Whakarewarewa Forest Mountain Biking (The Redwoods)
Also known as: The Redwoods, Whaka, Whakarewarewa Forest Park, Long Mile Road / Titokorangi Drive
Californian redwoods, native forest, geothermal surrounds
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Whakarewarewa Forest Mountain Biking (The Redwoods) - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
NZ Grade 1-6
Group split - families/beginners ride Kids' Loop (428 m, G1), Verry Easy, Tahi (G2) from Waipa; intermediates the G2 Forest Loop (~31-33 km); experts shuttle Hill Rd to G3-6 DH; Te Putake o Tawa for intermediates
Excellent whole-group fit - family/beginner loops through to pro DH; shuttle for non-climbers
The riding
Volcanic loam singletrack through native bush and redwoods; berms, jumps, roots
Flowy G2 to technical G5-6 downhill; wet roots after rain
Well-signed network; trail-map boards at Waipa/Tawa; Trailforks app
Busy, popular network; large trail count disperses riders
Season & conditions
Rideable all year (temperate; no snow)
Year-round; driest/settled ~Nov-Apr
Crankworx Rotorua festival and Whaka 100 events
Volcanic pumice soils drain fast and ride well in rain; wettest ~Jun-Aug
Getting there & gear
Free public access; shuttle and hire paid
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Waipa main MTB car park (13/33 Waipa State Mill Rd, off SH5), ~15 min from Rotorua; also Te Putake o Tawa and Redwoods/Titokorangi
Mountain Bike Rotorua Shuttles daily (weather/harvest/event dependent); Hill Rd uplift ~10am-3pm Mon-Thu, to 6pm Fri, to 4pm weekends; book 07 348 4295
Water refill at Waipa/Tawa; signal good near city-side, patchy in outer sections
Waipa - 12 toilets, 4 showers, accessible toilets, bike wash, water, large sealed parking (gate 6am-10.30pm), Trail Kitchen cafe, Secret Spot Hot Pools & bar, MTB Rotorua workshop/hire. Te Putake o Tawa - toilets, showers, water, bike wash, Grounded cafe
Mountain Bike Rotorua (hire/shuttle, Waipa & Tawa); Planet Bike (hire, Eight Mile)
Hazards & rescue
Shared-use trails, active forestry vehicles, wet roots; live closures on Trailforks
Not required; guiding and skills clinics available
On-forest First Response Unit (Rotorua MTB Club) 0800 WHAKA1; 111 otherwise; 4WD forest-road evac; Rotorua Hospital ~10-15 min
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.