Blog

Discover New Trails in Rotorua — And Boost Your MTB Skills to Ride Them

Discover New Trails in Rotorua — And Boost Your MTB Skills to Ride Them

Share this with your friends

Love the look of these trails? Exploring Rotorua with a local guide means you skip the guesswork and head straight to the best lines, views, and flow. Want to sharpen your skills too? Our coaching sessions are designed to help you ride smoother, faster, and with more confidence on every trail. Book your next ride or lesson with us.

5.0
Based on 176 reviews
powered by Google
R Sharp
06:35 12 Apr 25
Well worth doing. I had a great 1:1 lesson with Asher. He worked quickly through basics and then into some tips and tricks on specific areas to help improve speed and flow through trails. I immediately saw the positive impact from the new skills and have a much better understanding of what to focus on and think about on a ride. Thank you Asher. I’ll be back again.
Phil Irons
05:03 31 Mar 25
My 3-hour lesson with Jamie set me up with essential, introductory skills including optimum riding positions, trail awareness, braking insights and how to negotiate terrain changes and drops - as a result a massive improvement in confidence, speed and flow especially on downhill tracks. Extremely worthwhile!
Daniel Lawrence
05:50 03 Mar 25
5 stars all day. Jamie helped us piece together our riding puzzle, turning advanced tracks from a bit of hoping for the best into a smooth, controlled and confident ride, almost overnight. Such a simple approach but so effective.
Andy Evins
23:02 23 Feb 25
If I could give 6 out of 5 stars I would! Jaime w/New Zealand Mountain Biking was an amazing guide full of an in depth knowledge of all the trails we rode! My wife and I could have simply tried our best to navigate the trails in Rotorua but with Jaime’s help we were able to have a stress free epic adventure navigating a wide variety of trails plus as a bonus, he put up with my endless questions about the area. If you looking for a guide, stop looking and hire Jaime!
Fernanda Mejia
23:01 23 Feb 25
We booked 4 days of private guided tours with Jamie and it was incredible. We rode Whakarewarewa Forest, Maunga Kākaramea and did a heli shuttle ride around the Kaimanawa Range. All four days were amazing, packed with some of the best riding this area has to offer. Jamie works with you to tailor the trip according to your riding skills and goes above and beyond to make sure you’re having heaps of fun. I would definitely recommend him and his company!
Beki Wurster
05:55 24 Dec 24
Absolutely worth the money for lessons! I think I progressed more in a day and a half with Jamie than I have the last 7 months of living and riding in Rotorua. We had a really nice time working on technique and building skills, but I didn’t realize just how much it helped until we went out for our next ride and suddenly “scary” features felt easy and in control.
Mark Shepheard
19:38 18 Dec 24
We booked via Jamie and he arranged a ride training session with Asher for my 12 year old son Kobe. It was a great session at Redwoods. Anyone who has been here would understand that it has trails all over the place. The session was for the team to provide coaching but also to assist in showing the best trails for Kobes ability. It was a great experience for Kobe and we will be back for another session in the future. Highly recommend if you visit rotarua and you don't know the hill that well book in a session as it will be well worth it.
Philip Goldsmith
03:17 28 Nov 24
I can't say enough about riding with Jamie and New Zealand MTB for a few days this November. Progression leaps and bounds, world class trail systems, Jamie's ability to sort out the best trails for us on the fly, and last but not least his low key sense of hospitality felt just like riding and hanging with friends at home. Already planning our return next year 🙂
Sean Patrick
23:42 19 Nov 24
Jamie with New Zealand Mountain Biking was an amazing guide and it was an outstanding experience. My wife and I did the Hero Dirt Mountain Bike Tour late Oct 2024 and it was an excellent mix of riding in different regions with different scenes. Jamie was very receptive to what we enjoyed, and he tailored the trails to our riding style and skill level. The food and accommodations were great, and we felt very well taken care of. The Hero Dirt tour was the perfect way of introducing us to the mountain biking in the region/New Zealand (my wife and I are both from Canada and we primarily ride enduro in BC and AB). It was a great mix of shuttling and pedalling days, and the heli-bike-trip at the end was amazing. After the Hero Dirt Mountain Bike Tour, my wife and I continued to mountain bike multiple regions in the North and South Island, and I would have to say that the mountain biking we did with Jamie in Rotorua was definitely the best.Jamie seemed to know all the trails like the back of his hand – he was able to give us a run- down of all the upcoming trails, a heads up on all the terrain features, and was able to adapt trails as we went. He also gave us both riding and travel recommendations for the rest of our NZ trip. Sure, you could have had a “similar” experience guiding yourself with Trail Forks, but the comfort of having a very experienced guide in an unfamiliar area allowed us to get a ton of extremely fun riding in without much brain power. Having Jamie as a guide was absolutely invaluable, and I would highly recommend booking with New Zealand Mountain Biking if you want to get the ultimate NZ mountain biking experience.
Nicole Rattray
04:21 29 Mar 24
Jamie from New Zealand Mountain Bike was amazing! We couldn't have asked for a better guide who took us to amazing trails that suited our riding style. Everyone felt so comfortable with Jamie and he gave some great pointers too. We had a group with all different riding styles and he made sure everyone had the best experience. He also made sure we didn't go hungry. If you want to see the best of Rotoruas Redwoods, book in with these guys!

Looking for new mountain bike trails in Rotorua to explore? You’re in the right place. Rotorua is a world-famous mountain biking destination — and for good reason. The Whakarewarewa Forest (known to locals as “The Redwoods”) is packed with epic singletrack, offering something for every rider, from flowing beginner-friendly loops to technical expert-level descents.

But here’s the truth: the best way to experience Rotorua’s new trails isn’t just to ride them — it’s to ride them well. And that’s where Rotorua mountain bike lessons come in.

Why Rotorua Is a Must-Ride MTB Destination

With over 230 km of world-class singletrack spread across the Whakarewarewa Forest (also known as the Redwoods), Rotorua is a paradise for mountain bikers of all levels. From flowing green trails like Tahi to technical black diamond classics like Tu Meke and Riff Raff, there’s always something new to challenge yourself on.

And the best part? The Rotorua trail network is constantly evolving, with new lines, features, and hidden gems being added all the time like Heckle & Ride in the video.

Why Rotorua’s Trails Are Always Worth Exploring

One of the best things about Rotorua is how often the trail network evolves. Whether you’ve been riding here for years or you’re planning your first visit, there’s always a new line, fresh feature, or recently opened trail waiting for you.

Some recent and must-ride favorites include:

  • Te Pūtake o Tawa Trailhead Additions – Linking you to a growing network of machine-built flow and hand-crafted tech.

  • Yellow Brick Road – A fast and fun blue trail designed to push your cornering in the stunning Douglas Fir forest.

  • New Shuttle Hill Updates – Iconic black diamond (Grade 5) trails that keep evolving with new features and refinements. Plus classic flow like Te Poaka and Mahana.

But new trails often mean new challenges — steeper corners, slick roots, tighter lines, and more advanced features that demand confidence and control.

Skills First, Trails Second: Why Lessons Unlock More Adventure

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we believe skills are the key to unlocking the full Rotorua experience.

Taking a professional mountain bike lesson in Rotorua does more than just improve your technique — it gives you the tools to explore new trails safely and confidently. Whether you’re looking to master steep descents, improve your cornering, or finally hit that feature you’ve been eyeing, our coaching is designed to get you there faster.

Our MTB lessons help you:

✅ Ride with confidence on new trails
✅ Master braking and body position for better control
✅ Corner with speed and flow
✅ Handle roots, drops, and technical features like a pro

And best of all? Our coaching takes place on the very trails you want to explore. So you’ll not only learn the skills — you’ll apply them in real-time on Rotorua’s world-class singletrack.

Make the Most of Rotorua: Book Your Lesson, Discover New Trails

Whether you’re new to Rotorua or a local rider ready to take your riding to the next level, we’re here to help. At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we offer:

  • Personalised mountain bike coaching for all levels

  • Small group and 1:1 lessons

  • Skills sessions designed for the exact trails you want to ride

Ready to explore Rotorua’s newest trails — and actually enjoy the ride?

👉 Book a lesson today and turn new trails into new adventures.

Your Next Rotorua Adventure Starts Here

The trails are waiting. Whether it’s your first trip to Rotorua or your fiftieth, there’s always more to explore — and more to learn. Let New Zealand Mountain Biking help you build the skills, confidence, and local knowledge you need to ride Rotorua’s best trails, old and new.

We also have Mountain bike lesson vouchers make for thrilling and memorable gifts for the adventure enthusiasts in your life. Whether it’s for a birthday, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or just a simple thank you it’s the perfect gift that keeps on giving. By offering the gift of expert guidance, customized lesson packages, progression in New Zealand’s most diverse trail network in Rotorua, additional perks, and the opportunity for group experiences, you’re providing an experience that will challenge, inspire, and be very memorable. So, unleash the thrill of mountain biking and watch your loved ones embark on an exciting journey of skill development and exploration. Happy riding!

MTB Lesson Voucher Two Riders

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we run epic mountain biking tours across the scenic North Island, New Zealand. We also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private lessons on the legendary Rotorua trails. If you race or you want to get into some racing and you want to improve those skills, get in touch for some lessons!

You can learn more about our trips here to book your ride today!

Check Availability

Find an available space by filling in this form.

Name(Required)
Type of bike
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Check out our YouTube channel to see us ride as I chase people down all of the trails in Rotorua and NZ!

NZMTB podcast

Check Out Our Podcast

keyboard_arrow_up