Lake Mangamahoe Mountain Bike Park

NZ grades 2 to 6; majority are grades 3-4 rideable by average riders, with family grade 2s near the entrance and expert grade 6 lines.

GROUP SPLIT: beginners/families stay on the grade 2 trails near the entrance such as Kiwi Kids, Sinclair's, HiHi and Fantail, while advanced riders climb the forest gravel roads to session steep descents like Track the Ripper, Mandatory, Stumpy's Mayhem, Highway to Hell and Cash-Flow; regroup at the facilities centre car park.

Very accessible, about a 10-minute (roughly 11 km) drive south of New Plymouth on SH3; compact layout with trails for all abilities suits mixed-ability groups well.

Clay-based plantation-forest singletrack that drains reasonably well, with built jumps, drops, berms and steep loose sections; forest gravel roads for climbing.

Trails are short but pack a punch with jump and drop features, steep and loose terrain and a freeride vibe; harder lines are technically demanding, especially in the wet.

Trailheads are well sign-marked, but the club recommends taking a map for the first few visits; downloadable forest map plus up-to-date Trailforks data.

Taranaki's premier and busiest MTB venue; moderate crowds at weekends and events, quieter midweek.

Open all year; no snow closure (low-elevation plantation forest).

Rideable year-round; clay-based soils are best in the dry, often at their peak with just a bit of moisture (drier summer/autumn preferred).

Features in the Taranaki Summer Trails Series; strong summer riding scene.

Main entrance and angled parking on Plantation Road off SH3, just past the Lake Mangamahoe turnoff; facilities centre a short way up the main forestry gravel road. A Hydro Road ride-in link is also described on Trailforks.

Self-shuttle/pedal up the forest gravel roads for descents; no commercial uplift. Drive-in from New Plymouth in about 10 minutes.

Standard MTB kit and helmet; bike wash, tools and pump at the facilities centre; carry your own water and food.

Public toilet, bike wash station, bike tools, pump, picnic seating and several picnic areas; events and facilities centre up the main gravel road.

New Plymouth Mountain Bikers (club); New Plymouth bike shops for hire and service; nearby Busing Forest and ROTOZ dirt jumps.

Steep, loose and technical descents with jumps/drops; clay surfaces slippery in the wet. Well-behaved dogs welcome but must be kept 200 m from the lake edge and on lead elsewhere.

None required; take a map on early visits.

Compact network with forest-road egress to the Plantation Road car park; dial 111 in an emergency, New Plymouth services roughly 10-15 minutes away.