The Department of Conservation are investigating a range of mountain bike opportunities in the East of the North Island. Go here for information on the Hawkes Bay: http://www.vorb.org.nz/article-58497.html

[quote="DoC"]Increasing popularity of Mountain Biking (MTB) has prompted the Department of Conservation (DOC) to begin to look at providing more opportunities for this activity on Public Conservation Lands (PCL) within the East Coast Hawke’s Bay Conservancy.

As part of this investigation we are keen to hear your views.

Mountain Biking on Public Conservation Land Existing MTB opportunities*:
• Opotiki Area: Otipi Road [Raukumara CP], Pakihi [Urutawa CA] and Tauranga [Waioeka SR] Tracks
• Hawke’s Bay Area: Yeomans Track and No Mans Road in the Ruahine FP

While preservation and protection of natural and historic resources are foremost, the department’s General Policy and National Parks Policy do provide for mountain biking opportunities under certain conditions. Te Urewera National Park Management Plan does not provide for MTB and to do so would require a plan change involving consultation and a formal public review process. New MTB opportunities could be based on existing walking tracks, on the upgrading or extension of current MTB tracks and roads, or by the creation of completely new tracks.

Progress to date:
So far two “clustersâ€

There's some fantastic terrain around this area. I have definitely enjoyed walking my bike along some of these tracks in the past - it would be great to be able to actually ride them

Good news from the Hawkes Bay: http://www.vorb.org.nz/article-58497.html