37 km northwest of AUCKLAND Grades 1–6, 1–8 hours, 1–30 km
Woodhill Mountain Bike Park is Auckland’s most popular riding venue. Bike Parks Ltd are continually adding tracks and obstacles. In 2005, there were five main signposted courses to follow. Most courses suit a range of riding skills from 37 km northwest of AUCKLAND Grades 1–6, 1–8 hours, 1–30 km
Woodhill Mountain Bike Park is Auckland’s most popular riding venue. Bike Parks Ltd are continually adding tracks and obstacles. In 2005, there were five main signposted courses to follow. Most courses suit a range of riding skills from novice to advanced by providing easy routes around more difficult, ‘North Shore’ type obstacles.
LANDOWNERS Carter Holt Harvey Forests, managed by Bike Parks Ltd. Permit required with a range of fees, from free for under 11 years of age up to $69 for an annual pass. Currently $5 for a one-day pass, but check www.bikeparks.co.nz for fee changes.
HOW TO GET THERE Drive north from Auckland on Highway 16 for 37 km. Turn left at the Woodhill Forest road sign and drive to the mountain bike car park. The main entry gate is open from 7am to 7pm daily (except Wednesdays when it stays open till 10pm).
ROUTE DESCRIPTION When you register you are given a park map that has all the tracks marked on it. If you’re new to Woodhill, start with the Keewee course. It's 8 km long and will suit novice to advanced riders. Novice riders can use the signed ‘Bypass’ routes around the obstacles.
Sections like Big Muma and Body Bag have grade 6 stunts on them. We’re talking about riding teeter-totters and along half-rounds 2 m off the ground. There’s no room for error and a real risk of serious injury. But there are bypasses around the obstacles even on the harder tracks.
NOTES Bike Parks Ltd have their headquarters in the Woodhill car park. There is a toilet and bike hire at Woodhill. Because Woodhill Forest is sandy, it’s actually a good wet-weather riding areas, although the wooden obstacles are slippery after rain. Don’t forget to clean the sand out of your drive chain a.s.a.p. after your ride.
NAPIER Grades 2–4, 1–8 hours, more than 50 km of tracks
This is the premier spot to ride on the east of the North Island. It’s also the reason why the Hawke’s Bay MTB Club is the largest in the country with 1100 members. There are over 50 named trails, averaging 1 km in length. Most are two-way and NAPIER Grades 2–4, 1–8 hours, more than 50 km of tracks
This is the premier spot to ride on the east of the North Island. It’s also the reason why the Hawke’s Bay MTB Club is the largest in the country with 1100 members. There are over 50 named trails, averaging 1 km in length. Most are two-way and are signposted.
LANDOWNERS Pan Pac Forests. You must have a PERMIT TO ACCESS this 600ha privately-owned production forest. Either join the Hawke’s Bay MTB Club or buy a 3-week pass for $5 from a local bike shop, the Bayview 4 Square or the Napier Information Centre. You can check out the map and join the club at www.hawkesbaymtb.co.nz
HOW TO GET THERE Head north from Napier on Highway 2, then left on Highway 5 to get to Esk Valley. 18.5 km from Napier, turn right onto Waipunga Road, at the ‘Eskdale Mountain Bike Park’ sign. There is a signposted car parking area 500 metres up the road.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION From your car, jump over the gate and ride up Burden Road for 300 metres until you reach the forest. The Hawke’s Bay MTB Club has posted a large map board here. For an easy 7-km ride, start with Barley, Pace and Lower Magog before heading back on Merv’s and Burden Road.
For an average difficulty ride try the following 1-hour loop. Blast along Barley, link up to Twoman, heading for Upper Magog, thru and down to Luge and then left into Lower Magog, right down the Drop, left around into Boulder, thru all of Boulder onto Burden Road. Check map. Cross Burden Road to connect with Merv's, turn right along Merv's, fly past the gravel pile and left onto Burden Road, right into Pace (just before the cattle stop), out of Pace, bunny hop the cattle stop and right into Barley to finish this sweet 10 km of single track.
For a 2–3 hour ride, head out to Ridgeline via Twoman and Eskview, then across to #244 via Fenceline and Swoop, and back along Zip, Switchback, Lower Magog, Boulder, Pace and Barley.
After those three rides, you will have scratched the surface of Eskdale. Return another day to explore further.
TRACK CONDITIONS 70% single track, stitched together with new and old forestry roads
NOTES If you are exploring, keep well clear of the Pan Pac mill and and Bark Dump at all times. Also keep away from the gun club on the second and last Sunday’s of every month. Watch out for speeding Dhers when crossing the DH track ‘Hi-Roller’. There is also a ‘trials arena’ 50 metres east of the map board.…see moresee less
This is small village in the region of Buenos Aires. As you can see the railroad is no longer in use and vegetation has now covered the whole place including the now-abandoned station. Amazing place for photographers.
A and J have a picture of them in that platform. I wish the Port Authority retain the original site inside the station. This particular one is technically installed outside of the train station to look like one. There were so many visitors asking for the Platform 9and 3/4 that it became unbearable A and J have a picture of them in that platform. I wish the Port Authority retain the original site inside the station. This particular one is technically installed outside of the train station to look like one. There were so many visitors asking for the Platform 9and 3/4 that it became unbearable for the authority to maintain it inside....…see moresee less
A and J have a picture of them in that platform. I wish the Port Authority retain the original site inside the station. This particular one is technically installed outside of the train station to look like one. There were so many visitors asking for the Platform 9and 3/4 that it became unbearable A and J have a picture of them in that platform. I wish the Port Authority retain the original site inside the station. This particular one is technically installed outside of the train station to look like one. There were so many visitors asking for the Platform 9and 3/4 that it became unbearable for the authority to maintain it inside....…see moresee less
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