DAY 2

Ride Whakarewarewa Forest, Crankworx

We’ll kick things off today with a ride on some local favourites, mixing in some tech, steep stuff and flow trails. Our riding house is just across from the forest so no need to travel a great distance to get to the goods! Later we’ll head over to Mount Ngongotaha – the home of Crankworx. We’ll check out the stalls showcasing new products and check out the downhillers practicing their lines.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House  RIDE TIME: 3-5 hours  DISTANCE: Up to you  MEALS: (L,D)

DAY 3

Ride Rainbow Mountain & Rafting

A very short drive south this morning brings us to “Kerosene Creek”, where the Rainbow Mountain ride begins. We’ll start out with a short climb to the summit of Rainbow Mountain. From the summit, the views out to Lake Taupo and North to Rotorua and the surrounding forests are awesome. Then it’s time for the steep, tight, technical descent through the forest on winding single track, all the way back down to Kerosene Creek. The beauty of this run is that we can do it all over again and double the fun! There’s a chance to soak in the natural hot springs after the ride, then we’ll head back to Rotorua. If you’re up for some more gravity action, we’ll do it again this afternoon, only a whitewater raft on the Kaituna river – home to the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. We’ll then head over to Crankworx to check out the action.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House  RIDE TIME: 3 hours  DISTANCE: 11 km  CLIMB: 500 metres MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 4

Redwoods Land Rover Shuttles

Rotorua is, without a doubt, home to the best single track riding in New Zealand. Today we’ll have access to every corner of it. Our Redwoods Land Rover Shuttles day means we’ll have access to an entire network of 200km of single track, have it to ourselves and do it in style on our very own Land Rovers. We’ll tailor the day to the type of trails you want to ride, and there’s no need to pedal uphill! Later we’ll head back to Crankworx and take in the action of the day.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House RIDE TIME: optional  MEALS:(B,L,D)

DAY 5

Heli biking the Moerangi Trail

Things are always better when you introduce a helicopter into the mix, and the fun factor is ramped up even more when we’re dropped off in arguably one of the worlds most beautiful forests – and then we get to ride through it with absolutely no one around. After the chopper drops us into the mix, we’ll ride the tight single track through pristine forest, traverse big bluffs, take on some grunty climbs and enjoy a lengthy downhill descent to the end of the trail to finish it all off. It really is the jewel in the crown of New Zealand back country riding. Later we’ll take in the dual slalom action held in the evening at Crankworx.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House  RIDE TIME: 5 hours  DISTANCE: 32 km  CLIMB: 2331 metres  DESCENT: 2513 metres  MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 6

A bit more Redwoods – backcountry!

It’s back into our Land Rovers and straight to the goods. Today we’ll get a little rowdier and delve deeper into Whakarewarewa Forest, exploring some of the lesser known gems and check out some local secrets. If you thought our first shuttles day was epic, then you’ll be frothing by the end of this day. With trails that have names like Kung Fu Walrus, Billy-T and Hot X Buns, you KNOW it can only mean it’ll be a tonne of fun, and just a little bit rowdy. We’ll then head over to Crankworx to check out the slopestyle finals.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House RIDE TIME: 5 hours DISTANCE: open CLIMB: none! DESCENT: As much as you want MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 7

Redwoods Enduro action & Shuttles

We’ll mix things up a bit today, with a combo of heckling/spectating the Enduro Race held in the Redwoods. We’ll watch the best of the best tackle the best tech in the forest at speed – get the cow bell out! As we’ll have our Land Rover, we’ll be able to get to the best viewing areas with minimal effort, and be able to shoot off for a few laps ourselves.

ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua Riding House RIDE TIME: 5 hours DISTANCE: open CLIMB: none! DESCENT: As much as you want MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 8

Depart

Today is the last day of your Drift Bikes Crankworx riding adventure with New Zealand Mountain Biking. We’ll head back to Auckland late morning in time for your afternoon flight back to Australia. We hope you’ll have enjoyed your time here, having ridden some of the best trails in New Zealand, taken in the best scenery on the planet and experience the best mountain biking showcase in the process. Our specialty is first class guiding, being welcoming hosts, taking care of all the logistics and nitty gritty details, and ensuring it’s all done in style. We’ll send you home relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to the next epic ride.

MEALS: (B)