Parks & Recreation » Akatarawa Forest » Motorised recreation user code » Trail biking

Trail biking

Today there is an extensive network of roads and old logging tracks through the regenerating bush and pine trees of the Akatarawa Forest. The main four wheel drive roads through the forests are open to the public for quad and trail biking, and there is a trail bike zone through the forest. Trail bikes are not allowed elsewhere in the forest or in the other regional parks.

All casual trail bikers must have individual permits. Greater Wellington issues these permits at no charge. Contact the Upper Hutt office for your permit.

There is a 30km per hour speed limit in the forest. Casual two- and four-wheel drive off-road racing, scrambling, motocross, and competitive riding or driving is notpermitted.

Sensitive ecological zones

Trail biking is not permitted in ecologically sensitive zones such as:

  • the summits of Mounts Barton, Maunganui, Titi and Wainui
  • the upper Akatarawa Valley
  • riparian zones (rivers and stream margins), stream beds, swamps and wetlands.

Greater Wellington and the Akatarawa Recreation Access Committee (ARAC) have agreed guidelines for motorised recreation in the forest to help protect the environment, other recreational users and adjoining landowners. Your co-operation with this code will impact directly on the future access of motorised recreational users to this area – please respect it.

Trail bike routes

Whakatiki Loop

  • Distance: 22 km return

Leave Maungakotukutuku Road and climb up Perhams Road to Titi Ridge. Turn right and ride around an 8 km loop through exotic forest to the headwaters of the Whakatiki River. Follow Hydro Valley and Whakatiki Road back to Titi Road. Return down Perhams Road to Maungakotukutuku Valley.

Karapoti-Toi Toi Road

  • Distance: 41 km return

Ride 8 km up Karapoti Gorge past McGhies Bridge to the clearing. Cross the Akatarawa River West, climb over the Pram Track (530 m) and down to Dopers Creek. Turn left and climb steadily up Rimu Road. At Toi Toi Road turn right down Hydro Road to Orange Hut. From Orange Hut the return route is downstream to Dopers Creek and back over the Pram Track to Karapoti.

Akatarawa Forest Traverse

  • Distance: 27 km

This route links Maungakotukutuku Valley with Karapoti Road in Upper Hutt. Ride up Perhams Road to Titi Ridge, turn right and then left down Whakatiki Road. After crossing Dopers Creek climb steeply over the Pram Track (530 m) and down to the ford at Akatarawa River West. From here it is a gentle 8 km ride through Karapoti Gorge to Akatarawa.

Mini motorcross course

The Kapi Mana Motorcycle Club runs a limited number of mini-motorcross eventsnear the Bulls Run Road entrance to the Akatarawa Forest (via Cooks Rd and Moonshine Rd off SH58). These are ideal opportunities for young riders to participate in trail biking with appropriate supervision.

Please phone the co-ordinator Alan Cressey 04 563 7177

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