Rotorua Trails Trust

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲 3 September 2026

Kia ora whānau!!

spring is knocking on the door! Yeah...my eyes are puffy and red and my car is dusted yellow with pollen.....but its a price that i am willing to pay for what's ahead! it's a short one today but every word of it comes from the heart 💚

🙏 THANK YOU – SERIOUSLY

the reviews coming in for Te Rua, Corridor Jumps, and Maiden Voyage have been absolutely incredible. reading through the comments, getting stopped out on the trails, and the Trailforks reports from people who have ridden these trails and taken the time to say something kind – it genuinely means everything to the crew who put so much into building them. and to everyone who read last week's post and went and made a donation – wow. just wow.

you get it.

it's not about thinking "I would pay to use this but I don't have to so I won't." it's about making the active choice to look after something you love so that it stays amazing. stays free. stays world class. for you, for the next person, for the kid who will ride their first trail here in ten years' time.

that's what this is all about. and you showed up for it. chur 🙏

👉 **www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz** – if you haven't yet, now's a good time 🤙

👴 ROTORUA RINKLY RIDERS – HEMO GORGE HEROES

a massive, overdue shout out to the incredible Rotorua Rinkly Riders who have done an absolutely stunning job on the Hemo Gorge Trail.

smooth. safe. riding just as good as the day it was first built.

this is what community stewardship looks like at its absolute finest. not waiting for someone else to do it. not demanding new trails while the existing ones need love. not complaining about what we have without lifting a finger to make it better. just showing up, rolling up the sleeves, and fixing what needs fixing because they love this place and they refuse to let it be anything less than brilliant.

the Hemo Gorge Trail is a gem and the Rinkly Riders have polished it back to its best. if getting to the forest via Hemo this week and it feels immaculate – now you know who to thank 🙏

community groups like this are the reason this forest stays world class. we are so grateful 💚

💧 LAKE TIKITAPU CIRCUIT – WHAT A TRANSFORMATION

the Lake Tikitapu Circuit has had a full rebuild on the (Eastside?) and the difference is night and day. it's been a dream for years to move that track so it stopped getting flooded out every time the lake level rose up. well it has happened. the trail has been raised and regraded so that no matter how high the lake level gets – and it gets high – the trail stays walkable. that boggy, unavoidable, boot-swallowing section? gone. properly gone. fixed at the root cause rather than patched over.

this is what sustainable trail building looks like. a fix that actually fixes it. not a repair that needs repeating every season, but a proper solution that raises the trail surface up above the problem and keeps it there. brilliant work 🌊

this is the theme of the forest right now. solid fixes that last.....speaking of which...

🛤️ BAKERS HOLLOW – THE BOGGY ROAD SECTION IS NO MORE

Bakers Hollow has had the full treatment – the boggy road section has been completely recapped, the trail surface raised up above the bog, and every muddy section assessed and reset.

same philosophy as Tikitapu. big fix. lasting fix. less maintenance long term. more usability for a wider range of people who might have been put off by the mud before.

and before anyone worries – there are still hundreds of kilometres of trails out there with all the mud, roots, rocks, jank, and general forest weirdness that makes exploring here feel like you are lost in the back blocks. this is not about sanitising the experience. it is about being smart with where the maintenance budget goes so the crew can spend time making trails better instead of repeatedly fixing the same boggy section every winter 🙌 there is more, much more, to come. I'll say it agian, its not about dumbing down the enitre forest, its about ensure more people can enjoy the forest in more conditions for more days of the year. thats a win in our book.

🌲 THIS PLACE IS SOMETHING ELSE

not a day goes by without appreciating what we have here. the trails, the trees, the community, the fact that any of this exists at all and is free to access and world class and getting better every year.

thank you to every person who makes it possible. the builders, the adopters, the volunteers, the donors, the trail sponsors, the working bee crew, the people who pick up a stick on the way past and chuck it off the trail.

all of it. all of you.

we appreciate you. we appreciate this. we are grateful.

🐝 MONTHLY WORKING BEE – THIS SUNDAY!

📍 Where:Planet Bike Carpark
⏰ When: 8:45am

back on Tītokorangi this Sunday – continuing the ongoing refresh that is slowly, steadily, turning this trail into something really special. every session gets it closer and the results are already showing.

what to bring:
- favourite trail tool if you have one
- closed toed shoes
- gloves
- good vibes
- a good story or two 😄

all welcome. no experience needed. just show up and we will sort the rest.

see you out there Sunday 🤙

aroha nui,

**– the crew at rotorua trails trust** 🌲

👉 **www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz**

And now a word from our Friends at Kaingaroa Tipu....

"Kia ora koutou,

Kaingaroa Tipu has commenced the roadside mowing programme in Whakarewarewa Forest, which will run through to 25th September 2026.

The mower will have 2 pilot vehicles, front and back. Affected recreational trails will be closed briefly by the front pilot and re-opened by the rear pilot once the mower is clear of the area. KT requests that forest users please use caution around the operation, obey all signage, instructions, and restrictions – they are there for your safety."

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲
27 August 2026

Kia ora whānau!!

feels like summer snuck in early, the sun is out, the trails are firm and fast, and the forest is just buzzing with incredible energy.

unfortunately......the weekend is looking a bit gnarly. ahhh well we love it anyway 🌧️

⚠️ WEATHER HEADS UP

the forecast for this weekend is wind and rain incoming and in a forest full of trees – well lets just say if you are heading out this weekend, make the first lap a cautious one. keep your eyes and ears open. and if the wind is really howling – consider whether today is the day. the trails will still be there when it clears.

stay safe out there. report any trees down via Trailforks so the crew can get onto them fast 🙏

🌟 TRAILS WORTHY OF A LAP RIGHT NOW

in case the memo got missed – here is the definitive list of trails that have had serious love lately and are absolutely firing:

Grade 3 – flowing and fun 🟢

Challenge Roadside
New Exit
Tītokorangi
Pig Track

Grade 4 – where it gets interesting 🔵

Te Mounga
Underbilly
G Rock
Old Exit
Taura

Grade 5 – send it (carefully) ⚫

Maiden Voyage
Corridor Jumps
Te Rua

every single one of these trails has had recent professional maintenance, community working bee love, or dedicated adopter mahi poured into it. they are in some of the best condition they have ever been in. get out there this week while the weather is still playing nice 🤙

💚 THE COMMUNITY MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN

this week we want to take to shout out every single person, group, and business that is making this forest the world class place it is. because it really does take a village. (if we forgot you on the list, please forgive us, we are silly humans who sometimes miss things, no intentional shade intended :)

🧠 THE BRAINS TRUST

out on No Brains and Maiden Voyage, week after week, doing the kind of skilled volunteer work that transforms trails. the Brains Trust are a huge part of why these trails ride the way they do. legends, all of them 💚

💜 THE MUD MAIDENS

teaming up with the Brains Trust on Maiden Voyage and bringing incredible energy, skill, and a genuinely infectious love for trail building. the results speak for themselves – go ride Maiden Voyage and feel it 🙌

🚵 DESCEND ROTORUA (ROTORUA MTB CLUB)

hard at work on the DH trails – this is a work in progress and we cannot wait to show you what is coming. the club has been putting in serious time and the trails are going to reflect that. watch this space 👀oh an do not "go for a look" the trails are not finished, jumps are untested, and riding them is both rude and dangerous. Respect the trail closure signs.

👴 THE ROTORUA RINKLY RIDERS

out on Te Poaka and Hemo Gorge, setting the standard for what giving back to the forest looks like. if riding these trails and they feel immaculate – tip the hat to the Rinkly Riders. they have earned every bit of it. young riders – take note. this is the bar 🫡

🙌 THE SOLO TRAIL ADOPTERS

you know who you are. out there quietly, consistently, without any fuss, week after week, looking after the trail you love like it's your first born. you are the backbone of this whole operation and the forest would not be the same without you. thank you. genuinely 💚

🏢 THE BUSINESSES INVESTING IN THE TRAILS

these incredible businesses have stepped up to sponsor trails and make professional maintenance and rebuilds possible. they are investing in the trails we all ride for free:

🚲 Pablos Bike Shop 🛠️ Bradleys 😴 Sleep Lab 🏗️ Build Co 🏨 Aura Accommodation 🔧 100% Plumbing & Gas ⛽ Stihl Shop Lakelands 🚴 Northern Grit Cycle Works 🌿 Outset 🏠 Urbo Homes

these are not just businesses. they are community members who looked at this forest and decided to put their money where their values are. that means everything. support them 🙏

💸 THE DONORS – $3,000 IN A MONTH. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

we are going to let that sit for a second.

three thousand dollars raised in the past month alone from people who love this forest and decided to do something about it. people from all over the country – and beyond – just reaching into their pockets because they wanted to give back to something that has given them so much.

and then there are the 75 people who have set up monthly recurring donations – collectively contributing $1,600 every single month. nothing made them do it. no one was standing over them. they just decided that the trails they love were worth a regular contribution and they set it up. bam.

that is one of the most genuinely moving things we can report in this newsletter and we want you to know that every single dollar of it goes directly back into the forest. into the trails. into the maintenance. into the rebuilds. into keeping this place world class and free for everyone.

thank you. from every rider who will ever ride these trails. from every walker who will ever wander through this forest. from every kid who will ever learn to ride a bike here. from all of us. thank you. 🙏

if you haven't set up a monthly contribution yet – 👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. any amount. real impact.

🐷 AND FINALLY – A POEM FROM THE PIG TRACK ADOPTER

we will not add anything. it speaks for itself entirely.

What a treat when someone's already blown the track! Thank you from my rake and thank you from my back. Plenty still to do on drains and veg, And chatting to bikers and walkers, maybe one was called Reg…

chur Reg. chur adopter. chur everyone 🌲

enjoy the sunshine today. be careful this weekend. and remember – this place is a gift. look after it and each other.

aroha nui, – the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

20 August 2026

Kia ora whānau!!

im BACK! Boom! Great to be back in Rotorua, traveled all round and feels great to be home. Sometime s you dont realise just how good we have it here till you leave. The last few whaka weekly posts were an absolute blast to write (we hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed making them 😄), and the forest? absolutely mint. what a time to be in Rotorua.

crispy mornings, sunny days, trails in fantastic condition, and a community that has been absolulty smashing it out there. let's get into it 👇

🔥 TE RUA – OPEN AND BETTER THAN EVER
The rumors are true, the RTT build team have been very sneaky and very talented and Te Rua has had a full refresh. a proper, skilled, thoughtful rebuild that has taken everything that made Te Rua great and made it better. the loamy goodness, the side features, the features you know and love – all still there. just better shaped, better flowed, better everything.

the community on Trailforks said it best: "great fun, many side features to hit if you're feeling up to it"

grade 5 rippers – this one is calling your name. go ride it. go love it. go hit every side feature you can find.

and if it delivers (and it will) – do the build team a solid and leave them a tip via the donation portal. not because anyone is making you. just because it's the right thing to do and you know it 🙏 how much WOULD you pay to ride here vs how much DO you donate? Lets get those numbers closer together eh?

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz

❄️ FROST DAMAGE – LET'S TALK ABOUT IT
thank you to everyone who has been sending through reports of frost-affected areas in the forest. the community's eyes out there make a real difference and we see every report.

but here's something worth understanding – because it might change how you think about riding on frosty mornings.

what frost actually does to a trail:
when temperatures drop below zero, the water in the soil freezes and expands. this pushes soil particles apart, breaking up the surface and turning what was a solid, packed trail into a soft, muddy mess. it looks terrible. it feels terrible. its absolutely terrible to ride on….unless you love that sort of thing.

but here's the counterintuitive bit. if we scoop off that mud and try to "repair" it – the trail gets lower. the next frost hits. the same thing happens. we scoop again. by the end of winter, the same section of trail has been "repaired" ten times and is now sitting 50cm lower than it was in autumn. and it'll just keep happening.

if we leave it alone? it rides out. once the frost cycle ends and the ground warms up, the soil naturally recompacts and the surface goes back to flat. no intervention needed. no shovels. no crew time. just patience and nature doing its thing.

so the genuinely best thing for the trail? Dont do anything. In a month or two the season will shift, the frosts will stop, and the trails will come right on their own.
there aren't many frosts left in the season now. hang tight. the forest will reward patience 🙏

we're not going to go running around putting signs up and pulling them down every time a frost hits – but we have put together a simple frost warning sign that will go up on key affected areas so there's a heads up when it matters. keep an eye out for them.

Still, the best decision maker and H&S officer is YOU. if you see frost on the ground, slow down, use caution.

🧠💪 THE BRAINS TRUST + MUD MAIDENS – COLLAB OF THE SEASON
the Brains Trust volunteer crew have been teaming up with the Mud Maidens riding group out on Maiden Voyage and it is the best colab sinch Jason Gunn and Thingee (yup im that old) different crews, same love for the forest, incredible results.

here's what they've been getting done together 👇

🛫 MAIDEN VOYAGE – Jump Shaping, B-Line Love & Drain Work
the top jump got a proper reshape – angled more in line with the trail direction and made a whole lot less kicky. much more inviting for a wider range of riders. then when the weather wasn't playing ball for the planned gap jump upgrades, the crew pivoted straight to the b-line – ripped out the soggy rotting punga and replaced it with proper material that'll actually last. while they were at it, they used the wet conditions as an excuse to walk (read: slide down 😂) the trail hunting for puddles and knocking out a solid round of drain work.

and earlier in the season – the rotting wood on that first dropping right-hand corner? gone. replaced with solid new wood. done properly.

Maiden Voyage is riding so well right now. the Trailforks reports confirm it – "running much better since the tidy up, so nice to have the breaking bumps a bit nicer and the bottom section has many fun side hits. The love it has got is making it more fun" – and that's straight from the community who are out there lapping it.
chur to every single person involved. 💚

🌟 THE INVISIBLE CREW – COMMUNITY MAHI ROUND-UP
And now here's a run-down of everything the adopters and volunteers got done from the Trailforks reports:

🐷 PIG TRACK
trees came down across Ovata Road where Pig Track crosses it – reported by the community and cleared by what one reporter called "the invisible crew" who (alothough we know who they are and they are certified to operate chainsaws in the forest) just showed up and sorted it without anyone asking. that's the whole vibe right there. legend behaviour 💚

🐦 BOX OF BIRDS
drains rescalloped from the Forest Loop bridge all the way up to Tokorangi Pa Road, breaking bumps dug out and the steep section above the squeeze recompacted. then earlier in the month – the lower half raked top to bottom. consistent, caring mahi on one of the most fun trail combos in the network 🙌

✌️ AS YOU DO
drains rescalloped and the bottom section raked – keeping this one in great condition through a tough stretch of weather. As You Do is doing just fine thanks to the adopter who keeps showing up 🤙

🌿 LENTIL ROAD
tree cleared and reported – clean and open. chur to the legend who reported it!

🚪 OLD EXIT
multiple sessions on the lower section this month – work on work on work. Old Exit is getting consistent love and it shows. go explore it!

🥢 BUNNY JUGS 2
blown and drains cleared on the second half near the shuttle pick-up. small session, real impact. chur!

🛣️ CHALLENGE ROADSIDE
the adopter has been rebuilding the second half – first berm rebuilt, step down rebuilt, following step down rebuilt, three bog sections repaired. this is serious feature construction work from an adopter who simply will not stop. the trail is getting better every single week 💪

🌲 FOREST LOOP – MULTIPLE SECTIONS
the Forest Loop adopters have been quietly keeping sections humming throughout – Forest Loop Tūhua sections, Te Ara A Whero, Te Pikitanga Whangapipiro, Arepa Weherua, Te Ara ki Waipā sections all reporting ideal conditions. the Forest Loop is a massive undertaking to maintain and the people who look after it section by section are absolute legends 🌲

🔗 MOKOPUNA TO WATTLES CONNECTOR
work started on clearing that eternal puddle between the Dual Slalom Track and As You Do. someone showed up with a rake and started making it better. that's all it takes sometimes 💚

🏞️ LYNMORE LINK CONNECTOR
tree cleared from above the Dual Slalom Track – trail open all the way. sorted!

🚨 A COUPLE OF HEADS UPS
Corridor Top Jumps – Temporary Closure 🚧 there's some resurfacing happening on the Corridor Top Jumps right now. it will be open again ASAP – please respect the closure on this one. it's a high speed track and workers can be unsighted in the troughs of the jumps and berms. this is a genuine safety thing. closure tape means closure. Do not pull it down. 🙏

Horses on The Wash 🐴 a report came in of horses on The Wash. The Wash is a mountain bike trail. horses are not supposed to be on mountain bike trails – both for the safety of the horse and the safety of riders. if horse riding in the network, please stick to the designated walking and horse tracks. the signs are there to help. follow them 💚

💚 THE BOTTOM LINE
the forest is in brilliant condition heading into the back end of winter. Te Rua is open and incredible. Maiden Voyage is getting a glow up from two amazing community groups working together. the adopters are out there week after week doing invisible, essential, wonderful work.

and if any trail in this network has ever given a good day, a good lap, a good feeling at the bottom of a descent – please consider giving something back.

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – donate, set up a monthly contribution, or check out the crowd funding and vote for the next rebuild with your dollars.

good to be back. good to be in the forest. good to be part of this community 🤙

aroha nui, – the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲

This in from our friends at Kaingaroa Tipu,
We are performing some land prep operations around the Ball and Chain and Puarenga trails, there will be some temporary trail closures whilst this work is in progress. Please respect all signage and closures they are there for your safety
Many thanks

Well, this is pretty special 💚🌲

The Rotorua Trails Trust has been named a finalist in the 35th Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, in the Rotorua Lakes Council Outstanding Contribution to Rotorua category.

And of all the categories, this one means a lot.

We spend a lot of time talking about trails. Building them, maintaining them, repairing them, advocating for them and figuring out how we’re going to fund them.

But the impact of Rotorua’s trail network reaches a long way beyond the forest.

A RotoruaNZ study into the contribution of mountain biking found that visitors who mountain biked while in Rotorua contributed an estimated $139.8 million in local spending in 2021. Of that, $103.4 million came from people whose primary reason for visiting Rotorua was to ride.

Those visitors stayed longer too, an average of 4.1 nights, compared with 2.6 nights across Rotorua visitors overall, with their spending estimated to support more than 1,150 jobs.

Those are big numbers. But the contribution of our trails to Rotorua isn’t only measured in dollars.

They’re where locals ride, run and walk. They’re where kids learn to ride bikes. They bring events, athletes and visitors from around the world to our city. They support businesses, create jobs and give people another reason to call Rotorua home.

And they’ve become part of Rotorua’s identity.

The Rotorua Trails Trust is only one part of that story. Our work is possible because of the volunteers who show up, businesses and funders who back us, trail builders and contractors who do the mahi, our partners who work alongside us, and the community that continues to value and support these trails.

So to be recognised for our contribution to Rotorua feels particularly special.

We’re proud to be finalists alongside Kōtihi Reo Consultants and the Rotorua Sustainable Charter, two organisations making their own significant contribution to our city.

The Trust might be the name on the finalist list, but this recognition belongs to a much bigger community.

Pretty bloody proud of this one. 💚

📸 Rachel Hadfield

🐕 THE TRAIL DOG EDITION

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲 13 August 2026

WOOF.

Sorry.

HELLO.

the one who gives me all the best treats and pats is still away, and the intern said i could write the weekly cos the were off for a ride.... which means I have somehow been left in charge of the weekly update.

This feels like a mistake.

don't ask me how i'm typing.

it's science.



👃 THIS FOREST

incredible.

ten out of ten smells.

literally thousands of new ones from all the bikers, horses, runners, walkers, and that kid who dropped half a sandwich near the carpark.

thank you, little human.

i have been carefully cataloguing every single smell.

this is important work.

nobody appreciates the level of commitment.

🌲 THE TRAILS

The humans keep saying, "The trails are running mint."

I don't know what that means.

From my investigations I can confirm they are, in fact...

..covered in smells.

Fresh dirt.

A few wet leaves.

Tiny mushrooms.

Sausage someone dropped near the carpark three days ago.

One child who definitely had chicken nuggets for lunch and let me lick their fingers.

Excellent work everyone.

Also...

Those muddy puddles?

GENIUS.

I sprint through them at full speed, then immediately lie down in the dirtiest one to cool off.

Then I shake.

Immediately beside my favourite human.

This is called sharing happiness.

Five stars.

Whoever invented puddles deserves another puddle.

The new trails over on Te Mounga Ridge smell like fresh dirt, hard work, and excellent life choices.

Highly recommended.

Especially at maximum zoomies.

🚵 MOUNTAIN BIKERS

Very fast.

Very exciting.

I would like to race every single one of them.

Apparently this is "not helping."

Sorry.

I am helping with morale.

🚶 WALKERS

Wonderful people.

Most of them stop for pats.

Some have snacks.

One lady called me "handsome."

I have thought about that every day since.

❤️ THE TRAIL ADOPTERS

These humans keep coming back every week.

They pick things up.

Trim things.

Fix things.

Carry tools.

Talk about drains a lot.

Honestly I don't understand any of it.

But every time they leave...

..the humans smile.

..the bikes go faster.

..and I find even MORE places to sniff.

Please tell them they are very good humans.

I have maximum waggy tail mode activated after meeting them.

I cant control that it just happens.

🦴 THE CROWDFUNDING THING

my best friend explained the new Rotorua Trails Trust crowdfunding page to me.

from what i understand...

everyone throws a little bit into the same bowl...

..and then somehow new trails get built and old ones get looked after.

that is an EXCELLENT system.

one of my favourite things about humans is when they all work together to look after something they love.

my favourite thing is still treats.

but this is a close second.

the trails are completely free to sniff.

which is honestly incredible.

i would absolutely pay to sniff here.

since i don't have a wallet, could you please make a donation on behalf of me...

..and your dog...

..at www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz?

the forest needs the trees.

the trails.

the people.

and the dogs.

especially the dogs.

we're out here every day conducting very important inspections.

🐾 BEFORE YOU VISIT

please come to the forest.

bring your dog.

we love making new friends.

lead on when we have to.

lead off when we can.

pick up my "trail treasures"

i've seen the signs.

it's all good.

sometimes i get a little overexcited and forget that not everyone wants a muddy cuddle or to be enthusiastically introduced to the stick i just found.

i'm doing my best.

right.

gotta go.

more zoomies.......

aroha nui 🐾

– trail dog (and the crew at rotorua trails trust) 🌲

p.s. my best friend is back next week. normal programming resumes. it has been an honour.

p.p.s. if you find my ball, please throw it.

p.p.p.s. yes, that is my pinecone.

i know exactly where it is.

i'm coming back for it.

❄️ Frost Alert! 🥶

This winter is delivering multiple days of frosty conditions, and it's having a significant impact on our trail network—especially on more exposed, open sections of trail. Some areas are staying frozen well into the late afternoon.

Please choose your route carefully and, where possible, avoid exposed sections. Trails under mature tree cover are currently offering the best riding conditions.

Remember that frosty trails can be slippery and unpredictable, so ride to the conditions, take extra care, and help keep both yourself and the trails in good shape.

Please be aware that conditions can vary significantly across the network. A trail that starts dry may still have frosty or icy sections further along, so stay alert and adjust your riding accordingly.

Thanks for doing your part, and enjoy the ride! 🚵