Mountain Biking

The area around National Park provides some of the best adventure mountain biking in the North Island.

The 42 Traverse (Grade 3/ 46 km one way)
The 42 Traverse is one of the premier MTB rides in the North Island. Renowned for the long and often rutted down hills, to test even the most ardent Kamikaze MTB freak. The track surface varies from gravel to mush, some stream crossings and the inevitable uphills. The scenery is outstanding from wide vistas of all three volcanoes to lush unspoiled bush.The ride takes from 4 to 7 hours - people averaging in our experience 5.5 hours - from Kapoors Rd on Highway 47 to Owhango, with several river crossings, taking in regenerating forest, the awesome Canyon valley and finishing with a fantastic downhill.

Riders should equip themselves with appropriate clothing and equipment, spare brake pads, map & compass and food and drink.

Fishers Track (Grade 2 / 21 km one way)
This relatively unknown downhill track is an accelerating 10 km decent off the side of the Volcanic Plateau, dropping from 840 metres to 500 metres, adrenaline rush is in your hands. The surface is mixed but does have a fair proportion of grass.

Howard's Lodge runs a Transport Service to the start and the finish of the 42 Traverse and Fishers Track.

Tranport Rates (Minimum of 4 people)

42 Traverse

$30 p.p.

Fishers Track (one way)

$25 p.p.

Mountain Bike Hire

Half day

$40

Full day

$60

Mountain Biking Tongariro Crossing
Mountain Biking Tongariro Crossing

Other MTB Tracks in the area

John McDonald Loop

4-6 hours

Tongariro Forest

Grade 5

40 km

Owhango Loop

2-4 hours

Owhango

Grade 4

33 km

The Pines

1-3 hours

National Park

Grade 2

Up to 30 km

Mangapurua Trig

3-5 hours

Ruatiti, 30km from National Park

Grade 3

22 km RT

Tree Trunk Gorge

2-4 hours

20 km south of Turangi

Grade 3

17 km