Bicycleroutes

[bikerider]

Hello

I am going to New Zealand in oktober with bicycles. We will stay for a month. Does annybody know some good mtb spots and internetresources concerning bicycling ?

Kind regards

Torben Laursen

[PhattTim]

Hi Torben.

Depends really what kind of cycling you like to do. There is a lot to be had! If you are a fan of XC and DH then Rotorua is a good place. Handy because it has a lot of the "must see" tourist attractions also. If you're in the area then head to 'Redwood Forest' - Will be very very easy to find or gain directions from Rotorua, it's quite popular with cyclists. Redwood Forest is very well maintained by the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club which is rather large and it contains quite a number of tracks. You'd have to spend weeks there to do every trail and many are worth more than one try. Some are pretty challanging and demanding, there are also very easy and insanely stupid ones. Good times. A nice BMX course with a number of jumps if you're into that too. Maps are available from Rotorua of all the trails and there are big maps in all the carparks and visitor centers around the forest.

If you've been there and done that then there is 'Big Rock' near Tokoroa. There are some nice tracks here and the maps are available on the internet (Not sure where but just do a search for Big Rock or something to do with Tokoroa and MTBiking.) There are some very nice easy tracks here as well as "Widow Maker" and "The Alien" which should really be allowed whole days and not the '1-2 hours' on the sign, haha, some are only 70% rideable by the pros but there is some good riding to be had.

There is also some nice, challanging riding to be had in the forests around Auckland. Te Aroha has a nice track around the domain and up and down the mountain also. Has recently been worked on and is very well maintained. A good 1.5 hour ride for fitness and some challanging drop offs and downhills.

Probably your best bet would be to drop into any half decent bike store and pick up a copy of The Kennett Brothers 'New Zealand Mountain Biking'. It has road maps, trail maps and detailed accounts of all the good rides around the country. A very worthwhile investment.

[netchicken]

http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/forums/list.php?f=14

Here is the best site that I know on it...

We are working on a site for cycle touring, if you post here
http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/forums/list.php?f=19
then you should get your Q's ansewred OK

Good luck...

[netchicken]

From experience I would say that Christchurch and Wellington are the bst cities for cycling, but the "'New Zealand Mountain Biking'" book mentioned above is excellent with some great trips in other areas.