Mountain bikers and recreational users can once again enjoy the full Pirongia Mountain Bike Park and forestry road network, with all remaining trails reopening today after 18 weeks of storm recovery work.
The reopening of the upper trails north of the Mangawawa Stream marks a major milestone in restoring Pirongia Forest following the severe weather event in February.
The reopened trails include Lockdown, Central Forest Road, Primeval Downhill, Joining Link, Delta, Northern Forestry Road and Resurrection.
The closure followed widespread storm damage across the upper forest, including slips, washouts, fallen trees, blocked culverts, unstable ground and damaged roads. In some areas, the network was unsafe or impassable.
Several lower trails reopened in March thanks to the work of the Pirongia Mountain Bike Club, which manages the network under lease from Waipā District Council.
Pirongia Mountain Bike Club President Les McKenzie said it was great to see the full network open again for riders.
“The reopening restores one of the Waikato’s most popular mountain biking destinations — a trail network built over years of strong community partnership between the club, landowners and Council,” he said.
Property services manager Dave Varcoe said restoring safe access to the upper network was a significant job.
“Recovery work included repairing roads and tracks, improving drainage, removing hazards, installing new safety fencing and signage, repairing the turnaround area east of the creek, and completing final safety inspections across the network,” he said.
“The before and after photos show just how much work was required.”
Riders are asked to respect any remaining signage, check trail conditions before heading out, and enjoy the reopened network responsibly.
Pirongia Mountain Bike Park, located in Sainsbury Road Forest on the foothills of Mt Pirongia, features around 12 kilometres of trails ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 5 and caters for everyone from children learning to ride through to experienced downhill riders.
