Whakarewarewa Forest and Skyline Gravity Park reign supreme in the region Red Bull calls ‘mountain bike heaven’.
Rotorua’s trails are the stuff dreams are made of: perfect dirt, with amazing flow, weaving through towering Redwoods. They’re mesmerising, fast, fun and practically endless.
Rotorua is a globally recognized mountain biking epicentre, distinguished by its unique geology and a highly developed trail infrastructure that caters to every level of rider.
Rotorua’s status as a premier mountain biking destination is due to its unique "brown gold" – a volcanic soil that offers exceptional grip and near-instant drainage, ensuring the trails remain rideable year-round even after heavy rain. This natural advantage is complemented by a massive infrastructure featuring over 200 kilometres of master-crafted tracks in the Whakarewarewa Forest, ranging from the accessible 33km Forest Loop "Great Ride" to expert-level Grade 6 descents. The region also boasts New Zealand’s first all-season, gondola-assisted bike park at Skyline, providing direct access to world-class gravity lines. These technical assets have earned Rotorua the Southern Hemisphere’s only IMBA Gold-Level Ride Centre™ status, cementing its reputation as a permanent host for elite international events like Crankworx and the Whaka 100.
