridge at Hill & Larch paralells Ball & Chain on the northern side of the stream...built by Red...
KATORE JUMPS...the old skidder road has been given a rev-up by Lance and Dale from Bike Vegas... ROCK DROP...old school trail in core network got a revamp by Red McHale and the Dept of Corrections crew and the Rotorua Singlespeed Society... TE ARA PUNA...runs from the skid site on Dragon's Tail to Duck Pond Road. HATUPATU...off Tuhoto Ariki at the top of the forest... Great work by a bunch of spade and rake-wielding volunteers...
Photo: Ray & Dave at the head of Ball & Chain, the link trail to 8 Mile Gate and Hill Rd opened early in 2008.
Check out the trails pages for satellite view of some of our favourites thanks to tracks.org.nz...
Latest trail information...
Trails are OK in spite of recent rain.
Latest update from Rich Caudwell, maintenance man for RMTBC:
Brendon from Rotorua Quarries has donated 11 tonne of metal fill and Donald & Tina from Johnson & Masters Contractors have transported this into the forest.
Red McHale will be using this around Pohaturoa Area for both roads and trails. And Red Stag have donated timber for around the new water ways area at Hill and Larch Roads.
Big ups to those who help!
Marcus from Nduro is undertaking some remedial work after the race on Sunday, August 15:
So far:
1. Challenge dug in some ruts, about 15m worth.
2. Creek dug in the rut down to the bridge over the stream.
3. Exit dug in the ruts where necessary.
4. Top of Hot Cross
5. Lion Trail
6. Genesis...
Check out helmet cam video by the Australian MTB magazine crew starting with PONDY DH...
Also new trail profiles of TUHOTO ARIKI...HATUPATU...BILLY T and ROLLERCOASTER... plus many more thanks to local surveying guys CANMAP HAWLEY...
AND some video of technical features on OLD CHEVY and EXIT...and the refurbished Big Berm on DIPPER..
St Johns ambulance provide an invaluable service when called to assist injured mountain bikers in Whakarewarewa Forest but sometimes this assistance is hampered by difficulty in locating the injured person or the 111 Call Centre not having enough information to despatch an ambulance.
Im half way down No Brains in Whaka Forest just isnt enough information to send out an ambulance. To help overcome this problem the Rotorua MTB Club are putting emergency contact stickers on MTB track signs that give a GPS reference.
If you need ambulance assistance giving a GPS reference is going to greatly assist the ambulance crew.
Here's a tip: ride a trail you haven't been on for a while.
Help maintain the trails...
Looking after the trails takes a lot of work and relies manly on a committed group of volunteers.
You can help. The necessary application form is here: ADOPT-A-TRAIL...
Getting into the trails from Waipa Carpark
The most popular entry to the forest is from the Waipa Mill access road, signposted off SH5 a few kms south of town. It is easy riding distance, especially if you are staying at the very cool Alpin Motel on Sala St.
Through the carpark, past the free bike wash stand (with drinkable water) over the little bridge, and you are on the trail. If you go hard right you have a nice flat trail to warm up on, and you can work your way around the whole thing from here. Remember that to get back to your car (don't laugh, people get hopelessly lost 5 minutes from the exit) go downhill on Pohaturoa Rd, off Nursery Rd at the big intersection. There is a sign which helps but not if you are too rooted to read.
There are over 30 kilometres of named, signposted trails in this section of the forest, which is amazing because the area we are talking about is only a couple of kms square. The whole thing is mapped, and you can get maps from the visitor centre in Long Mile Rd, and also from Ed at Planet Bike in the carpark.
Ed makes a great coffee, rents out good bikes, and has basic trail essentials. He is a wealth of knowledge, a good guy and a good mechanic.
You can easily access pick up points for the South Star Shuttle from here (or drive past the car park and the Red Stag Mill to the Hill Road gate entrance to the forest). Photos: 1) entrance to carpark; 2) Ed's Planet Bike.
Unfortunately, there are some selfish dickheads for whom the trail system doesn't provide what they seek.
Instead of going somewhere else in the other 90% of the forest and building what they want, they shortcut, or otherwise modify the established system. Their activities could make it difficult for you to navigate if you are not a local. Please don't be shy, ask anybody who looks like they know where they are going if you are in doubt about where you are headed.
Also - no skids on Old Chevy.
Have fun! TRAIL CONDITIONS...
Getting into the trails from Long Mile Rd
There is a Visitor Centre in Long Mile Rd where you can get up to date information and maps.
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 Long Mile Rd from Tarawera Rd and cross the gate to head up the tarsealed climb of Nursery Road. The trail system has entrances at the top of the hill.
Getting into the trails from Green Lake Lookout Carpark
A great place to start for some different/big loops.
The first portion of the trail at this entrance is a shared track - so please watch for people, dogs etc.
A good choice from here is to ride up Tikitapu Rd to Morerangi (to the top) then to Split Enz and all the way through to Chinese Menu and then Pipeline Rd back to the Blue lake. (Big loop - fun trails)
This carpark is behind the Blue Lake at the top of the hill. Follow Tarawera Rd some 8kms from the round-about at Te Ngae & Tarawera.
Remember to lock your car & keep all valuables out of sight. Rotorua has its share of a'holes that will wreck your holidays if you aren't careful.
