[JRA]

I'm trying to figure out what a "typical" NZ mountain biking trail ride is like. Wondering if someone could take a shot at describing it for me? I live in Washington State, US and am trying to find a trail where I live that best approximates the NZ experience. If you've visited this part of the US and have a specific trail name to recommend, that would be extra bonus.

One of my local beer stores managed somehow to score some Epic Brewing Armageddon IPA and I'd like to take a mini-vacation in my mind. Do a mountain bike ride w/ the above criteria and then sample the Armageddon afterwards. Normally the only NZ beer we can get here is Steinlager.

Silly I know but if you have any suggestions, I'd very much appreciate it.

 

[hoogie]

typical differs where you live in nz, just like it is in the usa ...
rotorua and taupo have lots of trees, twizel and tekapo have none, where as queenstown has a mix of both ... some places have lots of hills, others don't ...

i guess we have a broad range just like you do, only crammed into a smaller island with a lot less people, most who are quite friendly ...

also find a trail that doesn't have poisonous snakes, spiders, ticks or big animals that will eat you and you will be sweet ...

just don't go the whole hog and drive/ride home on the left hand side of the road, it'll be sure to ruin your experience ...

 

[the old fool]

nothing typical about nz riding.
In Rotorua you have everything from beginner trails you can do on a tricycle to a world class down hill course that would be hard to walk down
We don't have anything like Utah but then we don't have any bears or snakes either.

 

[JRA]

just don't go the whole hog and drive/ride home on the left hand side of the road, it'll be sure to ruin your experience ...

Too true.
Thanks very much to all.

 

[MrsH]

I did not know NZ had no snakes.. that is a big plus!

 

[hoogie]

I did not know NZ had no snakes.. that is a big plus!

it is too us kiwis!! mind you we do tend to take it for granted and when overseas happily venture forth through places where locals fear to tread, as i have done on many occasions ...

 

[Rick O'Shay]

There's a bunch of helmet cam footage of mountain biking in New Zealand on YouTube. Start by searching YouTube for "Port Hills Mountain Bike". You'll find a lot of videos. There's one in particular of the Flying Nun trail that's pretty impressive. (Port Hills is a large network of trails near Christchurch) From there you can just start clicking on the video thumbnails at the right side of the page and you'll see trails from all over NZ.

 

[the old fool]

Rotorua has a web site that has a few videos and some info, worth a look.

http://www.riderotorua.com/

Snakes are nothing it's the BEARS that I'm glad we don't have ... actually we don't have anything in the bush that bites unless you count sand-flies and mosquitoes as killer beasts