Rotorua Trails Trust

21/06/2026

Huge thanks to Express Tyres for the Tyre upgrade, they generously swapped our street trees for some all terrain rubber adding some more confidence to driving around the forest especially now winter is upon us.
https://niccars.co.nz/express-tyres/
https://www.facebook.com/nicholson.autos

21/06/2026

Hill Road is currently closed from the old start of Te Mounga, so there is no access to Tihi O Tawa, Tuhoto Ariki, Kakatore or Hatupatu. We are unsure how long this will be the case, but hopefully just a few days.

18/06/2026

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

18 June 2026

another week of bluebird winter magic (ignore the showers) in the Whaka and before we get into the mahi, we just want to say something we don't say nearly enough.

this forest is something pretty special. not because of any one thing – its the sum of all the parts eh, the trails, the trees, the birds and the dirt, the people and the moments. the kid on the balance bike having the time of their life. the adaptive MTB rider absolutely sending it. it's all the dogs and their owners living their best life. the hikers training for a big adventure with weighted backpacks on. the runners out there exploring. the retired couple doing the Forest Loop for the hundredth time like it's the first. the traveller who saved up to fly here from the other side of the world just to experience this magic.

no matter who you are and how you enjoy the forest, to everyone who rides here, walks here, volunteers here, donates here, adopts a trail here, or just sits on a log in the trees and breathes for a minute – chur from all of us. 🙏

oh and just so you know.... if you've come from somewhere else to be here – welcome. you're not a visitor. you're one of us the moment you arrive 🌍🌲

🔨 BEHIND THE SCENES – THE BUILD CREW IS GOING HARD

we're not going to say too much here because some things are better experienced as a surprise. after all you only get one chance as a first impression and we want to wait till everything is purrrrfect 👀

what we WILL say is that the RTT crew has been absolutely flat out this week getting trails back into condition, doing serious build work, and quietly making things happen that are going to make a lot of people very happy. the diggers have been running. the hand builders have been in. the trail inspectors have been walking every corner of the network assessing what needs what.

good things are coming. that's all we'll say. watch this space 🌲🔥

🐝 OLD CHEVY WORKING BEE – SUNDAY LEGENDS

the volunteers showed up on Sunday and gave Old Chevy an absolute seeing to – vegetation cleared, drains sorted, blown top to bottom. proper love from people who had better things to do with their Sunday and chose the forest instead.

Old Chevy is riding beautifully right now. go find it. give it a lap. and when it feels smooth and clear and just right – know that a crew of legends made that happen on their day off because they care 💚

chur to every single one of you 🤙

THE MAHI THIS WEEK 🌲

THE GREAT TRAIL INSPECTION 🔍

the crew has been systematically walking and inspecting trails right across the network this week – Tūkonohi, Whāki Grade, Pest Control, Old Chevy, Roller Coaster, Chestnut Link, G Rock, Te Ahi Manawa, Yellow Brick Road, Time Warp, Tihi o Tawa, Dammit Janet, Mad If You Don't, Split Enz, Hot X Buns, Out of Office, NGT, Challenge Uphill, Kung Fu Walrus, Bush Buchanan Trail, Forest Loop sections, Jeff's Link and more.

that's basically a full network walkthrough. every corner assessed. every issue noted. every priority locked in. this is the invisible work that smart trail management is built on – know what needs attention before it becomes a problem, not after. prioritise what we can do with the funding we have and go for the 20% that will give the 80% of the result for best bang for buck. yeah we miss some stuff, point anywhere and you'll find something we can fix up, but hey, we are doing our best with what we are super gratefully to get and will never ever quit! 🙌

G ROCK 🪨💨

G Rock got blowing and vegetation clearance across Monday and Tuesday. G Rock is absolutely dialled in right now – grippy, clear, flowing perfectly. go ride it this weekend and appreciate every shaped corner 🙌

ROLLER COASTER 🎢

Roller Coaster got blown and had some surface repairs done this week to get it running mint. smooth, fast, and running a treat. vital link track so has to be on point🤙

FOREST LOOP – TANGAROA-MIHI 🌲💧

Tangaroa-mihi got multiple sessions of vegetation, drains, and blowing this week. Do it once and do it right we say! if you have seen the lad out there doing the mahi with his cute little trolly of tools, make sure to say thanks for the mahi cos he has nearly broken himself doing the hard work. absolute legend. we love ya buddy! 🌲

WHĀKI 🌿

Whāki got tree cleared up and also got blown ready for the weekend laps. Whāki is clear and flowing and ready for whatever pace you want to take it at. Pro tip: Apumoana into mahana into whaki = grade 3 ultimate lap bliss 🤙

AS YOU DO ✌️

Trees keep falling down on this poor track but we have got em all cleared up and the volly is doing a great job keeping it tickled up and riding/walking lovely. Some propper grade 4 uphill sections on this one eh, enjoy the tech, enjoy the hard mahi getting to the top and enjoy the earned turns on the way back down your fav track! (not this one though...its uphill only for bikes, two way for walking)

MAD IF YOU DON'T 🤪

Mad If You Don't got tree cleared on Thursday. the name says it all. no further explanation needed. go.

CHALLENGE BLOCK – DH, ROADSIDE, UPHILL, EXIT & DOWN THE GUTS 💪

the whole Challenge block got blown last Friday – Challenge DH, Roadside, Uphill, Exit, and Down The Guts all sorted in one sweep. AND Challenge Roadside got a serious surface repair session on Sunday from the incredible trail adopter. this whole section is in some of the best condition it's been in for a long time. go explore the full block this weekend!

BOULDERDASH & DIPPER & TAHI & KID'S LOOP 💨

all blown on Friday as part of a big blowing sweep. Boulderdash, Dipper, Tahi, and the Kid's Loop all fresh, clear, and ready. the Kid's Loop in particular is perfect right now – if introducing someone brand new to riding a bike (doesnt matter what age, dont let the name put you off!) this is the place to start 🧡

SPLIT ENZ 🎸

Split Enz has one of the most active trail adopters in the forest. hard working. always up there (even in the rain checking on the drains) passionate, effective, legend. and as a result it's one of the most satisfying trails in the network and right now it's running like a dream. go ride it!

PEST CONTROL 💨

blown on Wednesday. clear, fresh, ready. a massive step up from Whaki, so 100% grade 4 riders only, but really great track and fun way to get back to Apumoana to go for another lap. well worth sussing this one out eh🤙

TE POU KOROPŪ 🌲💨

blown on Monday. this section of the network always rewards those who seek it out. go find it. bassically like the dipper/kids loop of the Tawa side the forest.

🌲 CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

one thing we want to shout about this week – because it's something we kinda take for granted and dont think about – there is no single right way to experience this forest.

yes there are incredible full loops. yes the Forest Loop is one of New Zealand's Great Rides. but you don't have to do the whole thing. you don't have to follow any prescribed route. you can mix and match, pick trails that suit the mood, turn around when it feels right, find a sunny spot in the trees and have a picnic. explore hidden nooks. walk a bit of this track and a bit of that one to get the # steps you want.

the forest has some absolutely incredible spots to stop, breathe, and just be. that clearing where the light comes through. that ridge with the view over the city. that mossy bank next to the stream. find yours. sit in it. eat your lunch in it. it's one of the best things this place has to offer and it costs absolutely nothing.

just one thing – carry in, carry out. the forest doesn't want your rubbish. it is pristine because people treat it with respect. keep it that way 🙏

and whoever you are – on foot, on horseback, on a gravel bike, an ebike, a cross country rig, an enduro sled, or a full DH machine – it's all here. it's all free. it's all waiting.

look after it and it will look after you.

aroha nui,
– the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – donate, adopt a trail, or just leave a kind word and share this post. every action counts.

11/06/2026

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

11 June 2026

Kia ora whānau!!

You may not know this, but a few of the MTB parks down south are now closed for the season and about to be buried under snow and ice and permafrost, yeah thats the reality check for ya. that's not us. that is absolutely NOT us and we should never take that for granted.

while the South Island is doing its best impression of Antarctica, Rotorua is sitting here in full bluebird winter mode.

frosty mornings. crispy golden afternoons. that perfect winter light coming through the redwoods at about 3pm that makes the whole forest look like a painting.

the trails are dry. grippy. vegetation is all trimmed back so nothing is slapping you in the face on the way through. every single trail in the network is running mint right now.

while everyone else is hanging up the bike until spring – this is the time to be in Rotorua. pack a jacket for the morning but you won't need it by 11am. come get some 🤙

☀️ ONE THING TO WATCH OUT FOR THOUGH – SUN STRIKE

winter sun sits low in the sky. and when it lines up with a trail corridor, coming around a corner at speed can mean going from full visibility to absolutely zero in about half a second. that is a proper hazard and it catches people off guard every year.

New Exit in the afternoons is a known shocker for this. but it can happen anywhere depending on the time of day and the direction a trail is running.

so – before dropping in, just have a quick think about where the sun is sitting relative to the trail. slow down on corners where sun strike could be an issue. and if vision suddenly disappears mid-corner, that's the trail telling you to back it off a notch.

stay safe, stay riding. 🕶️

🔨 BEHIND THE SCENES – THE REBUILD ERA IS PROGRESSING

we want to be transparent and open about how everything behind the scenes is progressing but we dont want to overpromise and under deliver. There are always lots of things out of our control that shift priorities and schedules fast..... so what we ARE going to say that things are moving nicely behind the scenes on the trail rebuilds.

lines are being marked up. conversations are happening with some seriously talented builders and community groups. the RTT crew is doing the quiet, careful planning work that good trails are born from.

if this weather holds – and right now it is looking very promising – there is a real chance of new trails landing before summer.

no guarantees which ones. but fingers crossed it's you fav🤞

the wanting of new trails is free.
the building is not.
if you are wanting to see Frontal, Billy T, Under Billy, the DH trails, Mā Te Wā, Te Mounga, Corners, Eagle vs Shark and the rest of the gang come back to life – the rebuild fund is where that happens.

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. straight into the ground.

🐝 TĪTOKORANGI WORKING BEE – AND WHAT A BEE IT WAS

14 legends showed up to the Tītokorangi working bee last Sunday and absolutely got stuck in. breaking bumps shaped out, berms fixed up, vegetation cleared, the whole trail getting some proper love.

My personal fav moment was that there was a young lad there who could not have been much older than ten years old, maybe younger, and he was getting absolutely stuck in alongside mum and dad, doing incredible work, not complaining once, just completely committed to the mahi.

that kid is going to be an absolute unit when he grows up. and more importantly – he already gets it. he already understands that the trails are a gift and that gifts deserve to be looked after. that's not something everyone figures out in a lifetime. he's got it at ten.

incredible stuff. so proud 💚

and it was such a good session that we are doing it AGAIN next month. same trail, same vibes, more legends welcome. the goal? get Tītokorangi back to brand new by the end of winter. if the community keeps showing up like this – it's happening.

stay tuned for the date and come along. bring the kids. bring the tools. bring the energy 🤙

🙌 CHALLENGE ROADSIDE – ADOPTER DOING THE MAD MAHI

Challenge Roadside is looking genuinely great right now thanks to the trail adopter who has been quietly and consistently putting in the work week after week.

go check it out this weekend. it is in some of the best condition it has been in for a long time and it deserves the traffic. its not top to bottom mint yet, of course, but its still worthy of a crack.

chur to the adopter. absolute legend behaviour as always 💚

WHO ELSE HAS BEEN SHOWING UP AND REPORTING WORK?

The usual suspects that keep this place running! The adopters of Rosebank, Minerals, gunna gotta, Split Endz, Tim Tams and No Brains, Taura, Pig and Piglet, the legend who does the forest loop every week, all legends looking after what we have.

These are the heros of the forest. We love ya and respect ya heart.

THE VIBE THIS WEEKEND 🌲

dry trails ✅
grippy dirt ✅
clear vegetation ✅
bluebird skies ✅
frosty morning, warm afternoon ✅
every trail running mint ✅
sun strike risk in the arvo – watch for it ⚠️

there is genuinely nowhere better to be on a bike in New Zealand right now than the Whakarewarewa Forest. not a single place.

get out there and enjoy every single metre of it. it is a privilege to ride here. don't waste a day like this 🤙

aroha nui,
– the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲

04/06/2026

28/05/2026

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

28 May 2026

right. big week. strap in 👇

Eagle vs Shark lower is rideable.
Black House Down is back.
three trail rebuilds are being actively scoped right now.
Challange Roadside is looking fire.
and THIS Sunday the Highlander is on and it is going to be an absolute cracker.
let's get into it 🌲

🏔️ HIGHLANDER MTB CHALLENGE – THIS SUNDAY 31ST MAY 🔥
the Highlander is one of those events that gets people out of bed before sunrise in the middle of winter to train. months of cold morning rides, soggy socks, burning legs – all building toward one epic Sunday in the Whaka.

it kicks off at Te Puia with the Pohutu Geyser doing its thing in the background (yes, really) and winds through the forest trails before finishing at Te Putake O Tawa carpark. point to point. one direction. (uphill) all crazy. all good.

three distances to choose from:
🟢 Highlander 10 – ~11km, ~259m climb. great first race, brilliant morning out
🟡 Highlander 30 – ~31km, ~769m climb. a proper test of the legs
🔴 Highlander 60 – ~61km, ~1670m climb. this is the one people have been quietly suffering for all winter

ALL TRAILS REMAIN OPEN during the event – the course zigzags through the forest but nothing is closed to the public. so if heading out for a ride on Sunday, just be a good forest guest and share the trails with a smile. and if a racer comes through – give them a hoot. cheer them on. loudly. when legs are burning and the mind is telling someone to stop, a random shout of encouragement from a stranger on a trail can be the exact thing that gets them through.

it genuinely matters. be that person 🙌

👉 full event info and course maps at www.highlandermtb.co.nz

💸 $2K RAISED IN TWO WEEKS – YOU ABSOLUTE LEGENDS

last week we put the call out for donations to fund the trail rebuilds. and the response has been extraordinary.

two thousand dollars raised in two weeks. from people all over New Zealand and beyond, donating anything from a few dollars to seriously generous amounts, all because they love this forest and want to see the trails come back.

every single cent of that goes directly into the rebuild fund. not overheads. not admin. straight into the ground, into the trails, into the forest that gives back to every single person who steps into it.

to everyone who donated – thank you. from all of us. from every future rider who will ride Frontal and Billy T and Under Billy and Eagle vs Shark upper when they're rebuilt. from every kid who will learn to ride a mountain bike on trails that exist because someone believed in them enough to fund them. you are the reason this happens. 🙏

and if you haven't yet – the rebuild fund is open and every dollar moves us closer.

www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks, any amount, real impact.

🦅🦈 EAGLE VS SHARK – IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
okay let's talk about the trail that has had more hours poured into it this week than just about anything else – because Eagle vs Shark lower is now cleaned up, refreshed, and READY TO RIDE 🎉

and that's just the warm up act.

the crew has been out on Tuesday and Wednesday doing trail line scoping on the Eagle vs Shark upper rebuild. this is the serious business – walking the corridor, assessing the terrain, planning the new line. this is where world class trails are born, in the quiet work of understanding exactly where a trail should go and why.

and it gets better.

Under Billy rebuild has also been scoped this week. two legendary trails, both being planned simultaneously, both about to become something extraordinary.

and Te Mounga upper rebuild scoping happened on Wednesday too. THREE trail rebuilds being actively planned in one week. if that doesn't get the stoke going then honestly we don't know what will.

Eagle vs Shark lower is open. go ride it. the upper rebuild is coming. and with every donation that comes in, every working bee that shows up, every trail sponsor who steps up – it gets closer.

this is real. this is happening. 💚

🐝 TIM TAMS WORKING BEE – SUNDAY ABSOLUTE UNIT
the Tim Tams working bee on Sunday was an extraordinary effort – 28 volunteer hours of pure community love poured into this one, and she's in the race so there are lots of peeps out there who are going to really appreciate every smooth metre – and the crew of legends behind every bit of it 💚

THE REST OF THE MAHI 🌲

FOREST LOOP – TE ARA A WHERO, TE PIKITANGA WHANGAPIPIRO (MUD POOL), AREPA WEHERUA & TE ARA KI WAIPĀ 6 🌲💧
the Forest Loop has been getting systematic love across multiple sections this week – blowing, drains, and vegetation cleared on Te Ara A Whero, Mud Pool (both Thursday and Friday!), Arepa Weherua (two full days of blowing and vegetation), Te Ara ki Waipā 6, and the Tarawera Road Trail on Wednesday.

the Forest Loop is enormous and keeping every section of it in world class condition requires this kind of consistent, methodical attention. the crew is absolutely delivering. if doing the full loop right now, every section of it is humming 🌲

BLACK HOUSE DOWN – Back in Business 🏚️💨
Black House Down got a fresh blow on Monday to keep it in top condition following last week's full reopening. it's back, it's sorted top to bottom, and it is absolutely delivering. go find it!

REDWOODS MEMORIAL GROVE WALKING TRACK (RED) 🌲🚶
the Memorial Grove Red walking track got blown on both Friday and Monday this week. this is one of the most soul-nourishing walks in the whole forest – ancient trees, golden light, total peace. whether heading out for an after-work walk or a weekend wander with the family, it's absolutely pristine right now. go soak it up 🍂

CHALLENGE ROADSIDE – New Adopter Still Going OFF 💪
the Challenge Roadside adopter was back out on both Saturday AND Sunday doing more surface repairs – same legend who also looks after Challenge DH and New Exit. Oh and to all the legends who came by the trail, he has a message for you: No need to apologies for riding the fresh trail, thats why hes there and you are actually HELPING pack it down! But please, if you see that trail maintenace sign, slow down :) 🙌

PIG TRACK 🐷🌿

Banger of a trail, banger of a trail adopter, and banger of a tune to have a poem set to, all thanks to the trail adopter:

"(To the tune of Even Flow by Pearl Jam)

Chorus:
Even flowwwwww
Next time it happens to rain
The water will gooooo
Down these lovely empty drains!

Chorus 2:
My leaf blow(er)
Said these pine needles just can’t stay
They fell from treesssss
So we blew them all awayyyyy!

*Also trimmed veg "

🐷

MAD IF YOU DON'T 🤪💨
Mad If You Don't got the full treatment on Thursday – blowing, drains, vegetation, AND event prep ahead of the Highlander this weekend. it is in absolutely primo condition for Sunday's riders. and honestly, with the trail in this shape – it really would be mad if you don't get out there this weekend!

PUARENGA WALKING TRACK 🚶💧
Puarenga got surface repairs on Wednesday – keeping this lovely walking corridor safe and enjoyable for everyone on foot. small job, meaningful impact. chur to the crew and the adopter for getting it sorted!

THE BIGGER PICTURE 💚
three trail rebuilds being actively scoped.
Eagle vs Shark lower open and looking beautiful.
$2k in donations in two weeks.
working bees on Tim Tams
Challange block refresh
the Highlander on Sunday.

this forest is going from strength to strength because this community refuses to let it be anything less than extraordinary.

if you want to be part of the rebuild story – you know where to find us:

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. any amount. straight into the trails.

see you out on Sunday – and if passing a Highlander rider digging deep, give them everything you've got. a cheer costs nothing and means everything 🏔️🤙

aroha nui,

– the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲

27/05/2026

Great addition to the Great ride!

25/05/2026

Last week we got real with you about the trail rebuilds and what it takes to fund them.

You showed up. 💚

$1,000 in donations in a single week from this amazing community that spans NZ AND Australia!! That's 400 metres of trail rebuild paid for. Legends!

Every single dollar came from someone who rides these trails, loves this forest, and decided to do something about it. That's you. That's this community.

We're not done — Eagle vs Shark, Frontal, Billy T, the DH tracks — these rebuilds are coming, and every donation gets us closer.

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz — 3 clicks. Be part of this.

aroha nui 🌲

— the RTT crew

21/05/2026

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

21 May 2026

Kia ora whānau!!

what a week in the forest. the trails are going from strength to strength, the RTT crew has been absolutely smashing it, adopters are showing up in the most incredible ways, and Eagle vs Shark is about to have its biggest glow up in years.

Black House down reopened.
Challenge Block getting nice resurfacing.
The Brains Trust crew being awesome.
we have SO much good stuff to get into.

but first. we need to have a little chat. and we're going to need you to actually read it, not just scroll past to the trail updates 👇

🚨 A WORD ABOUT TRAIL ETIQUETTE – AND WE MEAN IT 🚨

we don't love having to write this. we really don't. we'd rather just talk about trails and good times and community love all day every day.

but the reports keep coming in.

People riding and walking on Eight Mile Road. Despite the GIANT blue signs telling you not to.

mountain bikers on walking trails. walkers on mountain bike trails… and the classic idiotic responses when people are called out on it:

"I've been doing this for years"
"I'll get off if someone comes"
“I’m just going 400m theres nothing coming”

let's be really clear about something. this is not about you.

It's about you muppets meaning more rules, more signs, less freedoms.

what happens when a walker panics and tries to jump out of the way of a mountain biker on the trail and falls?

what happens when a mountain biker suddenly sees a walker on a mtb trail and slams on the brakes at 30k?

you might be fine. you jumped out of the way. but the other person? not fine.

And let's even not think about a logging truck vs human….

When you go over to your nans house, you take off your shoes. Cos it's her house, her rules.

we are all guests on this land. guests behave with respect. guests follow the rules of the house. guests do not decide that the rules don't apply to them because they've been coming here for years.

I'm just getting started here, gloves off….

every time someone does something dumb in this forest, it makes it worse for everyone.

more signs go up.
more restrictions get put in place.
more barriers get built.

the world gets a little bit smaller for all of us – because of the actions of a few people who think the rules are for other people.

please. follow the signs. STAY OFF EIGHT MILE ROAD. be a good guest. be a good human. 🙏

and to anyone who has been seen being a bad guest in the forest, you have been seen, it HAS been noted.

okay. deep breath. Back to positive vibes, let's talk about all the amazing stuff 💚

🦅🦈 EAGLE VS SHARK – THE REBUILD HAS BEGUN AND WE ARE HYPED
THIS IS THE BIG NEWS this week!!!
we have started the refresh of the bottom section of Eagle vs Shark before the REBUILD of the top section kicks off. 🔥

Because of the logging operations we have not been able to get access to the lower part for months so the vegetation is really overgrown and the surface needs proper professional attention before it's ready to be ridden again.

so please do not ride lower Eagle vs Shark right now. it is not open. it is not ready. the crew is in there working and the surface is actively being refreshed. respect the closure and you'll be rewarded with something amazing when it reopens 🙏

It's almost time for the TRAIL REBUILDS!!!

Eagle vs Shark is just the beginning. the trails that this community has been asking about – Frontal, the DH tracks, Huckle Berry, Billy T, Under Billy, Corners, Ma Te Wa, Te Mounga – these are all on the list. these are all trails we want to rebuild properly. professionally. to world class standard.

and we mean WORLD CLASS. not a patch job. not a community line scratched in quickly to get something built that will fail at the first storm (thanks for the offers though folks!)

we want, you demand and deserve, the best trail builders in the game, with the right equipment, doing it properly so it lasts. that's what these trails deserve, that's what the worldwide riding community deserve, that's what will keep Rotorua on the "must ride” tourist map and that's what we're going to do.

Just one catch….it took 20 years to build these trails first time round, one at a time, over the years. To do em all at once?….it costs an absolute fortune.

trail construction doesn't come cheap. and it shouldn't – because cheap trail construction gives you cheap trails and we are not interested in cheap trails. we are interested in trails that are so good that people fly from the other side of the world to ride them.

so we're going to say this as directly and as lovingly as we possibly can:

if you want these trails rebuilt – you need to help pay for them.

the forest is free to ride. FREE. that is an extraordinary privilege and most people who ride here know it.

if you're riding a $7k bike on trails you access for free every week – we're not judging you. we think that's amazing. but if you can find $50 for a set of brake pads, you can find $50 for the trails you ride those brake pads on.

A $50 donation builds 2m of trail. We got a few km of trails to build. But like eating an Elephant, one bite at a time gets er done.

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. Donate, be the reason this happens.

we cannot do this without you. we genuinely, honestly, cannot. so please – if you love this forest, if you ride these trails, if you've been waiting for these rebuilds – now is the time to show up, financially. 💚

🙌 CHALLENGE DH & CHALLENGE ROADSIDE – NEW ADOPTER ALERT!
massive shout out this week to the new adopter who has taken on both Challenge DH and Challenge Roadside – and yes, it's the same absolute legend who already looks after New Exit, aint we lucky?!! 🏆

if you're heading through that section this weekend you have to go for a lap and if you see this legend out there on the tools, stop to tell em how much you love em!! 🙏

🐝 SOME BRAINS WORKING BEE – SUNDAY LEGENDS UNITE
another sunday, another incredible working bee – this time on Some Brains, with volunteers getting stuck into vegetation clearance AND surface repairs.

these are people giving up their weekend because they love this forest. full stop. we love them back 💚

🌲 FOREST LOOP – TŪHUA – THE ONGOING EPIC
the Tūhua section of the Forest Loop has been getting serious professional attention for weeks now and this week was no different – digger and surface repair work across multiple days, with the crew methodically working through every corner to get it absolutely right.

the Forest Loop is already the best Great Ride in New Zealand. Tūhua is about to make that statement completely inarguable. we cannot wait for you to ride it 🌲

the crew also did full trail inspections across multiple Te Ara ki Waipā sections this week – really thorough assessment of what's needed across the whole loop corridor. this is smart, systematic maintenance and it sets the crew up to do targeted, effective work in the weeks ahead.

THE REST OF THE MAHI 🌿

BLACK HOUSE DOWN REOPEN!!! 🏚️💨
Black House Down got a full treatment this week – blowing, vegetation, and surface repairs across two massive, intense sessions. Black House Down was one of the trails we could not get access to during the logging, so it took ALOT of work, but it is now BACK OPEN, so have at it!

APUMOANA 🌿🌳
Apumoana got blown and had tree clearing done this week.

YELLOW BRICK ROAD 🟡🔧
It got a bit munted in the logging but now has a proper entrance and exit put back in, so enjoy.

HOMEWARD BOUND, ROLLER COASTER 🎢💨 CHOP SUEY & CHESTNUT LINK 🏠🥢🔗
all of em got blown and drained on Monday – a solid sweep of this section of the network to keep everything flowing properly. smooth, clear, ready to deliver you where ever you wanna go!

TE RURU 🌳🔧
The Te Ruru adopter was out doing a big surface repair session on Thursday. it's def one of those trails that rewards consistency and the adopter has been delivering exactly that. beautifully maintained and riding great right now!

BOX OF BIRDS 🐦🔧
The Box of Birds adopter has been hard at it, fix a bug bear of theirs! They have installed a very good B line round that awkward rooty drop, so now it is a proper Grade 4 line but you can still hit the drop if you want to. noice.

TAURA 🌿🌳
The Taura adopter was out on Sunday for a quick vegetation and slip clearing session. Taura is one of the most loved trails in the whole Whaka and the adopter keeps it that way week in, week out. chur legend!

LION TRAIL 🦁💧
The Lion Trail adopter got out on Monday for vegetation and drain work. quiet, consistent, effective.

K2 🌿
The K2 adopter was out on Wednesday doing vegetation clearance. K2 is clear and riding well – chur to the adopter for keeping it that way!

JEFF'S LINK & FOREST LOOP – TE ARA KI TUMUNUI 🌲💨
Jeff's Link and Te Ara ki Tumunui both got blowing and vegetation clearance on Tuesday. these Forest Loop connectors are the threads that hold the whole loop experience together and the crew made sure they're in top condition. the Forest Loop is an end-to-end experience right now and every section of it is humming.

💚 THE BOTTOM LINE

Good people holding the trails together. Bad people putting it all at risk. Pull your heads in.

To the RTT crew, adopters, volunteers, donators – all showing up for this forest in different ways, all contributing to something that is genuinely world class.

but world class takes investment. and the rebuilds that this community wants – Eagle vs Shark, Frontal, Billy T, the DH tracks – they are coming. they WILL happen. but only if we fund them together.

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – donate, sponsor a trail, or share this post so someone else can.

every single action moves us closer to the trails we all want. The community we all want. The world class town thriving.

Let's look after each other out there.

aroha nui,

– the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲