The northern loops in Craters offer some great riding.

These tracks are all accessed from the old car park, through the twin tunnels under Karapiti Rd, the Hammer trail, and then up Tank Stand.

Designed for families unfamiliar with the park who want a grade 3 loop to ride for around an hour and a half.

Follow the path south past the shelter and toilets and go through the tunnel onto Inwards Goods.

Stay on Inwards Goods (stay left) until it merges onto Tourist Trap.

Stay on Tourist Trap (avoid being a Piker) until you reach the junction with Ferret.

OPTION: Ferret will add 10-15 minutes to your ride and merges back onto Tourist Trap. Don’t leave the track onto the forestry road. See the blue circle on the map

Continue on Tourist Trap. When you emerge into younger pine trees you will see the old carpark.

Leave Tourist Trap, cross the road and ride through the shelter at the old car park.

(or Waipouwerawera)

“It’s a real Journey”

 

Tucked in between the old car park and Manager’s corner this loop is often overlooked. This loop has structures, so best not to succumb to natural competitiveness and follow your 15 year old at high speed unless you are familiar with the layout. All structures have options, so easily avoided, and most are quite ridable by people who are Craters regulars. These photos were taken when the waves were constructed in 2016, so they look a bit different now. Keep left after the exit tunnel at the old car park and give it a whirl!

Supported by Scragg (Taupo Landscape Services) and VetPlus.

       

TRACK OF THE WEEK – ZEEZEETOP AND MEGALICIOUS

Two for the price of one this week. Welcome to the Mount Ventoux of Craters Mountain Bike Park!

This area was previously accessed by Retro and Luge. Retro headed off to the right shortly after the previously terrifying Stretton’s Drop. It started with a few civilised switchbacks and then, just as you were relaxing, headed up a 20 degree slope beside a barb-wire fence. The cattle trough at the top is unchanged. The two new tracks are a vast improvement.

 

ZeeZeeTop is accessed by turning left off the Outback loop after the first road crossing. It’s a marvellous uphill, I can’t understand why Pete McFarlane was not there with Buck in the QB honours. Old Farts Lookout is on the top and there are views in all directions. North you can see Outback and Beyond dropping over Stretton’s into Slalom, and east, all the way to Tauhara. Look for the new track, “Dier Straights” being constructed west out towards the Waipouwerawera/Mr & Mrs/Debs junction.

Megalicious is a great run down the hill named after Carwin’s dog Meg. Plenty of scope if you like jumps but just as good if you like your wheels on the ground.

As with all new constructions this loop will only improve and is already proving a favourite destination.

 

 

You can find Steamfields on the north western side of the park about as far away from the Hub as you can get. Access is via the Wairakei Resort carpark. Use the tunnel under Wairakei Drive and turn hard left on to the two way Resort Track. Steamfields (one way) continues from the junction of Sugar Daddy. The track winds along above the 9 hole golf course and emerges from the trees to give great views over the Contact steamfield. You climb to a logging skid where you have the option of going left onto the improving (but not quite as good as it used to be) Sugar Daddy, or continuing on the recently reconstructed track to merge onto the "Outback and Beyond" section of the Outback loop.

Incidently Sugar Daddy is the subject of an investigation by WANTN (Women Against Naughty Track Names).

Logging has not been a friend of this area and we are told that the section of mature pine above the golf course is due for logging in the next few months, so make the best of it!