Welcome to an unforgettable one-day cycling adventure from Lake Waikaremoana! Join us for a spectacular ride, starting from the mesmerizing Lake Waikaremoana and concluding at your choice of destinations: Ruatahuna (47kms), Murupara (96kms), or the full distance to Rotorua (157kms).
We provide you with a seamless experience from start to finish. After transporting you to Waikaremoana Holiday Park, we ensure your comfort with a relaxing overnight stay, delicious dinner, and a hearty breakfast to fuel your day. On Sunday, embark on your epic ride while we support you with well-deserved lunch, snacks, water, and suncream. The best part? You have the freedom to decide how much or how little riding you want to undertake, tailoring the experience to your preferences and abilities.
At a Glance…
Price: NZD $350 inc GST. Add $115 inc GST if e-bike hire is required. SuperGold Card discount applies to the weekday trips.
Time commitment: 2 days
Dates: THIS TRIP IS FULL. PLEASE SEE OUR 5-DAY TRIP IN THE WAIKATO. Saturday 26th Oct 2024 & Sunday 27th Oct 2024. Saturday is a transport day, Sunday is the ride day. Monday is a public holiday (you could ride the Whakarewarewa Loop Trail as a warm down).
Groups and Week Days: Yes, if you bring a group of 8-11 riders you can request your own dates.
Yes, weekdays are fine for groups. Yes, a discount of 12.5% for 8 or more people
Who is it for: Bike experience required. Well suited to gravel or MTB cyclists, capable of riding 47kms minimum of well-formed gravel road, or breaking out and riding 74, 92, or 157 kms to Rotorua. Mixed terrain including 2,000 metres climb.
Ride starts at: Waikaremoana Holiday Park.
Ride ends at: Rotorua Bike Park (Waipa Mill Rd car park).
Total kilometres: short course to Ruatahuna: 47kms, medium course to Murupara: 96 km, long course to Rotorua 157 kms.
Trail Grade: this is not a graded forest track, this is a remote, gravel public road past the lake, waterfalls, streams and free-range horses.
Van departs from and returns to: Hamurana, Rotorua
Accommodation styles: basic fisherman’s cabins, shared ablutions block. Not flash.
Food: 1 dinner, 1 breakfast and 1 lunch are provided. Sandwiches, fruit and snacks provided for Sunday lunch as Te Tii General Store, Rutahuna is closed on Sundays.
Best bike: hardtail mountain bike, full-suspension mountain bike, e-mountain bike, gravel bike.
What Track & Trail provides…
- Transfer to Waikaremoana. Support vehicle. All transport is ex Rotorua
- Accommodation, shared basis
- Breakfast, dinner, water, electrolytes, riding snacks and sunscreen
- Secure parking for your car at our Rotorua base
- Ride information & route notes
- Basic mechanical support and first aid
- Carry your overnight gear
- Bike hire if needed
- … what you provide: you ride, have fun, be awesome and see the less trod parts of NZ
The Waikaremoana Weekender Ride
- A total distance of UP TO 157 kms spread over ONE day of awesome riding. Arrive noon the Saturday before.
- We kick off at around 8:30am Sunday.
- Ride only a little or a lot… our van will pick you up wherever you stop.
- A gravel bike, mountain bike or e-bike mountain would suit this tour. Road bikes would not be suitable.
- E-bikes are welcome or can be hired.
Route Map – going south to north east
Click the [ ] top right to get a full screen map.
Itinerary: Waikaremoana Weekender
Bikes, Food & Accommodation
Are you considering BYO bike? If you are driving to the start of the trip in Rotorua, you may like to bring your own bike. There are a few bike styles that work well on this trip. Here are the options:
- Gravel bike
- Hardtail mountain bike
- Full suspension MTB
- E-bike mountain bike
You are responsible for the fitness of your bike. Please get it fully serviced before you join the tour. It will be doing between 47, 96 or 157 kilometers mostly off-road and parts and service centres are not immediately to hand.
Your bike must be able to carry 1 litre of water, your rain jacket, snacks, phone, spare inner tube and sunscreen so a handlebar bag, front roll or frame bag is recommended. Avoid backpacks as they put too much pressure on your sitting bones, affect your balance and are too hot in summer.
Track & Trail has a fleet of NZ-designed Sinch e-bikes available for hire in small, medium and large frame sizes. The cost is $115 incl GST to hire an e-bike for the day. If we do not have your size we will hire it in Rotorua for you. Contact Peter if you plan on hiring any type of bike. Read the Bike Hire Agreement.
The trip includes breakfast, an evening meal and snacks.
Typical meals Include:
- Evening – prepared by your trip leader in the camp kitchen
- Breakfasts – fresh fruit, muesli, toast and spreads, hot drinks.
- Snacks – fresh fruit, muesli bars, nuts and baking.
If you have a special dietary requirement or regime, please contact us before booking. If you are gluten free, coeliac, vegetarian or have allergies, you can bring supplementary ingredients.
Accommodation is dry, warm, under a hard roof, but basic. Bring your own sleeping bag & towel. Bathrooms are shared. No ensuite bathroom.
Safety comes first! The main threats are; loose gravel surface, getting lost, getting cold, running out of water, sunburn and some pretty loose driving by boaties. We are here to mitigate as many of those risks as possible but care and attention will be required from you at all times.
At a minimum, some bicycle experience and moderate fitness is required.
The new Waikato Expressway connects Aucklanders to Rotorua with a comfortable 2.5-hour drive. South Islanders can fly into Rotorua Airport. Overnight in Rotorua on Friday before the departure on Saturday morning and the ride on Sunday. Bring your bike, or we can hire one to you.
Trip Price
NZD $350 inc GST plus bike hire of $115 inc GST if required.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Lake Waikaremoana and challenge yourself on an unforgettable cycling journey.
Secure your spot today by completing the form below.
Exclusions
The tour price does NOT include:
- getting to Rotorua
- optional activities
- personal equipment
- bike repairs
- alcoholic drinks & random café stops
- emergencies. Cost of emergency evacuation by ambulance or helicopter is at your own cost.
