Do I need my own bike?

A mountain bike helps, and some sessions and trail centres can hire one. Always wear a helmet, or check if one is provided.

How fit do I need to be?

It scales with the trail. Gentle routes suit most people, while big climbs and descents ask more. Build up at your own pace.

Do I need experience?

Beginners are welcome on easy trails and led rides. A skills session quickly builds the confidence to ride more challenging ground.

Ridden within your ability on trails graded for your level, the risks are manageable. Pads and a good helmet help on rougher terrain.

Comfortable clothes you can move in, a helmet, and gloves. Knee pads are worth it once the trails get rowdier.

What do the trail grades mean?

Like ski runs: green and blue are easy, red is intermediate, black is hard. Start a grade below where you think you are.

Mountain Biking in New Zealand

Mountain biking takes a bike where roads do not go: forest singletrack, rocky descents, purpose-built trail centres and open hillside. It is part fitness, part skill and part nerve, and the buzz of flowing down a good trail is hard to match on two wheels.

There is a level for everyone. Gentle blue trails and led rides are perfect for beginners, while red and black runs, downhill and enduro give the bold plenty to test themselves on. A skills session early on pays for itself in confidence and fewer offs.

The coaches and guides on adventuro run trail sessions, guided rides and skills coaching for all abilities. Sort your braking and body position, and the descents stop being scary and start being the best bit.