Downhill Thrills at Waitangi MTB Park & Sunset Cruise to Russell

Downhill thrills sponsored by the community

The Waitangi MTB Park is well sign-posted past the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (been there, done that) and past the golf course (which offers some awesome views across the views, by the way). We are greeted at the entrance of the MTB park by a stand of large red pouwhenua – totem poles carved with Maori designs. More about the cultural poles guarding the sacred land are told to us by Tiff, the lady behind the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park. The park is a community project that has been backed by various sponsors including the local prison where the inmates carved these pouwhenua for the mountain bike park. Even renting our bikes with Paihia Mountain Bike Rentals includes a small donation to the MTB park to help with trail maintenance. Heaps of information can be found on the huge information board at the entrance of the park, as well as a trail map.

But enough of this jibber jabber. Let’s go ride some trails!

Large 4×4 tracks lead to various zones by bike, but we’re kind of cheating for photo and video purposes. Tiff gives us a lift to up high to an awesome vantage point of the network of trails, as well as the start of many downhill trails too. The four riders including Laura tackle the Kiwi Flow first, named after the kiwi dogs that sniff out the kiwi birds living in the area so the trail-makers can avoid damaging their habitats.

Bikes off the car, helmets on, a quick ride around to make sure the seat is the right size, and we get into it. The ride starts off with a couple of sharp turns to test your nerve (but Laura has no shame creeping around these ones), then we have 1.4km packed with features to keep you off your seat. Small dips and drops keep the momentum going, while advanced riders could totally have a blast catching some air if they wanted to.

Ending the downhill blast with a cruisy ride over the bridge

Dips, drops and tight turns to the family-friendly loop

After weaving through the pine forest, we reach the bottom of the valley, cross a bridge and meet up with Robin and Tiff to take us to the next trail. Now we tackle a quick downhill section with heaps more drops, tight turns and general downhill thrills until we get to the Holland Days Loop, a “family-friendly” loop so that Laura can stop sh*ting her pants. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of twists and turns through the forest, with a few rocks to ride over (and rock sculptures to admire too).

Muddy by happy mountain bikers

We catch back up with Robin and Tiff, looking fresh and clean while the rest of us are mud splat central. We like to think it’s a sign of a good ride – the most adventurous, feature-filled ride Laura has survived so far! The full-suspension mountain bikes are to thank.

As the morning cracks on and people have places to be, we say goodbye to the Waitangi MTB Park team, eat some lunch outside the pouwhenua, then head onto our next activity of the day.