New Zealand

The Craigieburn Forest Park track network lies just an hour and a half (by car) west of Christchurch in the foothills of the Southern Alps. A blend of high country and beech forest singletrack, it is outrageously good mountain biking in a stunning location.

The Hogs Back Track at Castle Hill is now complete. Conceived by the Castle Hill Community, the trail is the product of 6 years lobbying and plenty of hard work by individuals and groups via a series of well attended work parties. The new track links Castle Hill village with the Mt Cheeseman access road at Texas Flat via 8.5km of perfect rolling sub-alpine singletrack.

The South Canterbury Mountain Bike Club requested Ground Effect funding to surface a new trail in the Raincliff Forest 35 clicks inland from Timaru. The trail forms a beginners loop of about 2km. 

The Manawatu Mountain Bike Club are the masterminds behind the Arapuke Mtb Park in Arapuke Forest. The park is owned by Palmerston North City Council, with trail development managed by the club.

Whataupoko Reserve was purchased by the Gisborne District Council in the early 90s. One enthusiastic local Bernie Vette has overseen the development of the trails used by hundreds of mountain bikers, walkers and runners each month. 

Located just five minutes from the Whangamata Township on State Highway 25 in the Bay of Plenty, the Whangamatā Ridges Mtb Park features some fantastic singletrack riding. The Grade 2-5 trails provide a massive amount of fun and enjoyment for everyone, from families to advanced riders.

A core of enthusiastic and keen members of the North Canterbury Cycling Club are actively involved in developing and enhancing the mtb area allocated in Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park - ARRP.

The Ruapehu Mountain Bike Club and Ohakune 2000 in partnership with the local iwi - Ngāti Rangi signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of the Te Pepe Bike Park, situated right next to the start gate of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail.

In their draft Conservation Management Strategy, DOC Southland sought suggestions for mountain bike access on sections of the Kepler and Hollyford Tracks. Mountain Bike NZ, Trail Fund NZ and Te Anau Cycling Inc. have made submissions in support of winter access to the Kepler, plus upgrading two connecting pest control tracks to enable a fabulous multi-day figure-8 trip.

The Waitohu Valley and Mt Thompson mountain bike trails are situated in the foot hills of the Tararuas, between Manakau and Ōtaki.

During the early part of 2013, Ground Effect took on a project to extend to the Drac' Flat Track (try saying that fast after a couple of cold ones) at Craigieburn Forest Park. The Craigieburn trails lie just an hour and a half (by car) west of Christchurch in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

The Harakeke Mountain Bike Park officially opened back in March 2012. But since then Rangitikei iwi Ngāti Apa has resumed ownership of the land and the Wanganui Mtb Club have a new home at Hyltons Pit and the Araheke Mtb Park.