Te Mata Peak Trails
Also known as: Te Mata Park
Te Mata Peak (399 m), views over the Heretaunga Plains, Te Hau Valley, kowhai grove and redwood/deodar stands.
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Te Mata Peak Trails - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
NZ Grade 2 (easy) to Grade 6 (extreme).
GROUP SPLIT: beginners/kids ride Te Aratipi climb + Grade 3 Te Kahu/Te Kahika flow and the Tamariki Ako kids track; advanced riders take Grade 4 Te Ihu or Grade 6 Ngati Hori. No commercial uplift; climb via Te Aratipi/Chambers Walk (uphill only) or self-shuttle by car to the Saddle/Peak Road car parks for descent-only laps.
Strong family-to-expert spread, from the Tamariki Ako kids skills track to extreme lines, ideal for mixed groups based near town.
The riding
Purpose-built hardpack clay/dirt singletrack built by SouthStar Trails, some rocky sections.
Purpose-built flow trails with berms, tabletops, rollers, drops and jumps; Grade 4 Te Ihu is a classic old-school descent and Grade 6 Ngati Hori has ~2 m jumps (with Grade 4 chicken lines). Exposed peak ridgeline in wind.
Trails are signposted and largely separated from walkers with marked crossing points; interactive maps via the Trailforks app.
Popular and busy, especially weekends given proximity to Havelock North.
Season & conditions
Year-round; low elevation, effectively snow-free.
Rideable year-round.
Exposed, windy peak; hot dry summers; clay-based trails (e.g. Te Kahika) become slippery and are not to be ridden when wet.
Getting there & gear
Free public park, no permits. E-bikes over 300 W are not permitted.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Tauroa Road car park (end of Tauroa Rd), Main Gates car park, and Saddle/Peak car parks on Te Mata Peak Road; a few minutes from Havelock North village.
No commercial uplift; riders self-shuttle by car up Te Mata Peak Road or climb Te Aratipi/Chambers Walk.
Carry water; good mobile coverage near town.
Car parks and toilets; Peak House cafe/restaurant near the summit; Havelock North amenities nearby.
Revolution Bikes (Hastings) and local bike shops; Hawke's Bay MTB Club and Bennelong MTB Club.
Hazards & rescue
Shared trails with walkers; Chambers Walk is uphill-only (walk bikes downhill); Grade 6 jumps; slippery clay when wet.
None required; self-guided day riding.
Close to town with multiple road-accessible car parks along Te Mata Peak Road for quick egress.
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.