The gates open at 9:00am and close after dark – at around 7pm in winter and around 9:30pm during daylight saving hours. The park is open everyday and the tracks are open 24/7 for riding anytime. If the gate is shut, park safely nearby and ride in. Paihia Mountain Bikes onsite are open from 9:00am until 4:30pm.

We encourage riders of all ages and abilities to have a go at riding on our trails. A lot of the tracks are constructed to be ‘family friendly’ which are suitable for all riders who can confidently ride a bike on 2 wheels including children and beginner riders. As well as the wider, flatter novice tracks, there are trails for advanced riders too including jumps and technical features. If you can ride on the Cycle Trails, you can ride here in the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park.

We would encourage riders to have a safe bike, ideally a mountain bike which has ‘fatter’ mountain bike tyres as opposed to a road bike or hybrid bike. Suspension also helps on the trails but is not a necessity. Make sure your tyres are inflated, your brakes work, all bolts tight and your bike has been safety checked or serviced by a bike mechanic before riding as injuries can happen if your bike is not safe to ride.

We do have an onsite bike hire facility (Paihia Mountain Bikes) which has quality bikes for rent including kids bikes, front suspension bikes, full suspension bikes and even electric mountain bikes. These can be rented for a half day or full day. Please contact the team on 0211878192 or info@paihiamountainbikes.co.nz if you would like to book a bike (highly advised during the busy summer and school holiday season).

A shuttle service in the mtb park takes riders and their bikes from the bottom of the tracks to the top of the tracks. This usually operates all school holidays, weekends and public holidays. It is a great way to stay out riding longer and save those legs. Although we have had a shuttle in the past unfortunately we do not have a shuttle operator at the moment. We hope to have one soon. So in the meantime it’s pedal to the metal, or you can take advantage of the eBikes available for hire onsite from Paihia Mountain Bikes.

As a minimum – a good helmet and closed-in shoes. You are not allowed to ride in the Park, or on the Pump Track, if you are not wearing a helmet. Some riders also like to use knee pads, elbow pads and gloves.

Hydration, cell phone, a map – if you are new to the forest.

Cell phone coverage is patchy in the low-lying areas of the park.

Our mechanics onsite at Paihia Mountain Bikes can often help with flat tyres and quick fixes while you are at the Waitangi MTB Park. Often during summer the mechanics are quite busy, so make sure your bike is ready to go when you get here!

No. Unfortunately we do not have access to water at the car park. There is only tank water for the café. Most accommodation providers offer bike wash facilities.

All of our staff are trained in first aid. There is also a Defibrilator located at the Car Park, on the fence near the toilet block. Doctors clinics are located in Paihia and Kerikeri. The closest hospital is Bay of Islands Hospital located in Kawakawa, 20 mins drive from the Park.

No. Dogs are not permitted anywhere within Waitangi Mountain Bike Park, including all mountain bike trails, forest areas and the trail hub car park — even if they are on a leash.

The park is located on Department of Conservation land and within the Waitangi National Trust estate, where dogs are prohibited throughout the entire area between the Waitangi Bridge and the Haruru Falls Bridge. This rule is in place to protect wildlife, including an exceptionally important kiwi population.

We appreciate your understanding and support in helping protect this special environment.

You can ride for as little or as long as you like on the tracks. Some riders will find 1hour of exploring plenty of time, whereas other riders will come back for 3 full days in a row! Most riders that hire a bike will ride for around a half day (3 to 4 hours including breaks, lunch stops and/or shuttle service rides)

Horse riders and walkers/hikers have shared use of the forestry roads. There are no hikers or horses allowed on mtb tracks.

Yes. Please be aware that we have an active kiwi population, so extra care is to be taken when riding at night. Remember the gate closes just after sundown, so if you are riding after dark, be sure to park on the outside of the gate before you head in.

Yes, there is a café onsite that is open on the weekends and throughout the school holidays.

No. Unfortunately we do not have access to water at the car park. There is only tank water for the café. Water bottles are available for sale at the café.

Yes

You get a Paper Map included for FREE when you Register to Ride, just show your HivePass Digital Card to the team at Paihia Mountain Bikes onsite and they will give you one.

If you are not Registered to Ride a Trail Map can be purchased onsite at Paihia Mountain Bikes for $5.

Yes. Trailmapps Waitangi App is a smartphone app that uses the smartphones inbuilt GPS to show you exactly where you are on a full colour zoomable map. Once you’ve downloaded the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, mobile data is not required to show your location on the map. GPS uses satellite for location not data.  The Trailmapps Waitangi App also has an Emergency location feature that shows the exact co-ordinates of your location on screen, so you can read them out to the 111 operator.  This works anywhere in the world (no data service is required).

Yes — birthday parties and small group gatherings are welcome at Waitangi Mountain Bike Park. It’s a great place for kids and families to ride, celebrate and spend time outdoors together.

If you are planning to bring a group to the park, you are welcome to set up a small gazebo or shade shelter on the grass paddock area near the hub. Because there is limited natural shade in this area, we understand that many families like to bring a gazebo for comfort.

To help keep things running smoothly for everyone, we ask that visitors follow a few simple guidelines:

Before your visit

• Please contact the Park Manager to let us know if you plan to set up a gazebo or party area on the paddock. Contact: Tiff – 021 050 4350. This helps us avoid clashes with other events and manage the space appropriately.

Gazebos and party setups

• Small gazebos or shade shelters are welcome on the grass paddock area. Please ensure your setup does not encroach on the café’s outdoor seating area (the gravel area). Please remove all rubbish and leave the area as you found it.

Vehicle access

• Vehicles may access the grass briefly for unloading and setup only. Once equipment is unloaded, vehicles must be moved back to the main car park.

• Vehicles are not permitted to remain parked on the grass.

Barbecues

• If using a barbecue, you must have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Donations

• While there is no charge to use the bike park as a party venue, all riders and party participants should make a day donation of $10, unless they already have their own annual Hivepass. Donations help us maintain and improve the park for everyone.

Support the café

• Our on-site café is open most days and offers great coffee, food and treats. Supporting the café helps keep the hub vibrant and welcoming for everyone.

We love seeing families and groups enjoying the park, and birthday parties are a fantastic way to introduce new riders to the trails. If you’re planning a gathering, please get in touch with the Park Manager so we can help make it a great day.