The Whakarewarewa Forest: A Trail Builder's Masterpiece
Rotorua does not need a sales pitch. The Whakarewarewa Forest — affectionately known as "The Redwoods" — is one of the most celebrated trail networks on Earth. Over 160 kilometres of purpose-built singletrack wind through towering California redwoods, native bush, and geothermal clearings where steam rises from the forest floor. It is surreal, it is beautiful, and the trails are immaculately maintained.
What makes Rotorua special is not just the quantity of trails but the quality. New Zealand trail builders are obsessive craftspeople. Every berm is shaped to perfection, every drainage channel is engineered, and every feature is built to flow. The result is riding that feels effortless even when the terrain is demanding. You carry speed through corners you would normally brake for, and you find yourself giggling like a kid on a playground.
Trails for Every Rider
The grading system in Rotorua is honest and well-marked. Green-graded trails like the Eagle vs Shark loop are genuinely fun for beginners without feeling dumbed-down. Blue trails like Split Enz and Dipper introduce berms, small drops, and speed. The black and double-black trails — think Corners with Wolves, Billy T, and the infamous Hemo Gorge trails — will push expert riders hard with steep chutes, rock gardens, and gap jumps.
The Skyline Gravity Park adds lift-accessed downhill into the mix. A gondola whisks you and your bike to the top, and you choose from a handful of runs that range from fast and flowy to flat-out gnarly. It is the perfect complement to the cross-country network in the forest below.
Connect with training partners, earn travel miles, and discover terrain worth crossing borders for.
Join ZealZagFollow us on InstagramRiding Through Geothermal Landscapes
Few mountain bike destinations can match the visual drama of Rotorua. Mid-ride, you may round a corner and find yourself pedalling along the edge of a steaming mud pool or past a clearing where sulphur-tinged air rises from cracks in the earth. The geothermal activity is a constant reminder that you are riding on genuinely unique ground. Trails like Tokorangi and the Te Ara Ahi cycleway bring you close to these features without disturbing them.
Culture, Food, and Recovery
Rotorua is a Maori cultural heartland, and the town embraces its heritage with warmth. Visit Te Puia or Ohinemutu to learn about the stories embedded in this landscape. After riding, soak your legs in natural hot springs at Polynesian Spa or the free Kerosene Creek — a geothermally heated river in the bush that is the ultimate recovery tool.
The food scene punches above its weight for a town this size. Eat Street offers everything from craft burgers to Thai street food, and there is no shortage of good coffee. Accommodation ranges from backpacker hostels to lakeside lodges, and the vibe is universally welcoming to riders.
Connect With Rotorua Riders on ZealZag
Rotorua is a place that rewards local knowledge — the best trail combinations, the hidden hot springs, the shop that does same-day brake bleeds. ZealZag connects you with the athletes and locals who know this network inside out. Whether you are planning a week-long trip or looking for someone to ride with tomorrow, the ZealZag community is your starting line. Jump in and discover Rotorua the way it is meant to be ridden.