UNIQUE RIDING MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE BUSH
Friends of Hunua Ranges committee member Gabb has been enjoying the ranges for many years, both riding and creating the network of mountain biking (MTB) tracks in the Moumoukai Valley with the Auckland Mountain Bike Club...
“In the valley below the Mangatawhiri Dam there are several loops of great single track that weave through regenerating native bush and paddocks left over from the attempts to farm the area more than 50 years ago.
The riding here is somewhat unique for the Auckland area in terms of winter-friendly trails through the stunning mix of Manuka and Kahikatea. There are even a couple of specialty (fast) downhill tracks for the true adrenaline junkies to enjoy. The trails are free to ride any day of the year thanks to Auckland Regional Parks and scores of volunteers who have helped build and maintain them over the last two decades and we all continue to look forward to further developments as the sport of MTB grows in Auckland.”
Gabb has seen the valley trails in many different lights and moods, but his favourite is post-rain, “The trails have been reinforced to make them all-weather and after a rain the colours are especially vivid, especially if you are lucky enough to have sunlight peeking through the canopy of Manuka.”
Find out about the Hunua MTB trails at www.aucklandmtb.co.nz
Below: Gabb has been lucky enough to own this stunning painting by Sam Foley who rode the trails with Gabb to capture a shot of one of the many trails that he has worked on.
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Higher risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park are closed from 1 May 2018.
A number of higher risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park are closed. A Controlled Area Notice (CAN)* is in place across the forested areas of the Hunua Ranges as well as the Waharau Regional Park.
SCRUB | SPRAY | STAY on the track
Departing Ranger for Hunua Rangers Scott Kusabs joins us to reflect on his 13+ years at the job...
The re-introducion of Kiwi to the Hunua Ranges has begin - exciting times...Normally associated with Christmas, this interesting plant is now regionally threatened in Auckland. The Mistletoe Project has seen us work with Auckland Council to help recover it's propagation in the Hunuas...
Friends of Hunua Ranges Merv Hood recently visited the UK and shares these interesting observations with us around the parks systems and how they differ from the New Zealand model...
Friends of Hunua Ranges Chairman Merv Hood has been involved in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park almost since it's inception and therefore was the natural person to turn to to give us a summary of things as we approach 2016 - the year that we celebrate 50 years of Regional Parks in Auckland...
Back in 2012, budding filmmaker Matthew Neary produced this great video based on the awesome MTB tracks in the Moumoukai Valley. Worth watching!
Moumoukai River south of the dam was a busy place through winter of 2014 as decades old willow trees were removed in the interests of the area
We joined some energetic folks from the Auckland Mountain Bike Club to see what goes into their regular Working Bees at Hunua...
Every year the Rangers of Southern Regional Parks put on a day of food and activity as thanks to volunteers who have given their time over the year. This year was special in that volunteers got a sneak preview of work on the soon-to-be-opened Waitawa Regional Park...
It was a beautiful mid winters day that marked the official opening of the new MTB Skills Area and the Friends of Hunua Ranges group.
