CYCLING & MOUNtain biking
Waitangi Mountain Bike Park
The Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Bay of Islands. It provides the perfect all round option for mountain biking for any time of the year with a mix of easy, scenic trails that you can take at your own pace as well as some hardcore riding for those shredders out there.
It currently offers almost 50km of varying difficulty trails with great flow and features, from downhill riding, jump trails, cross country and beginner trails. The trails cater to all levels of ability from beginners to advanced riders. There are plenty of fast, flowing berms, rollers and jumps. Grade 2 and 3 runs are so well built, they’re still fun for more expert riders...some of the best in New Zealand!
Paihia Mountain Bikes
Paihia Mountain Bike Rentals and Shuttles are based right at the entrance to the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park and they can help you with all your bike hire needs. Whether you are looking for an Adult’s Front Suspension or Full Suspension Mountain Bike, a Kids Mountain Bike or the very popular Adult Full Suspension Mountain Electric Bikes, they will have the right bike for you, to allow you to have maximum fun when you hit the tracks!
Bike Hire:
Adult: starts $59
Child: starts $40
Pou Herenga TAI TWIN COAST CYCLE TRAIL
One of the 22 Great Rides of New Zealand, the Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail stretches from Opua on the east coast across the heartland, to Horeke on the Hokianga Harbour on the west side.
This cycle trail tells the story of an emerging nation, capturing the history and heritage of both Maori and European activity and settlements. Story boards along the way bring life to the history and stories of local people.
The trail is open during daylight only, all year round.
Multiple possibilities from 1 day, 2 day to multiple day rides, with bike hire, accommodation, food and drinks, water activities… available along the trail.
Contact us for any information and assistance in bookings.
NOTE: the Cycle Trail is currently closed halfway between Opua and Kawakawa. Please check their website for current updates.
E-bike Rentals - Russell
Through the Russell Information and Booking Centre and our ‘sister’ shop Wood2water, we have a total of 8 new electric mountain bikes available for rent. They are perfect for either a fun, short trip exploring Russell, or a longer ‘workout’ venturing out further for a few hours to a full day. One thing for sure, with these bikes Russell’s hilly roads will be easy as!
Bike Info
⁃ Model: Giant electric mountain bike (new from 2021)
⁃ Powerful e-bikes with the options of auto or manual assist
⁃ 8 x adult bikes available, in 3 sizes: 2 x small, 4 x medium, 2 x large
⁃ Please note: bikes are NOT suitable to use at the Paihia Mountain Bike Park
Rental Rates
Starting at $25 for 1 hour, to $85 for a full day.
Multiple day rentals are to be discussed and will depend on availability and season.
Itinerary suggestions
One Hour
A one hour bike rental will give you plenty of time to explore Russell and its beaches. We suggest you start off with a ride along the waterfront, over to Matauwhi Bay where the Russell Boating Club is. This is the ‘easy’ part from Russell: relatively flat and so a great way to get yourself comfortable on your e-bike, trying out all the different gears. From there on ride back through town to continue to Long Beach, Russell’s iconic, long sandy beach just on the other side of the peninsula. One long, winding, outstretched hill will take you there. Also the perfect stop for a coffee wit a view at Carl’s Longbeach Coffee cart (you will get a 10%discount with our coffee voucher.) Then, to finish with a bang, we recommend you to take on Flagstaff Hill! A steep ride to Russell’s highest point and a 360 degrees view of the Bay of Islands. A bit of a workout, but please believe us when we say our bikes will get you there, and the view is totally worth it!!
Two Hours
A two hour ride will give you just that bit of extra time to explore, and bring your togs if you are after a swim too!
To start with, your itinerary would be the same as the one hour ride. But after you have conquered Flagstaff Hill, you can continue your ride all the way to the tip of the Russell peninsula, Tapeka Point. For your swim - or picnic - both Long Beach and Tapeka Point are great options.
Half Day
With half a day at your disposal, you really have plenty of time to explore, relax and enjoy Russell’s surroundings. And, why not include a visit to one of Russell’s wineries. Omata Estate is about a 30 to 40 minute bike ride from Russell, on the way to Okiato where the car ferry lands. Again you will have a few hills to navigate, but the bikes will make it easy on you. Stop for some wine tasting, or lunch - they have the best wood fired pizza’s. Paroa Bay Winery is a bit further out towards Rawhiti - about an hour’s bike ride - but again a great place to enjoy some lunch and great wine. Just don’t overdo it with the wine, because you will need to find your way back on your bike, safely! :)
Full Day
If you are interested in cycling a part of the Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail, then a full day rental is the way to go. Or, multiple days are discussable as well, if you would want to do the full ride.
The Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail is Aotearoa’s most northern “Great Ride”, an 87 km trail that runs from Opua to Horeke in the Hokianga harbour, combining great scenery, magnificent views and a fascinating journey through NZ’s earliest Maori and European settlements.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your options!