NEW PARKS, EVENTS AND TRAILS HELP ESTABLISH NEW ZEALAND AS INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKING MECCA

Mountain biking is getting the biggest shake up it may ever see in New Zealand. From the world’s biggest mountain bike festival to the world’s first year-round gondola-accessed mountain bike park and new trails and tours in the planning, it’s establishing itself as the place to go for two-wheeled adventures, whatever your level. Here, Tourism New Zealand has selected its top news picks and events for off-road cycling junkies.   

NEW TRAILS & PARKS…

NEW SKYLINE ROTORUA MTB GRAVITY PARK OPENS
The world’s first year-round, gondola-accessed mountain bike park has officially opened at Skyline Rotorua. The Gravity Park has eleven dedicated gondolas each taking four riders and their bikes to the top of Mt Ngongotaha where the trails starts, providing 8.5 km of trails braiding down the side of the mountain, including multi-grade features, a 300 metre jumps section, and international-grade slope style and downhill lines. Some of the top trails include Simple Jack, Daywalker, Hipster, Sprint Warrior, Moss Piglet and Ten Fifty One, with more track developments to come with the completion of international race lines by March 2015.
HOW? The park will offer a range of passes including a half day pass from NZ$55 per adult including unlimited gondola and downhill mountain bike trail access. On-site bike hire and mountain bike skills courses are also available for all levels. For more information visit www.skyline.co.nz/rotorua/Mountain_Biking

AROUND THE MOUNTAINS LAUNCHES CYCLE TRAIL GUIDED TOURS
As the construction of Stage One of the ‘Around the Mountains Cycle Trails’ continues, this New Zealand summer will see the launch of one-day and multi-day guided premium mountain bike tours on the route, including the three-day, two-night Mountain Cycle Trail Tour exploring Queenstown, Mavora Lakes and Southland. Highlights of the 121 km trail include the villages of Kingston, the scenic Lake Wakatipu, as well as Walter Peak on the western shores before finishing in Queenstown on the Lady of the Lake. For those who only have one day, the Walter Peak Cycling Tour with views of the Von River, Mount Earnslaw and visiting ‘Old Nic’ authentic working musterer’s hut, is a must. In the coming months, the Around the Mountain Cycle Trails will see five new suspension bridges added, with the trail set to complete by 31^st October 2014.
HOW? Guided mountain bike tours cost from NZ $219 per adult for a day trip. Tours are available from November to April. For more information visit  www.aroundthemountains.co.nz

A CLASSIC NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE - THE NEW PAKIHI TRACK
As the nationwide New Zealand Cycle Trail project continues, the government has funded a further NZ $8 million to maintain and enhance the Great Rides over the next four years. With this, new trails have been introduced including The Pakihi Track, on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, which originated as a horsetrack back in 1914 and has now been restored and newly launched. Being part of the Motu Trails, 21km long and all downhill, this isolated scenic bush ride is a mountain bikers’ dream, passing 25 bridges, 25 metres of swing bridges and many narrow drop-offs. The end of this track brings bikers to the four-kilometre Otara Stopbank Track and continues to the start of the Dunes Trail for those who are up for another challenge.
HOW? Motu Trails offers bike hire for the Pakihi Track costing from NZD $65 per person including pumps and tubes. For more information visit www.motucycletrails.com/pakihi-track.html

EVENTS…

CRANKWORX COMES TO ROTORUA - 25^th – 29^th March 2015
After 11 years of operation, the phenomenon that is Crankworx Whistler will for the first time be hosted down under as it makes its way to Rotorua for the next three years, setting the geothermal heartland abuzz with international riders and spectators. Crankworx Rotorua will not only kick off the professional racing calendar, but it will also host the first round of the sell-out Enduro World Series. Pro-riders and spectators will descend, bringing together the world’s downhill, slopestyle and enduro legends, with the superfans, the rising stars, the industry’s innovators and the next generation of mountain bike riders. Crankworx Rotorua takes place over five days with an estimated 750 riders participating as well as live music and entertainment making it a thrilling spectator event.
HOW? For more information visit www.crankworx.com

WHAKA 100, ROTORUA – 25^th October 2014 
Now in its seventh year the Magellan Whaka 100 is arguably one of the toughest and most gruelling mountain bike marathons in New Zealand. With over 100km of riding in Rotorua’s premier mountain biking Mecca, Whakarewarewa Forest, the predominantly single-track course is the only event of its kind in New Zealand. The Whaka 100 is now in its sixth year and getting through this event is recognised as a fantastic achievement by mountain biking enthusiasts. 
HOW? Entry is available until 23^rd October ranging from NZD $30 – NZD $135. For more information visit www.whaka100.com

ROTORUA BIKE FESTIVAL, ROTORUA  - 13^th – 22^nd February 2015 
There are many reasons why Rotorua is known as the ‘spiritual home of mountain biking' and a hit with some of the world’s top mountain bike riders. The Rotorua Bike festival brings together events like the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro and the Skyline Sprint Warrior, which sees competitors taking on a purpose-built 1.8km down-hill trail beside Skyline Rotorua’s Luge track. Other events include riding the majestic Redwoods Coast and more quirkily a spot of Bike Polo. 
HOW? For more information visit www.rotoruabikefestival.com

THE TRAILBLAZER MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL – 1^ST February 2015
Located in the Pureora Forest Park in Taumarunui is The Trail Blazer Mountain Bike festival, which is held in the newly opened ‘Timber Trail’ in the heart of the King County in the North Island. Perfect for all levels, cyclists can choose from three different rides, 85km, 45km and 25km and keen cyclists can even challenge themselves over several swing bridges. The Pureora Forest Park is a hidden wonderland itself where mountain bikers can expect to ride passed giant Totara, Rimu, Kahikatea trees, rivers and rare New Zealand wildlife.
HOW? For more information visit www.dynamoevents.co.nz/trailblazer_home.html

QUEENSTOWN BIKE FESTIVAL – 13^th – 22^nd March 2015
Set in the stunning surroundings of Queenstown - New Zealand’s number one tourist destination - the Queenstown Bike Festival combines the best of mountain bikes, downhill and road bikes through a diverse series of events suitable for all ages and abilities. Some of the highlights are the Mountain Bike Night Ride, perfect for riders who want to try the unique experience of riding and navigating at night. The technically demanding course of the Vertigo Bikes Dirtmasters Downhill will push world-class downhill riders to their limits, while the Queenstown Bike Tours Coffee to Grape is an afternoon of wine, food and spectacular scenery from Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley. 
HOW? For more information visit www.queenstownbikefestival.com

CONTACT EPIC: THE ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE, WANAKA – 18^th April 2015 
The Contact Epic is a challenging race that navigates the shores of Lake Hawea, located on the edge of Wanaka in the South Island of New Zealand. The epic ride is a 125km journey of discovery where visitors take in a variety of landscapes and unique New Zealand places including the Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country farming stations of Lake Hawea. Best for those up for a challenge, participants can expect river and stream crossings, short climbs and long descents. For the less adventurous, 95km and 35km trails are also available, starting at the Lake Hawea Dam and riding through local farming country along the Clutha and Hawea Rivers.
HOW? Entries for the event open October 2014. For more information visit www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/index.html