For many locals and visitors to the Bay of Islands the prospect of venturing deep into the Waitangi Forests to explore the Mountain Bike trail network is a combination of excitement and trepidation. Excitement for the fantastic trails and views of the bay, but also trepidation at the thought of getting lost. It’s a common sight to see people standing by the trail turning a map round and round in their hands trying to figure out where they are.

The $12.99 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. It has the potential to enhance anyone’s experience of the trail system and stop that nagging doubt “Where am I?” One of the cool things with an app is that there’s room for in-depth information, so the app has the history and explanation of the Maori trail names.

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. Another plus of a smartphone based product compared with a traditional map is that the app gets quarterly free updates of all the new trails.

If you have ever tried phoning 111 for an ambulance to help an injured friend, you’ll know the frustration of speaking to the operator trying to describe your location.  “I’m at the bridge on Ruarangi Trail” will not get an ambulance coming to get you.  The Trailmapps Waitangi App 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).