Mountain Bike Trails in Whitianga

Chicken

CHICKEN trail starts at "the Hub" where Park Lane, Tank and Quarry trails all meet. An easy ride across the quarry face and then through the bush to a drop off at the end where it joins the far end of Park Lane trail.

Dragons Tail

Half way around Fieldmouse trail is THE DRAGONS TAIL. This is a series of linked small hills with a trail over them. Ideal for BMX bikes.

Fieldmouse

This trail is named after local inhabitants. The trail snakes through the area and is a shell and road metal surface. There are small bridges over the streams as well as skill ramps and some low jumps where you can “air”. Sheep keep the grass short but do not chase them. No dogs permitted in park this paddock. The trail starts inside the main entry gate.

Fun Zone

The FUN ZONE is located just inside the entry gate from Moewai Rd. It consists of a series of ramps above the ground, and some see saws. The idea is to learn riding skills. It is an area where young can ride their bikes whilst a parent can sit in their car in the park outside the gate.

Hi Octane

HI Octane starts at the summit junction opposite the entrance to Rattle Snake. Easy ride through the trees and then a steep twisting steep ride to the bottom. Can be very wet and muddy. Some sharp turns have berms. There are no run out sections on the trail, you must keep moving. Some sharp drops. The exit is by the golf course, at the end of Park Lane which is the way back home and the bike wash.

Home

Home trail starts at the end of Park Lane and follows around the base of the hill. It meets Scratchy Lane and Orion’s Belt trails then carries on down past the pump house to Power Pole Bridge and Ground Effect Bike Wash. Green trail markers.

Nuts And Bolts

NUTS & BOLTS starts from Tank trail. This is a clay based trail and goes through a cutting and then follows a line down the quarry face, crossing Chicken trail to meet Park Lane trail. The only trail markings are caution signs and the “trail cross” sign. Stand on the pedals It is usually is fairly dry.

Orion's Belt

You enter ORION’S BELT by going left at the exit of Park Lane exit. It follows a bulge around a bluff through manuka scrub, past the entry to Skylark and then a sharp descent on to a forestry access road where it rejoins Home trail.

Otama Rd (No71) to Matapaua Rd Paper Road

Originally double track, this has re-naturalized quite a bit and narrowed in places to an overgrown walking path. Bikes have recently begun using the connection to complete a loop from Opito Bay. The intersections are marked with blue plastic arrows, and sometimes with shells nailed to trees. There are also several offshoot walking trails. After the steep uphill doubletrack from the gate at the end of Whangapoa forestry section, a sharp left into the track. Ridgetops and a few steep mineral earth descent sections leads down to the exit along Stewart stream. There are a few optional jump features for the downhill enthusiast.

Park Lane

PARK LANE is two directional from junction with Quarry to the end by the golf course tee, where there are the exits of both Hi Octane and Chicken trails. On its way out, it crosses the quarry floor on a log surface, and meets Nuts & Bolts Trail, to meet at "the Hub", Tank Trail and continues through a green tunnel of bush where it meets Top Hat Trail, and Home trail.

Quarry

QUARRY trail starts inside the entry gate beside Fieldmouse trail but crosses the Power Pole Bridge. Follows the canal before heading uphill to Water Pump Bridge [town water supply pump house] and then on past Weta Junction [it used to be very very wet here] and into the bush. The trail has two Camel Humps for “air” but there is a detour. It passes the old quarry and continues along a flat trail under low trees to join Park Lane at "the Hub". Marked with Blue signs.

Rattle Snake

RATTLE SNAKE also starts from the summit junction but on opposite side of the hill to Hi Octane. It joins the Summit Loop downwards trail but then leaves it for a steep descent over logs and small drops until it meets Tank trail in the valley of Nikau palms. Surface is a challenge but fairly dry most times.

Rings Wetland Loop

Scratchy Lane

SCRATCHY LANE [no longer has two metre high blackberry remains now] Follows the perimeter of the BMX track and dirt track. Access from Quarry trail or Fieldmouse trail after crossing Three Trees bridge. Riding surface mainly shell. Ends at Weta Junction where you can cross to Home trail or carry on along Quarry trail.

Skylark

Short advanced trail linking Orion's Belt to Home trail.

Summit Loop

SUMMIT LOOP entry is from Tank trail. This trail does just that. It climbs and in parts you have to push the bike to the summit of the hill. You pass the entry to Swinger. At the top it is flat with big trees and three trail options. If you continue on Summit Loop the trail offers an easy exit and a harder exit. Both rejoin the Summit Loop trail. At the top you can enter Hi Octane trail or Rattlesnake trail.

Swinger

SWINGER trail starts part way up Summit Loop. A cruisey ride which swings around the trees and banks. It rejoins Tank but you can continue across Tank into Nuts And Bolts. Most times a good riding surface.

Tank

TANK trail access is near the end of Chicken trail. This is an undulating and at times twisty trail through the bush following a contour, and it provides the access to the upper tracks via Summit Loop trail, and to Nuts and Bolts trail. Near the end are the exits of Rattle Snake trail and Top Hat trail in a valley of Nikau palms, and the old water tank. It ends at "the Hub".

Top Hat

TOP HAT trail entry is near the Park Lane trail exit. This trail climbs up a headland to a magnificent grove of Kauri trees at the top. [Hence the name] You have to push the bike up part of it and then past the trunks of the trees, but it is a great view. After the trees there is a fast descent which swings through the trees and at the bottom a sloping bridge across the stream. Trail gets a bit muddy near the bridge. Water diversions and steps have been added to help riders control their descent. It joins the Tank trail and takes you back to Park Lane.

Two Guys

TWO GUYS starts on the fenceline above Orion's Belt, and crosses both Orion's Belt, and Skylark on it’s descent. Exits through the grass. Very Advanced. [Downhill/free ride specific. Extremely steep sections with jumps].