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

Tauranga: Birch Ave / Cambridge Park loop - 7.2km

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 and 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.

Tauranga: Historic Village/Kopurererua/Yatton Park (13km)

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.

Tauranga: The Strand/Matua/Carmichael Reserve (20km)

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 Tauranga urban cycleways click here.

Omokoroa - Wairoa Bridge Cycleway

This scenic route, made up of both new and existing off-road shared paths and local road connections, will eventually provide a link between Omokoroa and Tauranga City's existing urban cycleway network.  

As the cycle trail is still being finalised and earthmoving work taking place in January and February 2021, it's important to check out the Omokoroa to Tauranga Cycle Trail 'story map' here for up-to-date information. 

The final link between the bridge and Tauranga's existing urban cycle network is yet to be determined. People wanting to use the cycleway from Tauranga are encouraged to park at the Wairoa River Road carpark and cycle between the Wairoa River Bridge and Omokoroa. 

For detailed information on the cycle trail's progress and individual sections, click here.

Katikati urban cycle and walking trails

There are a number of shared trails around the Katikati urban area. Check out this map (PDF, 3MB) for existing trails. For more information on the urban cycle/walkways click here.  

Paengaroa to Lake Rotoiti cycleway - Kaikōkopu

This new rural cycle trail – Kaikōkopu - between Paengaroa and Okere opened in June 2020. 

The return journey from Paengaroa to Okere Falls is about 62km (approx. four hours), or approximately 12km from Ridge Road Reserve to Okere Falls (30 minutes).  Fit riders, who like riding uphill, can start at Paengaroa and get picked up by car at the Okere Falls Store and driven back to Paengaroa.

The trail moves through native bush from Paengaroa into the lakes area north of Okere, with cyclists able to cycle into Okere and, in the future, will be able to bike to Rotorua, or back to Papamoa.

The trail has a gravel surface for about 10 kilometres with stunning views to the offshore islands and Bay of Plenty coast. Along the way are the Paengaroa cafes, the Comvita Visitor Centre, with onward options to Papamoa Beach or Maketu.

Click here for details of this rural cycleway.

Other western Bay cycleways 

Click here for information on other western Bay cycleways and more detailed information on them in general.

ROTORUA

There is an abundance of places to ride your bike in Rotorua from the forest to the growing shared path network, connecting our suburbs to the inner city and mountain biking facilities.

Please find below an overview of the trails you can try as part of the Aotearoa Cycling Challenge:

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 (Reeme St Reserve/Ngongotahā Lakefront to the city. The trail provides 9km 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 at the Waiteti Stream end of the Reeme St Reserve in Ngongotahā and finishes in the city, connecting to the shared path on Lake Road.

Whakarewarewa Forest

More than 100km of Mountain Bike trails can be accessed from the Waipa Mountain bike hub, Tītokorangi Dr (formally known as Long Mile Rd) and the new ‘Te Pūtake o Tawa’ (Forest Hub 2) on Tarawera Rd . 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. Visit www.redwoods.co.nz

Dodzy Skills Park

Set up in memory of James "Dodzy" Dodds, the Dodzy Skills park is situated at the end of Tītokorangi Dr (formally known as Long Mile Rd), just past the Redwoods I-site and Redwoods Treewalk. Features several jump lines, a slalom track and kids run.

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 Waikite Hot Pools and 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 at the Government Gardens (Hinemaru St). 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 an interactive biking map, which includes the growing shared path network as well as bike parking facilities in Rotorua (excluding mountain bike trails)

EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY

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.

Tirohanga Dunes Trail

Enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Whakaari (White Island) and towards East Cape. Meandering over Ōpōtiki’s dunes and beach, it’s just as good for walking and running as it is for biking. With no hills above 15 metres, and plenty of places to access the sand, children love it! 

The Dunes Trail starts from Memorial Park Reserve, Ōpōtiki. It travels 10 km along the Pacific Ocean coast to Jackson Road, where the Motu Road Trail starts. There are multiple places to access the trail. Most people park at the start of the track at Memorial Park in Ōpōtiki, at Hukuwai Beach at 3 km, or at Tirohanga at 6 km. The eastern end of the trail is in the Tirohanga Conservation Reserve. Click here for more information

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.

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.

Burma Road Cycling Track - Ohope to Whakatane 

The Burma Road cycle track is an easy to intermediate grade ride with some beautiful scenery - and a chance to spot a kiwi!

Access Burma Road from the top of the Ohope Hill or Wainui Road by cycling up the unsealed Maraetotara Road in Ohope. Check out detailed route instructions and hints for the trip by clicking here.

Other Eastern Bay of Plenty cycle routes

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)