projects

Want to get involved or connect with like-minded pedal heads in your area?

www.mountainbike.co.nz/clubs lists NZ clubs and likewise www.mtba.asn.au/clubs for Australia. Alternatively bang an e-mail to slushfund@groundeffect.co.nz. Chances are we'll be able to put you in touch with either other advocates or land managers in your area.

Check out what's currently going down at some of the hot spots around the country that have been supported by Ground Effect.

 

The Heaphy

The Heaphy is arguably New Zealand's premier multi-day mountain bike ride… 74 kilometres of benched singletrack winding through the backcountry from Golden Bay to Karamea and the nikau palm clad beaches of the West Coast...>more

 

Poulter Valley, Arthurs Pass National Park

An early Xmas present for mountain bikers with access now allowed up the Poulter Valley in Arthur's Pass National Park. The New Zealand Conservation Authority recently approved an initial three-year trial period. The trip offers great scenery, some challenges and two good huts for an overnight excursion...>more

 

Blair Atholl Walkway, Balclutha

Down in Balclutha, plans have been hatched to extend the existing Blair Atholl Walkway and Cycleway.  A mix of walking and biking tracks over local farm land and flood banks will be grafted to the existing 11km of singletrack along the Clutha River taking the total to 20-30km. The Slush Fund has contributed $1000 to signage on the current track...>more

 

Stromlo FOREST PARK, canberra

Prior to being razed by bush fires in 2003, Canberra’s Stromlo Forest Park boasted some of the best and oldest mtb tracks in Australia. Following the devastating fires, the local government committed over six million bucks to reforest and re-establish the area for a variety of recreational pursuits – including mountain biking...>more

 

Craters of the Moon, Taupo

Over the past few years, Taupo has quietly evolved as one of the country's great mountain bike destinations. The local riders, in partnership with the Council and DOC have developed a sophisticated network of tracks around the 'Craters of the Moon'...>more

 

Makara Peak, Wellington

Makara Peak is Wellington's dedicated mountain bike park with an extensive network of singletrack created entirely by volunteers. Ground Effect has provided a steady trickle of cash over the years and most recently some electric yellow Vespa vests for the work party leaders...>more

 

Hira Forest, Nelson

Access to the Hira Forest is via the Maitai Valley. The main entrance is at Sharlands Road approximately five kilometers up the Maitai Valley Road. A number of purpose-built tracks have been created in an area of recently felled forestry. The Slush Fund has injected over $3000 into developing the area...>more

 

ASSET - RAWHITI MTB PARK, WHAKATANE

The Whakatane Mountain Bike Club has recently gained access to 470ha of private land within the Asset and Rawhiti Forest Blocks. Situated ten minutes east of Whakatane on the East Coast of the North Island, the club is building what will become a welcome additional to New Zealand's suite of Mountain Bike Parks...>more

 

Beechworth, VICTORIA

A network of singletracks; a jump park; North Shore trails and more. A North-East Victoria gem just waiting for your treads. Ground Effect has stumped up with AUD$1000 cash in aid of a decent wack of earth moving...>more

 

PORT HILLS, CHRISTCHURCH

For a place that's about as flat as a two day old can of Coke, there's stacks of great mountain biking around Christchurch. Being Ground Effect's backyard 'n' all, we've long been involved in advocating the development of tracks on the Port Hills - originally with DOC at Godley Head and then more extensively with the Christchurch City Council...>more

 

Whitianga MTB Park, Whitianga

Once the winter rain stops on the Coromandel, the spring growth gets a little out of hand. Ground Effect found $1000 for a new scrub cutter to help keep the weeds at bay...>more

 

Langford Fallon Reserve, Gisborne

A great team of volunteers lead by local Bernie Vette have done a masterful job creating a multi-use network of trails within a stones throw of downtown Gisborne...>more

 

BERMAGUI DIRT SURFERS

The Bermagui Dirt Surfers are dishing up a bunch of new tracks in Bermagui, NSW. The Ground Effect Slush Fund has purchased a leaf-blower (not something NZ track builders need worry about) and scrub-cutter to assist the lads in their graft…>more

 

Eskdale MTB Park, Hawkes Bay

With over 500 members, the Hawkes Bay Mountain Bike Club is New Zealand's largest mountain bike club… and they have leveraged those numbers to create the fabulous Eskdale mountain bike park in Tangoio forest...>more

 

DUNEDIN

Dunedin has a couple of exciting projects on the boil. The Nicholl's Creek track will link Leith Valley with Swampy Summit. The completed track will be nearly 10km long, mostly through native bush. Ground Effect is stumping up with $2500 for retaining materials to get the ball rolling…>more

 

KAPITI MTB PARK, PARAPARAUMU

The all-new Kapiti Mountain Bike Park adds to the already excellent options for riding in and around the nation’s capital. 25 acres of forest on a restored landfill have been secured from the local council to create a mtb wonderland…>more

 

NEW PLYMOUTH

After losing most of their tracks when the Lake Mangamahoe Forest was logged, the New Plymouth Mountain Bike Club have created a plan that will see a network of tracks re-established among the new plantings on the eastern side of the Lake…>more

 

QUEENSTOWN

There's a flurry of adrenalin in Queenstown with the local club involved in a swag of exciting projects. With DOC's blessing, they are to construct and maintain XC tracks around the 7 Mile Lakeside Reserve. The recently completed Cool Runnings incorporates a number of intermediate technical features… berms, jumps and a 25m log ride…>more

 

WAINUIOMATA

There are plans afoot to develop and maintain a network of multi-use bush trails in the two south facing horse shoe shaped basins that overlook the parkway region of Wainuiomata. The first trail provides an alternative to walking the narrow grass bank to the right of the Wainuiomata Hill road…>more

 

Ground Effect is also actively supporting a number of 'start-up' projects around the country by supplying IMBA's trail building books, 'Trail Solutions – IMBA's guide to building sweet singletrack' and 'Natural Surface trails by Design'. Look out for more quality trails sprouting up around Southland, Hanmer, Kahuterawa Forest in the Manawatu, New Plymouth, Pirongia, Whirinaki, Pukekohe, Whangarei, Geraldine, Whakatane and the Wairarapa. For more information contact slushfund@groundeffect.co.nz

 

The 6th edition of the definitive guide book, Classic NZ Mountain Bike Rides spills the good oil on the country's Mtb playgrounds. Get your copy here.

 

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