Whirinaki

Whirinaki Forest MTB Trails

The Whirinaki Forest Mountain Bike Trails weave through one of the most spectacular forests in the world.

The forest is majestic, primeval and ancient - standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the great forests of the world with podocarps including rimu, tōtara, kahikatea, mataī and miro trees. The birdlife is also diverse with rare birds such as the North Island brown kiwi, red and yellow-crowned kākāriki and North Island kākā. 

The Mountain Bike Track goes through the Whirinaki Ecological Management Zone (WEMZ) which works with rare plants and animals.

 

The trails: Whirinaki Forest MTB Track

The 16km Whirinaki Forest MTB Track loop requires a medium fitness and skill level (Grade 2 - 3) and most people complete it in 2 - 4 hours.  Shorter sections of the track can also be ridden.

 

The trails: Moerangi MTB Track

The Moerangi Mountain Bike Track in Whirinaki Forest is something many mountain bikers have on their ‘must-do’ list. With 35km of challenging single track and 1000m of climbing it's a ride that demands respect, with the stunning podocarp forest making the effort a beautiful one. Moerangi Saddle is at 955m and has incredible views and then the downhill is a good time! The ride takes between 5 - 7 hours and is intermediate Grade 3 level.

The three huts on the track - Skips Hut (Whangatawhia), Rogers Hut (Te Wairoa) and Moerangi Hut - are a great place to have a rest and let others catch up. They are also an option to turn the experience into an overnight adventure, where you can listen to the calls of Kiwi at night.

 

How to get there

Whirinaki Forest MTB Track: 

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is 90 km southeast of Rotorua, off Ruatahuna Road, via SH38. The mountain bike track is located at the end of old Fort Road.

Moerangi MTB Track: 

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is 90 km south east of Rotorua. From Murupara travel south east along Te Whaiti Rd. Once you reach Te Whaiti this road becomes Ruatahuna Rd. Continue along this road for a further 7.5 km until you reach a right hand turn to Okahu Valley Rd. The car park is 9 km south on Okahu Valley Rd.

The bike track starts from Okahu Valley Rd and ends at River Road car park. To get to River Road car park turn left off Te Whaiti onto Minginui Road and follow the signs. Mountain bikers should only start from Okahu Valley Rd.

 

More information

See the DOC website here