[Kanga]

This is one from my partner :)

Where's good for mountain biking and accessible from Hamilton and Cambridge?

[Sam B]

Rotorua - has THE BEST mountain biking trails ever ever ever, and J thinks he's died and gone to heaven when he goes there. It takes an hour and a bit to get there from Cambridge, but it's worth it. They are all graded like ski pistes. I tried it and started crying after 5 minutes, so it's not for wet blankets like me, but he loves it. It's called Whakarewarewa forest trails and they are all set in redwood forests with lakes about.

It's not so good around Cambridge and Hamilton. There is a small and poorly maintained trail in Te Miro, 10 minutes from Cambridge. Otherwise, not much.

[chocolate cake]

Certainly the mtn biking opportunities nr Auckland are pretty pants to be honest, I don't think there's a great deal near Hamilton either. Rotorua and Taupo further afield do have some decent riding. Try the Vorb.org.nz as a decent website and a good source of info for cycling and mtn biking.
I certainly miss the greater opportunities for mtb in UK, had the Peaks and Dales on the doorstep with Lakes and North Wales within a reasonable drive. That said I've done more road riding since I came here and also taken to sea kayaking too.

[Kanga]

S has had a good drool over the maps of the Rotorua rides Sam, cheers :nice1 I've no intention of going with him- doesn't appeal at all, particularly the way he rides; he used to cycle up to the top of Te Mata Peak and then take the mountin bike trail back down, which terrified me to even look over the edge at ...

Thanks for the link chocolatecake- S has book marked for a look at later :)

[Carey]

Some of the roads here will be challenging, eg up Maungakawa right out of Cambridge, steep climb up, lots of road cyclists do it. Looks like murder!

[Sam B]

J does that one and loves it, must be a mountain biking thing...

[Ally Bally Bee]

What kind of mountain biking? My hubby is a keen downhiller and dirt jumper and that is one of the main reasons why we are moving to Rotorua.

Rotovegas is good for all kinds of MTB - cross country champs are held there as well as DH.

As for Hamilton, there's a little DJ track at a place called Manuka Valley, just out of Whatawhata and another near Huntly but both are on private property. The track at Te Miro is on forestry land and isn't entirely legal I don't think (hubby knows the guy who jump started the forestry's digger to make jumps).

For MTB you'd be better off with Rotorua or Woodhill (north west Auckland). At least that's where my other half spends most of his weekends.

[Kanga]

Thanks for that Ally Bally Bee- will share with my partner later :)