5-8 Hrs 35 Km

Highlights

  • Pristine native forest
  • Historic huts
  • Sense of accomplishment

Proximity

  • by car:

    1 hr 40 mins from Rotorua

  • by car:

  • by car:

    2 hrs from Taupō

Cross Country

Grade 4 - Advanced

This remote and challenging ride features towering trees, historic hiking huts and rare native birdlife within the North Island’s ancient Whirinaki Forest.

For the passionate mountain biker the Moerangi MTB Track has earned itself a reputation as a 'must-do'.
Rotorua
Moerangi Mountain Biking Track, Rotorua

Riding the trail

Whirinaki Forest in Rotorua is one of the great podocarp forests of the world, with impressive stands of native trees including rimu, tōtara, and kahikatea – the tallest of New Zealand’s giants. As recently as the 1980s the forest in this area was still being felled for timber, but – as a result of one of the country’s most significant conservation battles – this precious remnant was saved from the loggers’ saws.

Now protected as the Whirinaki Forest/Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, the forest is now the realm of the birds, and visited by hikers, hunters and mountain bikers who penetrate this remote wilderness via a network of trails. Passing through the heart of the park, the 35 km Moerangi Mountain Biking Trail follows old hiking routes for much of the way, as well as newer sections built especially for mountain bikers.

Plan your mountain biking holiday

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Key Mountain Biking Tour Operators

Enjoy the freedom of riding without the hassle of logistics by taking a guided or self-guided mountain bike tour.

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New Zealand Mountain Biking Tips & FAQs

Few countries in the world serve up such diverse riding – from urban forest trails to rugged, remote mountaintop tracks. Plan to stay safe and savour them.

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New Zealand Travel Guide

Planning a biking holiday to New Zealand? Read our practical travel advice before you depart.

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