DAY 2

Ride the backcountry on the Timber Trail (Pureora to Piropiro)

A drive south of Rotorua and through the volcanic heartland of the North Island brings us to the beginning of the Timber Trail – one of the most iconic multi day backcountry rides in New Zealand. After a final thorough check of our bikes and gear, we’ll head into the wild from Pureora, through dense mossy forest on single track, crossing numerous high suspension bridges over amazing forest canyons. There’s a sting in the tail on the first half of today’s ride – a 500 metre gradual ascent through cloud forest and mist, straight out of Lord of the Rings. After a break at the summit of Mt Pureora taking in the epic views, it’s an equally gradual descent down to Piropiro, and our accommodation for the evening, which definitely involves hearty food, hot showers, comfortable lodging and a well deserved drink.

ACCOMMODATION: Timber Trail Lodge  RIDE TIME: 4-5 hours  DISTANCE: 40 km  MEALS: (B,L,D) CLIMB: 500 metres  DESCENT: 540 metres  MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 3

Ride the Timber Trail (Piropiro to Ongarue), return to Rotorua

Today is a day of undulation on single track through epic forest (again!), over spectacular suspension bridges, past weird and wonderful rock formations and remnants of New Zealand’s colonial history, and all round fun on the best grade 2/3 trail in the world. After the 5km mark, the significant uphill section is behind us and it’s all about the descent through the forest, New Zealand’s highest suspension bridge, and experiencing the only rideable railway spiral in the world – a relic of New Zealand’s early logging pioneers. At the end of the trail we’ll head to National Park village, at the foot of Mt Ruapehu.

ACCOMMODATION: Okere Falls House  RIDE TIME 5 hours  DISTANCE: 44 km  CLIMB: 400 metres DESCENT: 750 metres  MEALS: (B,L,D)

DAY 4

Depart

Today is the last day of your Rotorua and Timber Trail riding adventure with us. We hope you’ll have enjoyed your time here, having ridden some of the best trails in New Zealand and taken in the best scenery on the planet 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.

OPTIONAL
​Heli Biking on the Pakihi Track (from NZ$599 per person)

If you’ve chosen to stay on for this extra last day, get ready for the most unique heli biking trip in New Zealand, in one of the most beautiful areas in the North Island – the East Cape. After a drive through native forest and fertile plains of the Bay of Plenty, we’ll board a helicopter (complete with bike racks!) and fly into the densely forested of the Urutawa Conservation Area. This is BIG country, and the views are spectacular. After the drop off by our heli shuttle we’ll begin our ride on the Pakihi track. If there’s more fun to be had on a video gamey forest trail, we’re yet to find it. The mix of dense forest, views out across the river, cool bridges and non stop descent make this ride truly out of the box, and best of all, we’ll have it to ourselves! There are some steep drop offs in a couple of sections on the track, so we’ll be kept on our toes. At the end of our ride we’ll head back to Rotorua.