The 42nd Traverse, National Park

This is one of the best mountain bike rides in New Zealand.

The 42nd traverse is a 44km ride through the Tongariro forest with amazing views of the mountains and some awesome riding. The ride follows a four wheel drive track and crosses several streams and one river. There are some really awesome long downhill sections along the way with some picturesque river crossings, but also be prepared for the many unrelenting, muscle-wrenching, hill climbs en-route, that not only test you physically, but mentally as well. For the not so fit, some will eventually reduce you to walking. The scenery through the park is simply amazing, offering views on a clear day of the many volcanoes in the region. The 42nd Traverse is an exhilarating, rewarding experience and well worth the effort.

Grade 3+, Distance 44km – Rating: Hard, a good level of fitness required, ride includes 20km of hill climbs, 2km of technical downhill, 5-7 hours When to Go: October to May (snow covers the track in winter).

New Zealand Web Design by Avatar