Burn rubber in one of the world's best tracks
Hit the exact trails that the pros ride on
Combine amazing tracks with intriguing history
It's an awesome reality to ride the NZ singletracks
Sharpen your MTB skills and have a great time
Max out your senses with serene lake views, powerful waterfalls, sweet birdsong and wild bush views.
Make new friends who share the same two-wheeled passion
High on adrenaline that is
Spend your days frolicking in the sun with your bike
Fire through the forest chasing the wind
Enjoy the variety of terrain on the tour

North Island Trail Hunter MTB

Duration
7 days
Site savings
$47
From
$1,414 USD
5 Reviews

Ride amongst some of the finest mountain biking New Zealand has to offer. From the white-knuckle downhills of Rotorua and perfectly flowing single-track of Taupō, to the most scenic of backcountry epics near Ohakune, this tour will leave you breathless in more ways than one!

  • Category
    Adventurous
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    7 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    4 - Advanced
  • Activity Level
    3 - Active
  • Elevation
    4 - Challenging
  • Terrain
    Flow Trail
  • Distance
    126.8 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    21.1 miles
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  • What’s the terrain like and what kind of tracks will I ride?

    The operator will be including a range of different types of trails from flowy singletrack to fun downhills (and even to some uphill grinds to keep you honest). There will be daily track briefings to let you know what’s coming up.

    There is a very diverse range of tracks in NZ, from smooth-packed clay to technical rock gardens and everything in between. If the terrain is different to what you’re used to, don’t worry, the guides will have stacks of tips for mastering them all.

  • What kind of ascents/descents will I be taking on?

    It depends where you go and what tracks you decide to ride each day. There are shuttles/lifts on some days as well. The main thing is if you’re an intermediate or above rider with a good level of fitness the guides will tailor things to work for you.

  • What MTB experience do I need to go on the tour?

    The tours are aimed towards all the MTB enthusiasts out there, so most of the day’s rides are graded 2–3+, meaning there might be a few technical sections and/or steep climbs and descents and a couple of long days.

    If you are an intermediate-to-advanced rider, or can handle a bike well, these tours are ideal.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    A reasonable level of fitness is required for this active MTB tour. Included are some epic and adventurous longer days mixed in with shorter recovery and fun days. If you want to take it easy for a day it’s no problem - there are usually alternative riding options available.

  • I’m travelling alone, can I join this trip?

    Definitely. Many of the guests are solo travellers so absolutely jump on board.

  • What sort of bike should I bring?

    A sturdy full-suspension bike will give you the most enjoyment out of this trip, however, a robust front suspension bike may be fine as well. If you have any questions regarding whether your bike may be suitable, get in touch with the operator and they can help you out.

  • Do I need to bring my own bike?

    Everybody generally has their own trusty steed that they love as much (if not more!) than their own loved ones. The tours are designed for riders to bring their own bikes. Alternatively, the operator can easily sort out great quality, late model full suspension Specialised bikes for the duration of your tour.

  • How do I get my bike to New Zealand?

    The operator recommends Air New Zealand (especially from AU or US), as it enables bikes to be carried on as standard checked baggage (as long as it is packed correctly).

    A Bike Bag is easy and convenient to travel with, and folds down nice and small so you can take it on the road. Please avoid bringing large hard case bike boxes as they take up a large amount of room on the bus and trailer!

  • How is my bike transported while on tour?

    The operator has its very own awesome bike specific trailer, which was custom built for exactly this type of trip.

  • What do I need to bring?

    • your reliable bike
    • personal repairs (spare tubes/tyres/puncture kit/portable pump),
    • helmet, riding shoes, gloves, and any protective gear
    • sunscreen and sunglasses - the New Zealand sun is pretty strong!
    • water bottle/Camelbak (the guide will let you know where to get water on the trail)
    • daily riding snacks
    • swimming gear
    • daypack
    • positive attitude and sense of humour!

    Your guides can provide you with a foot bike pump, lights for night riding (if you don’t already have some), and an unforgettable experience with NZ’s best mountain biking.

  • What’s the accommodation like?

    The operator has hand-picked every place you stay, staying in their own lodges when possible. Standard accommodation is dorm share, with the option to upgrade to a private room.

  • What is the average size of a tour group?

    The maximum size of a Mountain Bike Tour is 14 people. The tour is booked out in advance during summer seasons so the average passenger number can be very close to 14.

  • What happens if a track is closed or very bad weather?

    On the rare occasions that any tracks, parks or activities are shut or have very poor conditions, going to a different, but still awesome track is usually the compromise. If not possible, the operator will refund the wholesale rate for any activity passes for that day.

  • What is the tour bus like?

    The operator normally uses a 22 seater Mitsubishi Rosa, with a trailer for all your gear and bikes. As they only fill the bus to a maximum of 14 people, there are always some extra seats to lounge about!

  • Will I have the time of my life?

    Ohhh yes you will!

  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts in Auckland at 7am on Day 1 and ends on Day 7 in Wellington.

  • Who are the tour guides?

    The Tour Guides are passionate MTB-enthusiasts with heaps of experience in guiding – and they love hitting the trails hard themselves. They are there to ensure you have the best time possible, feel free to ask them any questions. For tours with nine or more people, we ensure that there are two expert guides on tour.

  • What are the rental bikes like?

    Stumpjumper bikes provide the latest technologies developed by friends at Specialised. When you need to blend ruggedness, efficiency and downright nimbleness into one trial bike, it's hard to beat the construction of the Stumpjumper!

  • Please read here for the tour operator's Covid-19 policy amendments:

    As it has always been, the safety and security of our guests and team members remains our highest priority. We are doing everything we can to ensure your travel safety and provide maximum flexibility as the situation around novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve.

    LATEST TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND
    Effective from Wednesday 18 March, only New Zealand residents and citizens (and their children and partners) are permitted to enter New Zealand.

    TOUR CANCELLATIONS
    All Adventure Tours departing between 16 March 2020 - 1 October 2020 have been cancelled as a result of entry restrictions to New Zealand. If your tour has been cancelled you will be provided with a future travel credit valued at 100% of the price paid for your tour and any ancillary services including hotels and pre-paid optional activities, but excluding airfare and insurance. This travel credit can be applied toward any Haka tour scheduled to depart before 31 December 2022. Haka Tours are not offering refunds on these cancelled tours.

    OTHER FAQs ABOUT OUR TOURS
    My tour has been cancelled, what are my options?
    If your tour has been cancelled you will be provided with a future travel credit valued at 100% of the price paid for your tour and any ancillary services including hotels and pre-paid optional activities, but excluding airfare and insurance. This travel credit can be applied toward any Haka tour scheduled to depart before 31 December 2022.

    I have booked a tour starting after 1 October 2020 but want to change my tour start date, can I do this?
    Yes - our flexi-booking policy allows you to change your tour or tour start date for free up to 45 days before your tour departs.

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
View all 5 reviews
Great fun for riders and non-riders
Owen Dunne
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

James & Morgan were our guides & led our 7day MTB tour on the Nth Island of NZ, and everything was smooth, easy and fun. The group we were part of were friendly and everyone was relaxed (they all loved the riding too). The trails were awesome and one of the best bits for me was that my wife (who couldn't ride as she's was 5 months pregnant) was able to go bushwalking most days and so also really enjoyed herself too. Great Work Guys. They are Awesome!!

Better than expected and awesome guides
Ben Matthews
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

A little delayed, but I did the North Island MTB tour in May and it was an absolute hoot! Jase and Grant were our guides and provided a super relaxed environment from the get go. They turned it from being a tour to riding with a group of mates for 7 days instead. Safety was always paramount but never restricting us from shredding some awesome trails and features. They offered a locals insight into the trails and the areas we covered as well with a few secret hot springs thrown in.
Both Grant and Jase offered much more to the trip culturally than I was expecting which was a huge bonus. That combined with our Hangi meal/experience in Rotorua really added another level to the trip.
Accomodation was better than I was expecting for dorm share. Breakfast each day was a treat and the local recommendations for dinner were top notch!
The bus was surprisingly comfortable and included reclining seats. Storage at the back of the van took all the bags and bike boxes/bags. They also had a tool kit to take care of most issues you may have with your bike. The bike trailer is easy to load on and off but I would recommend you add another layer to the upright it's tied to. While it's wrapped in rubber and nice and cushy, we had a pretty wet trip so the rub of the dirt against the upright left an impressionable mark. They do supply pieces of padding for this purpose so use it.
A few of us had some issues with our bikes so Jase and Grant were rad at finding us the best bike stores for spares etc. One dude kept blowing his rear wheel out and Grant took us to Wheelworks in Wellington. This was a highlight of the trip to see the dark art of wheel building at next level precision.
Huge thanks to Jase, Grant and for such a rad week. Absolute legends!

Lots of trails
Billy Luu
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

Did the 7-day North Island mountain bike tour with Jase and had a great time. So many trails to ride, and managed to squeeze in a couple more rides not listed on the itinerary. The night ride was a highlight! There was always a good selection available for breakfast - which meant all i had to do was wake up and get ready to ride. Great service and communication from Holly before the tour, and then from Jase during the tour. Only wished I had the time to do the full 16-day tour. Thanks for the MTB tips, Jase.

View all 5 reviews