Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park
Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park is a premier mountain bike destination in the Lower North Island. Palmerston North City Council owns the park and MMBC funds, builds and maintains the tracks. There are more than 50km of trails from Grades 2 to 6, and we are always working on more.
Follow Arapuke on social media
Getting there
There are two entrances to Arapuke Forest Park. The main entrance is at the at the bottom of the park, at the end of Kahuterawa Road. Here you will find the MMBC shelter, bike wash area and toilets. Kahuterawa Road is accessed from Old West Road; the park is about 25 minutes from the centre of Palmerston North.
The other entrance is at the top of the park and is accessed from Scotts Road. Head out of Palmerston North on State Highway 57, and turn left onto Scotts Road (between Linton and Tokomaru). Scotts Road starts out sealed and turns into a winding gravel road. Follow it about seven kilometres to the carpark at the end. This entrance is the access for the Grade 2 trails.
Foxton MTB Trails @ Target Reserve
Foxton MTB Trails are closed until further notice.
The February 2026 storm did significant damage to the Foxton MTB Trails @ Target Reserve. MMBC is working with Horowhenua District Council and will update this page and social media when decisions have been made.
Please stay out of the forest. It is very dangerous with fallen and leaning trees.
The sand-based, all-weather trails in Foxton are the newest in the MMBC family. The trails were developed by MMBC volunteers beginning in 2024 and there are currently six kilometres of trails plus a mites course for the littlest riders. The riding area is mainly single-track and includes a small amount of forest roads and 4WD tracks.
Family-friendly, the trails are sheltered by mature pine trees and ride well in the winter when other local trails are wet and slippery. The trails are used for the MMBC Winter Race Series and the Foxton Fizzler, a team relay race, and Frocks on Shocks, a women’s only relay race.
MMBC has permission to build and maintain trails at Target Reserve, owned by the Horowhenua District Council. More trails are planned and being built. If you would like to help out with trail building, please email [email protected]. Please do not build trails on your own.
When riding at Foxton
Follow Foxton MTB trails on social media
Getting there
Foxton MTB Trails @ Target Reserve are located just outside of the town of Foxton. From the north, take SH1 towards Foxton. Just past the entrance to the golf course, turn right where the entrance is marked “Foxton Mountain Bike Trails” (this is about 500m before Victoria Road) and then follow the signs.
Scotts Ferry
Scotts Ferry is now closed to mountain biking. To enjoy pine forest trails, head to Foxton MTB Trails @ Target Reserve.
Thank you to Ernslaw for granting MMBC members access to ride in their commercial forest. A lot of great times were had on those trails.
Manawatū Gorge
Te Ara o Mahurangi
MMBC works with DOC and other Manawatū Gorge Biodiversity Project partners to plan and fund Te Ara o Mahurangi mountain bike trail through the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve.
The trails are the first stage of a long-term plan to build a trail right through the Manawatū Gorge. This trail helps show that there is sufficient interest in mountain bike trails to justify the investment in a more extensive trail and provides solid evidence to funders that the demand exists. It’s also a great place to ride!
At the moment, there are two trails: a Grade 3 and a Grade 4. Both received significant work in 2023-24 with improvements to trail surface and drainage. Because they are both shaded, they are best ridden in during dry conditions.
Looking for a scenic ride with great views? A 4WD track connects
Pahiatua saddle (accessed by road from Palmerston North) to the eastern end of the Manawatū Gorge via Hall Block Road (the same road where you will find the Te Ara o Mahurangi trails).
This ride is gravel and mixed surface and can be ridden in either direction. It is 41km one-way and passes through farmland, a windfarm, and a forest. During wet periods, be prepared for deep puddles and ruts.
For more information, visit the Te Apiti website.
Getting there
From Palmerston North, follow the Pahiatua Track to the Pahiatua saddle. At the saddle (on the left side of the road), there is a gravel car park. You can leave your car here and ride out and back, or have a friend drop you off and follow the directions to Te Ara o Mahurangi trails (above). You can then ride the full trail one way to the Te Ara o Mahurangi trails.