TE ARA AHI Thermal by Bike TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE Whakarewarewa Forest MTB Park © Vaughan Brookfield / Tourism NZ ROTORUA Thermal Springs. Each is unique in TRAIL INFO to WAIKITE VALLEY its amazing geothermal features and flora and fauna, and steeped in Maori history and mesmerising folklore. Other unique features along the 2 days 48km trail include Rotorua’s Government 2 Days Gardens, the Lake Okaro 48km restoration project (re-established wetland), Rainbow Mountain, Te Ara Ahi, meaning ‘pathway of fire’, Te Ranga Hot Pools (better known delves into a geothermal wonderland as Kerosene Creek), and the Waikite Geothermal Field. Most TRAIL GRADES: of steaming vents, bubbling mud pools of the geothermal areas are well ROTORUA TO WAIMANGU and spectacular geysers. established tourist attractions, with VOLCANIC VALLEY GRADE 2-3 a wide range of amenities such as (EASY TO INTERMEDIATE) cafés, souvenir shops, toilets and bike A 30km ride taking 3-4 hours. his 48km trail winds its way adventure just waiting to be had. storage facilities. WAIMANGU VOLCANIC past some truly magnificent Between the trail heads at Rotorua We recommend you take at least VALLEY TO WAIKITE VALLEY geothermal features. and the Waikite Valley Thermal T THERMAL POOLS two days to ride this trail. And if you Add sparkling lakes, lush forests, Pools, this trail takes riders to GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) want more after that, Rotorua will significant cultural sites, soothing four significant geothermal fields: An 18km ride taking 2-3 hours. oblige – the city is a mountain-biking thermal pools and adrenalin- Whakarewarewa, Waimangu mecca, with a range of world-class MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: pumping adventure activities to the Volcanic Valley, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal trails to explore. There’s good mobile phone mix, and you’ve got one incredible Wonderland and Waikite Valley coverage from the start of the trail at Princes Gate through to Waiotapu but no reception on Waikite Valley Rd. look out for... The Redwoods DRINKING WATER: Don’t miss Whakarewarewa Fresh drinking water is available Tamaki Maori Village traditional Maori way of life by learning Forest and its area known at cafés at the Rotorua mountain the haka, a poi dance or warrior bike car park in the Waipa Valley, Experience manaakitanga – Maori as ‘The Redwoods’, which training, and enjoy weaving, carving Waimangu Volcanic Valley, hospitality – during an evening is always popular for its and facial tattooing displays. This Wai-O-Tapu Thermal of ceremonial rituals, cultural towering Californian coastal pre-European Maori village is nestled Wonderland, Waikite Valley performance, storytelling and a redwoods and the walking within a stunning 200-year-old native Thermal Pools and at Lake Okaro delicious hangi feast at the Tamaki and biking tracks that wind tawa forest. and the Waiotapu Tavern. Maori Village. Immerse yourself in the their way beneath them. 37 Prince’s Gate carving © Adrian Hodge 5 Lake Rotorua 30 ROTORUA Sulphur Bay Reserve Lake Okataina Lake Okareka Whakarewarewa Te Puia Hemo Gorge Whakarewarewa MTB Park MAP LEGEND Tikitapu Lake Tarawera (Blue Lake) open section 5 optional route Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake) start / finish point Stand Up Paddleboarding © Destination Rotorua point of interest Along the trail TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE AA Centre Tamaki Maori Village hat other cycle trail indigenous culture at a Maori patterns. You can also see spine- FAMILY FUN i-SITE Visitor Centre Lake Rotomahana offers you the chance to village. Options include Tamaki tingling cultural performances. Visit Skyline Skyrides, one of town WAIMANGU “Nowhere else in the Wsee boiling mud pools, Maori Village and Whakarewarewa, Lakes also feature heavily along the Rotorua’s most iconic attractions. erupting geysers and colourful a living Maori village that relies on café/restaurant world can you get on trail, with lakes Rotorua, Tikitapu Here you can take a gondola ride Okaro Road a pushbike and ride crater lakes? Geothermal spots to geothermal power for everyday (Blue Lake), Rotokakahi (Green to the top of Mt Ngongotaha to toilets 5 Lake Okaro for 48km past four check out are Te Whakarewarewa living. At Whakarewarewa, residents Lake), Okaro and Ohakuri all enjoy panoramic views, a café and camping geothermal attractions.” Valley, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, provide a tour with a difference offering a different outlook. restaurant and a store dedicated Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland – from telling village stories to to Jelly Belly jelly beans, among car park WAIKITE VALLEY Rainbow Mountain is accessible Waikite Valley Rainbow Mountain Todd McClay, and the Paeroa Thermal Bluffs. A cooking meals and explaining how other attractions, before zooming THERMAL POOLS Road from the trail, and here you’ll find a accommodation Kerosene Creek MP for Rotorua journey along this trail wouldn’t they use the landscape for bathing, down the hill in a luge, a Rotorua- d steep and technical mountain biking ey Roa (Te Ranga) 1 state highway all be complete without experiencing laundry and predicting weather designed three-wheeled cart. V loop trail with incredible views. ite Waiotapu ik 38 At Waimangu Volcanic Valley you a W Wai-O-Tapu to Wairoa can relax in the café or pay to go for Thermal a walk on trails through one of the Wonderland world’s youngest thermal areas. 5 Whirinaki Stream e WAIMANGU VOLCANIC g n a VALLEY TO WAIKITE VALLEY R a THERMAL POOLS, 18KM d ro oa ae R P From Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Winding through ia p continue along Waimangu Rd, past o a geothermal K Lake Okaro picnic area (campsites e T available) and onto SH 38. Take care wonderland, this trail L a crossing the highway and follow the journeys past serene k e off-road cycle path around Maunga O lakes, hot pools, h 5 Kakaramea, Rainbow Mountain. a k Maori villages and u Waihunuhunu Stream r to Taupo After passing a roadside picnic area i © AA Traveller 2018 the trail climbs further around the lush forests. mountain and drops down to cross the gravel Old Waiotapu Rd. Here you can turn left to go to Te Ranga (a thermally-heated stream locally riding the trail known as Kerosene Creek) or you Rotorua Waimangu Waikite Valley can carry on straight ahead on an Thermal Pools off-road trail all the way to Waiotapu. 30km 18km 600m Parts of the trail are steep here 400m 200m and may require walking. At 0m Waiotapu you will find a hotel with accommodation, a petrol station and Guided Tour • Retail Store • Cafe Restore a honey factory with a café and shop. ROTORUA TO WAIMANGU historic Whakarewarewa Maori Village off the trail on your left). Here you will VOLCANIC VALLEY, 30KM (the village entrance is on Tryon St, find a café and bike hire etc. From the Make a 2km side trip to the Waiotapu 200m off the trail on your left). mountain bike car park, ride 150m Mud Pool and the Wai-O-Tapu AN ALL AGE, From the Rotorua i-SITE, ride east on towards the highway to the start Thermal Wonderland (paid entry). From the turn-off to the village, TOUR NOW Arawa St to the start of the trail at the of a concrete bike path, which runs From Waiotapu follow the Waikite continue following signs south past Te INCLUDING: ALL WEATHER ATTRACTION Prince’s Gate Archway a few hundred alongside the highway for several Valley Rd for 6km to the Waikite Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and MANUKA HONEY metres away. kilometres of smooth easy riding. The Valley Thermal Pools – there is CALL TO BOOK. OPEN 7 DAYS Crafts Institute, through Hemo Gorge HEARTLAND trail then follows Waimangu Rd to the camping and a café here. Follow the trail signs through to the entrance to the Whakarewarewa VIRTUAL REALITY 0800 BEES BEES / 07 533 1987 Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which is Government Gardens then around the Forest mountain biking area (100m Note: The best time to ride is INSTALLATION 23 Wilson Road South (Off SH33), Paengaroa, Te Puke 3153 31km from Rotorua. edge of Lake Rotorua for 6km to the between November and April. Email: [email protected] www.experiencecomvita.com 38 39 Places to See Traditional Art & Craft See colourful crater lakes, shooting he Government Gardens in geysers and central Rotorua surround what was the old bath house, scalding hot mud T now the Rotorua Museum. Although pools just minutes the museum is currently closed for from the city earthquake strengthening, you can centre. still take a free guided tour of the Government Gardens at 11am and 2pm daily (weather dependant). The nearby lakefront precinct is a hive of activity with plenty of restaurants, Mountain bike mecca cafés and pop-up attractions. Kuirau Park, which is dotted with Rotorua is a mountain biking sociable Mountain Bike Hub on bubbling mud pools, hot springs and destination par excellence – Waipa State Mill Road. hot footbaths, is a free attraction. ranked one of the six pre-eminent New Zealand’s first year-round Described as a ‘thermal wonderland’, Ride Centres in the world by the gondola-assisted bike park, Skyline See traditional Maori art Wai-O-Tapu, meaning ‘sacred waters’, TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE International Mountain Biking TE ARA AHI – THERMAL BY BIKE Gravity Park takes the grunt out of a and craft being created at is a globally renowned attraction Association. 200m vertical rise, giving easy access a Maori village or check out about 30km south of Rotorua, just off ‘The Redwoods’ in Whakarewarewa to a 13km network of world-class, the public art works in the the trail. It features stunning mineral Forest is one of the biggest trail downhill mountain biking. With 12 terraces, lots of bubbling mud pools, networks in the country, with 85 trails trails ranging from grade two (easy) to city’s gardens and buildings.