Goodbye parking, hello coffee – Mountain Bike Rotorua opens

There’s been a hive of activity in the Waipa Mill car park of late. It’s the kind of activity that can only be good for mountain biking in Rotorua and New Zealand on the whole. The car park now boasts a new business venture, inventively named Mountain Bike Rotorua. Run by adventure tourism operators, MBR will not only offer bike rental but guided tours and in the near future a cafe run by the Okere Fall’s crowd. Fingers crossed they get a liquor license; how rad would a cold post ride beer be!

Anyhow here’s the full press release.

Moving it on, Moving it Forward with Mountain Bike Rotorua.

 On September 1^st Mountain Bike Rotorua (MBR) ltd opens to offer a new era in standards of service to Mountain Bike enthusiasts.  MBR will offer bike hire and guided bike tour options from the Waipa MTB Carpark at world-class Whakarewarewa Forest.

The exciting new business will have a fleet of 50 bikes comprising of 2011 and 2012 hard-tails, kids, dual suspension and downhill specific rides perfect for shuttling.  With the backing and expertise of well-known Qualmark accredited tour operators Multi-Day Adventures ltd, MBR seeks to provide professional, friendly service, the integration of Maori culture and environmental awareness into its tours, and economic growth for the local community through an increase in visitors and new partnerships with other local bike shops and tourism operators.

Aiming to create a complete hub for the mountain biking fraternity, MBR will also provide a small scale bike retail shop that should be ideal for those riders that arrive at the forest having forgotten any of their key accessories.  A cafe brought to you in collaboration with the Okere Falls Store team will be added to the MBR operation over the next few weeks to truly develop a place that both the local community and any out of town riders can use as a natural meeting point for their visits to the forest.

“Over the next few years you will see the paddock and gravel pit that was once the main mountain biking car park turn into the professional looking hub that it deserves to be.  Our forest is currently voted as the Number 1 Mountain bike trail network in the world by Australian Mountain Bike magazine, and recognition for the Central Park region and this sport are growing at a phenomenal speed.  We’ve been blown away with the support and well wishes from our industry.”  Says Mountain Bike Rotorua Director and Managing Director of Multi-Day Adventures Takurua Mutu.

Fellow MBR and MDA Director Kim Chater says “We’re extremely privileged to add our efforts to the many people who have tirelessly promoted and endorsed Mountain Biking in Rotorua to date, and are so excited to continue growing Whakarewarewa Forest as one of our region’s most amazing assets.”

Nick Chater, current Head Tutor for the Adventure Tourism Program at Waiariki Institute of Technology and Shareholder of both MBR and MDA shares this vision.  “Rotorua is one of the most incredible locations in New Zealand.” He continues.  “Mountain biking has always been one of my passions and we as a company are really excited to be a part of the next stage.”  Nick is keen to incorporate interaction with our local adventure education courses, empowering and up-skilling students while providing a strong appreciation for our remarkable wealth of forests, lakes, rivers and mountains.

MBR Director Dave Joy is equally enthusiastic, “It has been my long-time goal to be more involved with the presence of Mountain biking at Whakarewarewa.  The opportunity came at the perfect time for both of our companies and we look forward to finishing the site preparations and moving in.”