Last updated November 2026
Rotorua Lakes Council puts the Mokopuna Trail first among its family-friendly bike rides: a 3.2 km loop on smooth, hard-packed gravel through Douglas fir, larch and redwood, starting and finishing at the Redwoods i-SITE on Tītokorangi Drive.
RotoruaNZ describes it as an easy, wide, undulating two-way trail that little children can ride, balance bikes included, alongside an adult. When a young rider is ready for more, the Tītokorangi Loop from the same visitor centre is 8.5 km at grade 2 to 3. Entry to the forest is free.
Practical Information
- Start
- Redwoods i-SITE Visitor Centre, Tītokorangi Drive, Whakarewarewa (RotoruaNZ: alongside Tītokorangi Drive, near Tarawera Road)
- Distance from the city
- 4.7 km by bike from the city centre, about 20 minutes (council biking guide)
- Mokopuna Trail
- 3.2 km loop, smooth hard-packed gravel, two-way
- Tītokorangi Loop
- 8.5 km, grade 2 to 3 (easy to intermediate), 2 to 3 hours
- Shared with
- Walkers and families with prams
- Access
- Free entry to the forest, tracks and visitor centre
- Hours
- Biking and walking access at any time; main vehicle gates 5.30am to 10.30pm; visitor centre 7am to 11pm (closed Christmas Day)
- Managed by
- Rotorua Lakes Council (the Redwoods reserve)
- Status
- Check the Rotorua Trails Trust closures page for current felling closures before you ride
About Mokopuna Trail and Tītokorangi Loop
The council calls the Mokopuna Trail “a great introduction to off-road cycling”. It is a smooth gravel loop from the visitor centre through Douglas fir, larch and redwood, with punga ferns growing beneath.
Unlike most of the trails on RotoruaNZ’s family list it is two-way, and walkers and families pushing prams use it too, so RotoruaNZ asks riders to “share with care”. RotoruaNZ suggests it for little ones, balance bikes included, with an adult riding or running alongside.
The Tītokorangi Loop is the next step up. Ngā Haerenga lists it as one of the day rides in Whakarewarewa Forest, starting at the visitor centre on Tītokorangi Drive and graded 2 to 3, so expect some intermediate sections. Allow two to three hours.
Tītokorangi, the Redwoods, is the part of Whakarewarewa Forest the council looks after: the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club’s history page says the council took over the public reserve area in 2006. The land under the forest, the Redwoods included, returned to Māori ownership in 2009 under a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and free recreational access was retained.
Riding with Kids
Start on the Mokopuna Trail. The 3.2 km loop brings you back to the visitor centre, and RotoruaNZ suggests it for children on balance bikes as long as an adult rides or runs with them.
The Tītokorangi Loop is longer, at 8.5 km, and graded 2 to 3, so expect some intermediate riding before you take younger children on it. The council encourages using the forest in daylight hours only.
Getting There
The Redwoods i-SITE is on Tītokorangi Drive, and the council’s biking guide gives the ride from the city centre to Tītokorangi as 4.7 km, about 20 minutes. If you drive, note that the main vehicle gates open at 5.30am and close at 10.30pm.
Where to Learn More
Rotorua Lakes Council: Family-friendly bike rides: the Mokopuna Trail and the council’s other easy rides.
Rotorua Lakes Council: The Redwoods, Tītokorangi Whakarewarewa Forest: opening hours, entry and the visitor centre.
Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails: Whakarewarewa Forest Loop: day rides in the forest, including the Tītokorangi Loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Mokopuna Trail?
It is a 3.2 km loop that starts and finishes at the Redwoods i-SITE.
Is it suitable for balance bikes?
Yes. RotoruaNZ says little children on balance bikes can ride it alongside an adult.
What is the surface like?
Smooth, hard-packed gravel, according to the council.
Is it shared with walkers?
Yes. It is two-way and used by walkers and families with prams, so RotoruaNZ asks riders to share with care.
How hard is the Tītokorangi Loop?
It is graded 2 to 3 (easy to intermediate), 8.5 km long and takes two to three hours.
Does it cost anything?
No. Entry to the forest, tracks and visitor centre is free.
Can I ride there from town?
Yes. The council’s biking guide gives the city centre to Tītokorangi as 4.7 km, about 20 minutes.
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