Mountain Biking

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Whakatane has a lot to offer our two wheeled tourists and especially those with thick knobbly tyres. Mountain bikers will be thrilled with the diversity on offer. For those hard core downhillers and those who seldom venture onto the gravel Whakatane has something for everyone.

RAWHITI MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

This purpose built park only a few kilometres from Ohope beach has a 15 kilometre network of tracks ranging from the kiddies loop know as Lollipop to Sleepyhead a specially designed track with jumps and drop-offs for the more adventurous.

The park is in a privately owned forest that requires a permit to enter. Fortunately the permit is only $5 for a two week pass or $25 for a season pass. These permits are available at the Whakatane Information Centre, The Whakatane Cycle Centre and the Top Ten Holiday Park in Ohope.  More information about the trails here. http://whakatane.mtbclub.org.nz/mountain-bike-trails.html

WHIRINAKI MOUNTAINBIKE TRACKS

If you want to ride through stunningly beautiful native forests then the Whirinaki Forest Park has something very special for you. Ride through the giants – the giant podocarp forest will take your breath away. There are two options here. 

Whirinaki Mountain Bike Park

The track is designed for the eco mountain bike rider and requires a medium skill level (grade 2 – 3). The track is 16 km long and most people complete it in 2 to 4 hours. Shorter sections can also be ridden.

Moerangi Track

This magnificent newly developed 38 km single track cycle trail opened toward the end of 2009.  Moerangi Track winds through Whirinaki Forest for nearly 35km.  Although not technically difficult the Moerangi Track in Whirinaki Forest edges it's way along some pretty hairy bluff edges and there is a few fair grunty climbs that might see many riders walking their bikes. You can break up the trip with stays at 3 different DOC huts.

Shuttle services are available to either end of the track. You have the option of biking back to the lodge from River Road which is another 14km approximately of gravel and tar sealed road.

Location

The park and Moerangi tracks are about 100 km south east of Rotorua on State Highway 38. It is within a two hour drive of Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane.

MOTU TRAILS CYCLEWAY

Not too far from Whakatane (45 kilomtres) is the the mighty Motu Coach Road which has recently been developed as part of the New Zealand Cycleways project. The Trails are centred around the pre-European Māori trails and historic Motu Coach route, which until the mid-20th century, were the only overland routes between the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. But traversing these modern-day trails will not require the privations of old. For some, the preferred experience may be a gentle coastal ride through undulating sand dunes. At the other end of the scale, adrenalin-junkies can look forward to a multi-day adventure ride where each testing climb is rewarded by an exhilarating downhill.  Check out the website www.motutrails.co.nz.  Official opening 11 March 2012.