WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲16 April 2026

Okay so the weather has been absolutely COOKED this week. Like, biblical. Wind, rain, more wind, a bit of sideways rain for variety, and then some more wind just to keep things interesting. The kind of week where you look outside and think "yeah nah" and go back to bed.

BUT. Here's the thing. The trails? Somehow still going off. And that is NOT an accident. That is the result of an army of incredible humans – the RTT crew, trail adopters, and volunteers – who have been logging trail reports, stopping mid ride to through debris off the trails, kicking out blocked drains and getting out there the moment the forest reopended to clear it up ready to ride.

This week the crew absolutely earned their keep with three full days of tree clearing alone. Three. Full. Days. If you've ever wondered where your donations go – sometimes they have go to the very unglamorous storm clean up. Keeping the forest safe and open when the weather is trying its absolute best to close it down permanently.

So before you read any further, we're just going to come right out and say it: the trails are this good because of community funding, and right now we need more of it.

It costs $2 per metre per year to maintain these trails and with a network this size, that adds up fast.

If you love this place – and we know you do – please consider chucking something our way at www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz. Every bit counts. Every single bit.

Right. Let's get into the mahi. And there was a LOT of it 👇

THE FOREST LOOP – The Full Glow Up 🌲✨

Oh the Forest Loop. Our beloved, beautiful, iconic Forest Loop. The crew went absolutely FULL SEND on it this week to get it back in top form for the upcoming long weekend. Te Kōtukutuku, Te Kōtukutuku Extension, Te Ara ki Tumunui, Tūhua (all parts – yes, ALL of them), Tarawera Road Trail, Tangaroa-mihi, Te Ara ki Waipā 2, 3, 4 AND 5 – all blown out, drains cleared, trees removed, surfaces checked and a MASSIVE slip cleared. The Forest Loop is basically sitting there right now looking absolutely immaculate again, which is pretty impressive after the state it was in before! Get out there and appreciate it because the crew put in a serious week to make it happen 💚

AS YOU DO 🤷‍♂️🌳

As You Do got MULTIPLE visits from the tree clearing crew this week for two reasons 1) there were lots of trees down and 2) they were messy, tangled, big trees. It was alot of hard work eh. It is all clear now, so off ya go and enjoy!

BOX OF BIRDS 🐦🌳

Box of Birds got a double hit this week – tree clearing from the paid crew AND drain work from the adopter. The adopter was out on Saturday before all the chaos sorting those drains like the absolute legend they are.

FOREST LOOP – TANGAROA-MIHI DOWN 🌲🪚

Tangaroa-mihi Down got tree cleared this week – the storm did its best but the crew did better. This section of the loop is looking clean and clear and the drainage is sorted. Go enjoy the descent!

PIG TRACK 🐷🌳

Pig Track got hit with tree clearing from the paid crew and drain work from the RTT crew this past week. Two different legends, same trail, same love. Pig Track is oinking beautiful 🐽

PIGEON RUN 🕊️🌳

Pigeon Run got the tree cleared and is back in business. Clean corridor, clear lines, happy pigeons. Go find it!

CORRIDOR REBUILD & CORRIDOR TOP JUMPS 🏗️🌳

Both sections of the Corridor got tree clearing love this week – the rebuild section and the top jumps. Thanks heaps for the reports, really helped us to get out there pronto.

BUNNY JUGS 1 & 2 🐰🌳

Both the Bunnies got trees cleared this week. The weather tried to ruin them and the crew said absolutely not. Both are clear and ready to roll. Hop to it! (Sorry not sorry 🐰)

ROSEBANK 🌹🪚

Rosebank got tree cleared and is looking fresh as a flower. One of those trails that rewards you with a big smile every single time and the crew made sure there's nothing in the way of that smile this week!

MAD IF YOU DON'T 🤪🌳

If you weren't already going to ride Mad If You Don't this week, well – the clue is in the name isn't it. Tree cleared, clear lines, zero excuses. Mad if you don't!

CHALLENGE ROADSIDE 💪🌳

Challenge Roadside got trees cleared on Monday, again thanks heaps for the trail reports team!

GRINDER ⚙️🌳

Grinder got tree cleared too, theys came down all over the forest!

BOULDERDASH 🪨💥

Boulderdash got trees cleared on Tuesday – because of course there were trees down here too! Clear, safe, and absolutely ready to deliver its signature chaos in the best possible way. Go!

MINI DH 🚵‍♂️⬇️

Mini DH got surface repairs on Wednesday – keeping this little ripper in top condition. Don't let the name fool you – Mini DH delivers big smiles every single time. Go get some!

CORNERS – RADIUS OF THE LOST ARCS 🔄💧

The Corners adopter was out on Saturday before howling wind and rain sorting the drains. This is a person who genuinely loves this trail and it shows in every perfectly shaped, perfectly drained corner. We salute you 🫡

OLD EXIT – Adopter Aroha 💚

Old Exit getting drains and surface repairs from its adopter on Monday. Old Exit is now an Old Exit with excellent drainage and a great surface, which feels like a good metaphor for something. We're not sure what. Just go ride it!

LAKE TIKITAPU WALKING TRAIL 🚶‍♀️🌊🌳

The Lake Tikitapu Walking Trail got serveral big trees cleared across two days this week. This is one of those walks that just fills your soul – water on one side, native bush on the other – and the crew made absolutely sure it's safe and beautiful for everyone who heads out there. Whether it's your daily walk or a special outing with the whānau, it's looking stunning. Go enjoy it!

TOKORANGI PA ROAD & MUDPOOL ROAD & MOERANGI ROAD 🚶‍♂️🐴🌳

Three walking and horse trail corridors all got trees cleared this week. These access corridors are the veins of the network and keeping them clear and safe is absolutely non-negotiable. Whether you're on two legs or four hooves, safe passage guaranteed. Chur to the crew!

SPLIT ENZ, DRAGON'S TAIL & ULTRA ROSA 🎸🐉🌹🌳

Split Enz, Dragon's Tail, and Ultra Rosa – cleared, safe, and absolutely ready for your weekend. What a way to finish the week. Go ride all three back to back and feel the stoke!

FERN DRIVE 🌿🛣️

Fern Drive got trees cleared on today too – keeping this road corridor open and safe for everyone using it to access the network. Quiet, important, and done clean. Chur!

MINERALS ⛏️🌳

Minerals got many many many trees cleared on Wednesday – because even the classics need a little love after a big storm. Minerals is clean, clear and absolutely ready to remind you why you fell in love with this forest in the first place!

173 HOURS. NOT ONE TRAIL LEFT BEHIND. 💚

Look at that list. LOOK AT IT. Three full days of tree clearing, drains across the entire Forest Loop, surface repairs, adopters out in the rain on Saturdays, paid crew going trail to trail to trail. In a week that threw everything at them.

This is what we mean when we say the Whaka is world class. It doesn't happen by magic. It happens because of people who care – and because of the community funding that makes it possible.

At $2 per metre per year to maintain this network, and with storm weeks like this one adding significantly to the workload, we are massively underfunded for the job we want to do. We keep doing it because we love it and because this forest deserves it. But we could do so much more with your help.

If you rode the trails this week, went for a walk, took the kids out, or even just drove past the forest and felt that little lift in your chest – this is for you 👇

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. Any amount. Massive difference.

The trails are mint. The crew is incredible. The community is everything.

Now get out there and enjoy every single metre of it 🤙

Aroha nui, – The crew at Rotorua Trails Trust 🌲