The Bay of Plenty is a beautiful place to ride!
The Bay of Plenty has a range of cycling options for everyone from road riding to mountain biking and everything in between.
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY
Urban Mountain Bike Routes:
Urban Mountain Bike Route 1
Urban MTB Loop 1 (2.4mb pdf)
- Starting at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue, follow the “boardwalk” pathway south until you get to Kopurererua Stream.
- Follow the stream to the north (down stream) to cross under the three road bridges.
- At the third bridge, cross over on the outside of the traffic lane. This will place you at the end of Birch Avenue where you can follow the pathway up to Cambridge Road via Coventry Street and Chester Street.
- Go down Waihi Road to Bethlehem Reserve where there are great signed pathways directing you to the “new” Cambridge Road Park (the new home of Tauranga’s international standard BMX track) via Orange Lane, St Andrews Drive and Wakefield Drive.
- There are numerous walking & mountain bike tracks in this new park. Exit the park next to the Toll Road on the bottom left hand side to follow the formed pathway back to Birch Avenue and the Historic Village on 17th Avenue.
Urban Mountain Bike Route 2
Urban MTB Loop 2 (2.4mb pdf)
- Starting at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue, follow the “boardwalk” pathway south to the Kopurererua Stream.
- From the stream, follow the pathway south upstream to the end of the river pathway.
- Turn into Wylie Street and then Jones Street to the cul-de-sac head pathway up the steep track to Chadwick Road. Follow Chadwick Road down to Fraser Street, trun onto Fraser Street and follow it to Yatton Park, home of the City’s tallest trees.
- At the back of the park there are paths down to the harbour pathway which will take you to Fraser Cove shopping centre.
- Head up 18th Ave and follow it east to Grace Road harbour side pathway. Follow the pathway to 16th Avenue to link back to Grace Road, Fraser Street and Cameron Road and back to the Historic Village on 17th Avenue.
Urban Bike Route 3
Urban MTB Loop 3 (1.8mb pdf)
- Start from The Strand in the City Centre, keep the coast to your ‘right’ and head down Dive Crescent.
- Follow Dive Crescent, Mirrielees Road, Cross Road, over the pedestrian bridge to Chapel Street, Maxwell’s Road, Harbour Drive, Kulim Park, and Beach Road to Fergusson Park.
- Then head along Tainui Street, Matua Road, Manuwai Street to the playground at Kings Avenue.
- Head along Levers Road, Sunny Bay Street and into the Matua Salt Marsh Reserve.
- This will link to the railway underpass to Ngatai Road. Turn right into Margaret Road then Princess Road, Westward Street and into Carmichael Reserve.
- At the top of the reserve you will find Waihi Road again. Follow it up to, get up to Cambridge Road and down Chester Street, Coventry Street, down the pathway to Birch Avenue and then cross the stream at the bridge to the Cameron Road side.
- Follow the pathway to your left and exit out into Koromiko Street.
- Cross over Waihi Road and into Graham Park and then back to the City centre.
For more urban cycleways click here.
ROTORUA
There is an abundance of places to ride your bike in Rotorua from the forest to the inner city cycleways to the new urban cycle paths connecting our suburbs to the inner city.
Please find below an overview of the trails you can try as part of the Aotearoa Cycling Challenge:
Cy-ways:
Green Corridor
The Green corridor provides 2km of safe inner city cycling space. The route runs from the Sulphur Point cycle trail (part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail Te Ara Ahi) and Government Gardens, up Hinemoa Street, right onto Tutanekai St, left onto Haupapa Street and into the natural geothermal wonders of Kuirau Park and through to the western cycleway to Ngongotaha.
For more information click here.
Springfield
Work is underway and will soon be completed on the Springfield urban cycle way. This designated off road path will run from Otonga Primary, down Springfield Road to Old Taupo Road, leading out to the Hemo Gorge. The path also heads in the opposite direction down Old Taupo Road and turning into Sophia Street. Once the Hemo Gorge intersection is completed the path will make its way under the road, providing safe access to the Waipa mountain bike hub.
Morey Street
This is an on road dual-way cycle path that makes cycling safer and more enjoyable for students commuting by bike to nearby schools; Owhata Primary, Mokoia Intermediate and Lakes High. The path starts where Morey Street and Basley Road meet and makes its way to the intersection of Moray street and Brent Road, and then down Brent Road.
Ngongotaha Trail
The Ngongotaha Cycle Link provides an off road, shared use pathway connecting the northernmost part of Ngongotaha to the city. The trail provides 5.7km of safe biking for commuters and an attractive recreational route for families wanting to enjoy a picnic at the Lake or an outing in Ngongotaha village. The trail starts behind No Limits Strength & Conditioning Gym on Taui Street and finishes in the city on Lake Road.
Sulphur Point
This is a dual use trail for cyclists, walkers and runners. Start the trail from behind the Polynesian Spa and follow it to the Te Ngae Road and Sala Streets lights. A safe way to avoid the roads if your commuting to or from work by bike.
Mokopuna Track
Located in the Redwoods this new dual use trail can be used by Mountain bikers, walkers or runners. 3.6km in length the track can be accessed behind the wooden sculptures near the car par, half way up Longmile road or off Tarawera Road.
Whakarewarewa Forest
More than 100km of Mountain Bike trails can be accessed from the Waipa Mountain bike hub. A range of tracks from beginner to expert will allow you to explore the joys of the forest regardless of if you are a novice or an expert.
Skyline Gravity Park
Located under the gondolas of Skyline Rotorua on Fairy Spring Road you are bound to find a trail to get your adrenaline pumping. Whether it be on the 10.5km of downhill tracks, the pump track or the dual speed and style course, you will have a great time. For more information click here.
The Pathway of Fire Trail (Te Ara Ahi)
This 74 km grade 2 trial from Rotorua to the thermal area of Orakei Korako on the Waikato River takes in the best of Rotorua's thermal activity and is suitable for all levels of cyclists. The ride starts at the Princes Gate Archway. For more information click here.
TECT All Terrain Park
Situated off SH36, 27km from Rotorua, TECT All Terrain Park provides Mountain biking trail for kids, families, beginners and those with a need for speed. For more information click here.
Interactive Cycling Map
Click here to see all sorts of great places to ride in Rotorua.
EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY
Motu Trails
Effectively three separate but linked rides, the Motu Trails offers you everything from the beachside fun of the Dunes Trail, to the wilderness of the Old Motu Coach Rd and the adventure of the Pakihi Track. For information about specific trails click here.
Rawhiti Mountain Bike Park
This purpose built park accessed off Wainui Rd from Ohope has a 15 kilometre network of tracks ranging from the kiddies loop known 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 and requires a permit to enter. Permits (which include a trail map) are available at the Whakatane Information Centre, The Whakatane Cycle Centre and the Top Ten Holiday Park in Ohope. Cost is $5 for a two week pass or $25 for a season pass. Rawhiti is predominantly pine forest and it has free draining pumice soils, so there’s good riding all year. It’s steep country, rising from sea level to over 300m, and while the bike trails and 4WD access roads are well formed, they’re seldom immaculately groomed. In other words, it’s good, hard, honest riding, with tracks carrying entertaining names such as ‘Mal’s Mayhem’, ‘Swamp Thing’, ‘Works Whoops’ and ‘Jac-Hammer’. Be prepared for the occasional fallen punga or slip, and unless you’re a machine, you’ll likely need to walk some of the uphills. A trip to the transmitter tower is recommended. This is the highpoint of the area, and through the pine trees you get great glimpses of Ohiwa harbour. For more information click here.
Warren Cole Walkway
If you're keen for an easy cycling cruise with lots to see, Warren Cole Walk and Cycleway along the riverside trail is superb. One trail end is by the Whakatāne River bridge on Landing Road; the other is near the Whakatāne Heads. It's fully sealed/paved.
You'll be alongside the river the whole way. Near the Whakatāne River mouth, you can watch the Pacific Ocean swell rolling in. Upriver from here, the Whakatāne wharves usually have plenty going on, perfect if you're with kids. About midway on the track, the river has large areas of salt marsh. If you enjoy bird-watching, there are many species to spot. Click here for more.
For many more Eastern Bay of Plenty cycling routes click here.
FURTHER RESOURCES FOR CYCLING IN NZ:
New Zealand is home to countless groups for road cycling, as well as extensive trails for those looking to mountain bike. Too many options to list them all here, but here are a few resources to take you further:
- NZ road cycling (great resources to help find a group ride or club!)
- Mountain biking (Singletracks manages a well-informed list of the top trails across the country)
- NZbybike (a broad resource with a little bit of something for everyone)