Mountain Bike Trails in Taupo

Craters of the Moon Express Delivery

This is an easy shortcut between the new carpark (off Inwards Goods) and the old Craters carpark beside Karapiti Rd. The trail has two separate single way portions at the eastern end. The outward link starts further up Inward Goods just after the pinch climb; turn left to head to Tourist Trap and right to head to Express Delivery and the old carpark.

Lions Walk

The Great Lake Walkway is a great thing to do in Taupo for anyone as it is an easy stroll along the lake edge, beginning at the Taupo Boat Harbour and following the Lake Terrace south. The Great Lake Walkway starts at the Taupo Boat Harbour but you can start and finish your walk or ride anywhere along the trail. You could take a short 5-minute stroll or ride the entire length. The trail is an easy grade 1 bike ride, suitable for riders of every skill level, from absolute beginners to experts wanting a relaxed, scenic cruise. This is riding at its most basic level and is an ideal opportunity for a family to experience Lake Taupo together. From the harbor, the trail passes the Lake Taupo Yacht Club, then follows the path beside the Lake Terrace to the Taharepa Road Reserve where a paved track skirts the lake edge to Two Mile Bay then to Wharewaka Point. The Great Lake Walkway has been extended by a local family and now finishes at Five Mile Bay. Take in the stunning views of the magnificent mountains of the Tongariro National Park - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe across the lake. The views are even more spectacular in the winter when the mountains are covered in snow. The track passes a number of popular hotels and motels, as well as hot water spots where you can stop and dip your toes in the hot sand. Kowhai trees have been planted along the way to provide shelter for local wildlife. Ideal picnic and swimming spots can be found along the way. Plenty of opportunity to feed the ducks and admire the swans. Toilets can be found in all of the bays and there is a children’s playground and barbecue facility at Wharewaka. Return via the same track or arrange transport back to town. With stunning scenery and lapping lake water on the pumice beaches, this popular Taupo walking and cycling trail is a therapeutic and relaxing walk for any age group.

Log in

Entrance to the park off Wairakei Drive. Ride in from the carpark, pass through the squeeze gate and ride on to access Bumble Bee, SH Fun or Zip.

Te Iringa

This is an out and back ride with a mix of bike carrying. What looks un-rideable as you carry your bike on the way out, is a good fun technical ride on the way back. Most fun is had riding back. Either turn around at the end of the tight switchbacks above where the Tikitiki Stream and Kaipo River join, or head on to Oamaru hut, another 1.5hrs, for an overnighter. Below from Classic NZ Mountain Bike Rides:The semi-rideable track climbs 330m from the carpark to a clearing where the old Te Iringa Hut used to be, then skirts around Mt Te Iringa (1241m) before dropping down to a swingbridge just downstream from the junction of Tikitiki Stream and Kaipo River. Cross the swingbridge and turn left to take the main track down the Kaipo Valley to Oamaru Hut (12 bunks) by the confluence of the Kaipo and Oamaru rivers. This is a big day packed with with technical riding, so it is recommend staying the night at the hut overnight and soaking up the wilderness, rather than racing through. From here you have to ride back the same way you came as all other tracks are closed to bikes..

Titoki Gully shared path

Bike Taupo has now built a wide recreation path through the gully system that starts at Hyde Avenue near the Botanical Gardens and meanders all the way to Richmond Avenue. Cross the road at Richmond Avenue and continue on through to Bernard Street or lower Ingle Avenue. With other access ways onto the new path from Normand Place and Titoki Avenue, bikers and pedestrians have alternative ways of getting to the Botanical Gardens, Richmond Heights Shopping Centre and the Lake. It also enables children walking or cycling to school to take a more creative and fun route. If by cycle they get to have a small mountain bike experience on the way to school and on the way home from school. The Titoki Gully Path is the first of a few gully projects Bike Taupo is now working on. This work has been made possible from the generous donation of funds from Taupo Moana Rotary Club (and you’ll notice their symbol on our wooden signage), so we would like to thank them hugely for their support. Other groups we would like to thank are Bramley Builders (installation and donation of materials for the foot bridge); Tenon (for the supply of sign posts); Router Art (reduced router rate); Lake Hire (reduced digger hire) and the Taupo District Council (signage and support).Have a look through the gully photos or better still grab your bike and go exploring - you won’t be disappointed.

Tongariro River Trail

This is a popular and well known trourist trail from Turangi heading south along the banks of the Tongariro River to Red Hut Bridge where bikers can cross over and return on the opposite side. It includes heaps of scenic and tourist features, from riding through mature beech forests to manuka and fern groves, from urban homes along the Tongariro River to farmland, wide views over the Tongariro River, the trail is usually shared with anglers and walkers with several options available and additional loops for the enthusiasts. From the road bridge over SH1 it extends about 9 km south via the Tongariro Trout centre which is a destination in itself. Several picnic spots and parks with toilets are located along the route. Contour is generally easy - it is all 'bikeable' by novices - being more of a tourist trail than a biking challenge.

Waihaha hut

Primarily a hiking track, MTB is allowed. The track follows the Waihaha River through shrubland before entering dense podocarp forest. The Waihaha Hut is in a clearing overlooking the river where the Waihaha Track meets the Hauhungaroa Track.