LATEST... 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 over the summer!
DUCK POND REVIVED...PHOTOS...The pond on Larch Road has been given a massive spruce up by Red and the crew...
Photo: Ray & Dave at the head of Ball & Chain, the link trail to 8 Mile Gate and Hill Rd opened early in 2008.
Summer 09/10 Trail & Road Closures...
Whakarewarewa is an operational forest and at times trails and roads are closed for logging and other work.
It is very important you respect signage for your own safety and the safety of the working crews...Don't think you can just "sneak through"...
This autumn major logging work will continue in the south of the forest.
1) A large stand of Radiata is being harvested at the moment in the Pondy and Spring Road area - this will take 2-3 month. Split Enz will be closed and Moerangi Road and Pondy DH, Pondy New and Yellow Brick Road maybe affected...
2) Sandstone and lookout Roads will be affected by logging of Eucalypts in the next month.
3) Felling Chestnuts on Hill Rd & Chestnut Rd expected to start in beginning of April running for a up to 3 months, partial closures of tracks can be expected.
4) Logging in R.D.C. spray blocks will commence at some point in the Poplar Ave, Long Drive, Heath and Dump Roads (TBC).
5) There is also a thinning operation that has affected HOT X BUNS and THE SIDEWINDER that should be finished early in March.
The faster the guys get through this work - undisrupted - the faster we'll have these trails back to enjoy again. PLEASE RESPECT THE SIGNAGE...
LATEST TRAIL INFORMATION...
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...
Trails are in great condition - very dry and quite overgrown in places...
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.
There is some great work going on at the corner of Hill and Larch Roads by Red McHale and the Department of Corrections crews - creating a tranquil, cool park - a great place to stop and catch your breath...Work is now continuing over the culvert alongside Larch with paths, seating and a narrow log crossing...
from Ride Rotorua on Vimeo. From here the trail contines towards Waipa (parallel to B&C)...
And check out video of the landscaping of the Duck Pond just up Larch.
TAHI - the gateway to the core trails has been adopted by the Rotorua Singlespeed Society and has had a lot of hard landscaping on it courtesy of Red and the crew.
The Rotorua Singlespeed Society donated a couple of loads of gravel for this with left overs added to the Kid's Loop. The Rotorua MTB Club has also contributed $500 for gravel.
Plus some has been used on Dipper as work starts to renovate this major core trail.
Others like Genesis, Challenge (the downhill section parallel to Nursery has had some excellent TLC from Red as well - berms and drainage all upgraded) - and Creek are holding up well.
Heaps of work has happened on ROCK DROP...with climbs tidied up and alternative grade 3 lines cut around some of the grade 5 technical sections.
The Dipper is recovering from a tough winter but another excellent option for newer riders and families is the Creek Track - especially the flat, windy second section. A few technical bits - but no one minds if you walk them!
Old Chevy, most of Pondys and BRN2 also good (though Old Pondy DH has taken a pounding with one spectacular braking rut in the last section).
The last part of Rude looks like there's been little rain...Mark S and Big Chris are doing some nice tidy-up work on the trail Mark built, many years ago, now.
Dragon's Tail, as well. Plus the extension from the skid site about a third of the way through DT - Te Ara Puna (The Pond Trail) - packed in quickly and is riding well.
Richie Caudwell did some good work on RollerCoaster - well worth riding all of it, not just the section at end of Pondy.
Soakhole in Tokorangi Pa triangle, in north of core network, is riding really well. That's old-school, but the new trail that intersects it - Turkish Delight - is also working well because of pumicey ridge line location. Here's a tip: ride a trail you haven't been on for a while.
Rotorua MTB Club working bees...
Last one for '09: SUNDAY December 6.
Contact: Rhys C 0274 877438
The working bees are usually 1st Sunday in each month. However there'll be break over Xmas through to first Sunday in April (TBC)...
Meet at the Redwoods Information Centre at 9AM - Knock-off is midday.
Bring your favourite tool or the club has some, as well.
(Stay tuned for information on when the next one will be or get in touch with Rhys).
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...
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...
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.
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.
