Last updated October 2026
About five minutes’ drive from central Rotorua, Whakarewarewa Forest, the Redwoods, is what RotoruaNZ calls “a mecca for mountain bikers”, with trails through native and exotic forest. How big depends on who is counting: RotoruaNZ says more than 180 km, while Rotorua Trails Trust, which maintains the trails, puts it at 300 km.
Entry to the forest and its tracks is free, and the council says biking and walking access is open at any time. The two riding hubs are Waipā, the main access point off State Highway 5, and Te Pūtake o Tawa on the road to Tikitapu. Felling closes trails from time to time.
Practical Information
- Main entrances
- Waipā MTB hub and car park, Waipa State Mill Road (off State Highway 5); Te Pūtake o Tawa, on the road to Tikitapu; the Redwoods i-SITE, Tītokorangi Drive
- Distance from the city
- The main entrance is about five minutes’ drive from central Rotorua (council)
- Trail network
- More than 180 km (RotoruaNZ); 300 km (Rotorua Trails Trust)
- Grading
- Mountain bike grades run from Grade 1 (easiest) to Grade 6 (extreme) (council biking guide); the Forest Loop is grade 2 to 3
- Access
- Free entry to the forest and tracks; biking and walking access at any time
- Vehicle gates
- Main gates open 5.30am to 10.30pm
- Maps and signs
- Trails are signed, with maps at key junctions; paper maps from Rotorua i-SITEs, bike shops and hire companies
- Shuttles
- Public shuttles run to the high points; 4WD vehicles can be chartered by groups
- Trails maintained by
- Rotorua Trails Trust
- Status
- Check the Rotorua Trails Trust closures page for current felling closures before you ride
About Whakarewarewa Forest
Riding here means moving between two kinds of forest: RotoruaNZ describes trails through both native and exotic forest. The trails are “well signed with maps at key junctions”, and paper maps are available from the Rotorua i-SITEs, bike shops and hire companies.
Mountain biking in the forest began in 1993, when local rider Fred Christensen and a group of community service workers built the first trails; the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club was founded the same year.
The network has grown ever since, and Rotorua Trails Trust now looks after it, funded by donations, grants, service agreements with Rotorua Lakes Council and volunteer work. The trust says a trail costs $2 a metre a year to maintain. The trust and RotoruaNZ both ask riders who enjoy the trails to consider a donation.
The land itself has a long history. The club’s forest history page records that the land under Whakarewarewa Forest and the Redwoods returned to Māori ownership in July 2009 as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and that free recreational access was retained.
The council took over management of the Redwoods public reserve area in 2006, and any activity beyond general access on foot, by bike or on horseback needs a permit.
Newer riders have a clear place to begin: RotoruaNZ calls the Kids’ Loop at Waipā the easiest trail. The Whakarewarewa Forest Loop, a 36 km Great Ride around the whole forest, is mostly easy, with Ngā Haerenga grading it 2 to 3 and allowing three to five hours.
Where to Start: the Forest Hubs
Waipā
Waipā, on Waipa State Mill Road off State Highway 5, is the main access point for mountain bikers. New facilities and forest access were built there in 2014, and today it has toilets, showers, bike hire, wash-down stations, food and drink, tour guides and hot tubs. The beginner trails start here, just across the bridge from the car park.
Te Pūtake o Tawa
The forest’s second hub opened in 2020 on the road to Tikitapu. It gives more direct access to some of the higher trails and to the Lake Tikitapu section of the Forest Loop, and has food and drink, a bike wash, hire, toilets and showers.
The Redwoods i-SITE
The visitor centre on Tītokorangi Drive is the start for two of the easier rides, the Mokopuna Trail and the Tītokorangi Loop. Entry to the visitor centre is free too.
Riding from the Top of Tawa
Tawa, at 765 m, is the highest point in the forest, and two DOC trails start there. From the Waipā car park, DOC directs riders up Waipa State Mill Road, which becomes Hill Road, for 5.5 km, then right onto Moerangi Road for 1 km and left onto Tawa Road for 2.5 km to the top. DOC notes that shuttles run to the entrances of many trails in the forest.
Te Tihi o Tawa Trail
Built by the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club, Te Tihi o Tawa drops about 180 m from the top of Tawa, so most of it is downhill. It winds through mature native forest of tawa, māhoe, five finger with mistletoe and young rātā, and joins Billy T about halfway down.
DOC does not give a grade or length for the trail, so check the DOC page and the trail signs before you commit.
Tuhoto Ariki Trail
The other trail from the top, the Tuhoto Ariki Trail, is a shared walking and biking track through native bush, built by the club and named after the Tūhourangi tohunga who foretold the Tarawera eruption. DOC rates it advanced, with technical climbs as well as long descents.
Felling Closures and Sharing the Trails
Whakarewarewa is a working forest, and Rotorua Trails Trust says closures depend on the timing and location of felling and can change without notice. Forest roads including Moerangi, Buchanan, Hill, Reservoir, Tawa and Tikitapu roads may be closed for a time or carry logging trucks. Check the trust’s closures page on the day you ride.
The trails are shared. RotoruaNZ asks riders to keep an eye out for and slow down at intersections, where they may meet other cyclists, trail dogs, people on foot or even horse riders, and the trust asks horse riders to keep off the walking and mountain bike trails because hooves damage the soft soil.
Where to Learn More
Rotorua Trails Trust: Trail closures: current felling closures and road notices, and how to donate to trail upkeep.
Rotorua Lakes Council: The Redwoods, Tītokorangi Whakarewarewa Forest: entry, opening hours and the visitor centre.
Department of Conservation: Te Tihi o Tawa Trail: DOC’s trail information for the top of the forest, including directions from Waipā. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to ride in Whakarewarewa Forest?
Yes. The council says entry to the forest and its tracks is free.
How many kilometres of trails are there?
Figures vary: more than 180 km according to RotoruaNZ, and 300 km according to Rotorua Trails Trust.
Where should I start?
Waipā, off State Highway 5, is the main hub for mountain bikers. Te Pūtake o Tawa, on the road to Tikitapu, gives more direct access to some of the higher trails.
What grades are the trails?
Mountain bike trails are graded from 1 (easiest) to 6 (extreme). The Kids’ Loop at Waipā is the easiest in the forest, and the Forest Loop is grade 2 to 3.
Are any trails closed?
Felling closes some trails from time to time, and closures can change without notice. Check the Rotorua Trails Trust closures page on the day you ride.
Can I get a shuttle to the top?
Yes. Public shuttles run to the high points in the forest, and groups can charter a 4WD.
When can I ride?
The council says biking and walking access is open at any time, though the main vehicle gates open at 5.30am and close at 10.30pm.
Who looks after the trails?
Rotorua Trails Trust, funded by donations, grants, council service agreements and volunteers.
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