Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On NZ's coastal tracks you are likely to spot New Zealand fur seals (kekeno) and several
species of dolphin, including the playful dusky that frolics in pods of up to 500, and the
pint-sized Hector's dolphin, one of the world's smallest and rarest.
Mountain Biking
NZ is laced with quality mountain-biking opportunities. Recent developments include the
creation of the New Zealand Cycle Trail/Nga Haerenga (
www.nzcycletrail.com
), a network
of more than 20 rides nationwide that will eventually cover almost 2500km of track. Con-
struction was well underway at the time of writing, and most trails were open to cyclists to
some extent (if not actually complete), providing two-wheeled access to some of the coun-
try's most impressive landscapes. See the website for info and updates. Generally graded 1
(easy) to 3 (intermediate), these multiday rides are suitable for most levels of rider, and can
generally be split into half- and full-day sections should you not want to overnight along the
way.
Some traditional tramping tracks are also open to mountain bikes, including the 71km
Queen Charlotte Track and the Heaphy Track. Other excellent dedicated mountain-biking
tracks can be found in Rotorua's Redwoods (
www.redwoods.co.nz
)
, at Makara Peak
(
www.makarapeak.org;
South Karori Rd, Karori; admission by donation) in Wellington,
along the West Coast, and around Queenstown, Alexandra and Wanaka. In recent years the
Central Plateau has emerged as one of the country's great cycling destinations.
Mountain bikes can be hired and repaired in major towns, and most definitely in
adventure-sports centres like Queenstown, Wanaka, Nelson and Taupo. You will also find
supporting bike shops and shuttle operators in smaller gateway towns close to the trails.
These shops are normally great sources for the latest track information, as are the local
mountain-biking clubs (
www.mtbnz.org
)
.
Other useful resources include Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides
(
www.kennett.co.nz
)
, which details short and long rides all over NZ, and the bimonthly
magazine
New Zealand Mountain Biker
(
www.nzmtbr.co.nz
).
Mountaineering
NZ has a proud mountaineering history − this was, after all, the home of Sir Edmund Hillary
(1919-2008), who, along with Tenzing Norgay, was the first to reach the summit of Mt
