WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲28 May 2026

WHAKA WEEKLY 🌲

28 May 2026

right. big week. strap in 👇

Eagle vs Shark lower is rideable.

Black House Down is back.

three trail rebuilds are being actively scoped right now.

Challange Roadside is looking fire.

and THIS Sunday the Highlander is on and it is going to be an absolute cracker.

let's get into it 🌲

🏔️ HIGHLANDER MTB CHALLENGE – THIS SUNDAY 31ST MAY 🔥

the Highlander is one of those events that gets people out of bed before sunrise in the middle of winter to train. months of cold morning rides, soggy socks, burning legs – all building toward one epic Sunday in the Whaka.

it kicks off at Te Puia with the Pohutu Geyser doing its thing in the background (yes, really) and winds through the forest trails before finishing at Te Putake O Tawa carpark. point to point. one direction. (uphill) all crazy. all good.

three distances to choose from:

🟢 Highlander 10 – ~11km, ~259m climb. great first race, brilliant morning out

🟡 Highlander 30 – ~31km, ~769m climb. a proper test of the legs

🔴 Highlander 60 – ~61km, ~1670m climb. this is the one people have been quietly suffering for all winter

ALL TRAILS REMAIN OPEN during the event – the course zigzags through the forest but nothing is closed to the public. so if heading out for a ride on Sunday, just be a good forest guest and share the trails with a smile. and if a racer comes through – give them a hoot. cheer them on. loudly. when legs are burning and the mind is telling someone to stop, a random shout of encouragement from a stranger on a trail can be the exact thing that gets them through.

it genuinely matters. be that person 🙌

👉 full event info and course maps at www.highlandermtb.co.nz

💸 $2K RAISED IN TWO WEEKS – YOU ABSOLUTE LEGENDS

last week we put the call out for donations to fund the trail rebuilds. and the response has been extraordinary.

two thousand dollars raised in two weeks. from people all over New Zealand and beyond, donating anything from a few dollars to seriously generous amounts, all because they love this forest and want to see the trails come back.

every single cent of that goes directly into the rebuild fund. not overheads. not admin. straight into the ground, into the trails, into the forest that gives back to every single person who steps into it.

to everyone who donated – thank you. from all of us. from every future rider who will ride Frontal and Billy T and Under Billy and Eagle vs Shark upper when they're rebuilt. from every kid who will learn to ride a mountain bike on trails that exist because someone believed in them enough to fund them. you are the reason this happens. 🙏

and if you haven't yet – the rebuild fund is open and every dollar moves us closer.

www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks, any amount, real impact.

🦅🦈 EAGLE VS SHARK – IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING

okay let's talk about the trail that has had more hours poured into it this week than just about anything else – because Eagle vs Shark lower is now cleaned up, refreshed, and READY TO RIDE 🎉

and that's just the warm up act.

the crew has been out on Tuesday and Wednesday doing trail line scoping on the Eagle vs Shark upper rebuild. this is the serious business – walking the corridor, assessing the terrain, planning the new line. this is where world class trails are born, in the quiet work of understanding exactly where a trail should go and why.

and it gets better.

Under Billy rebuild has also been scoped this week. two legendary trails, both being planned simultaneously, both about to become something extraordinary.

and Te Mounga upper rebuild scoping happened on Wednesday too. THREE trail rebuilds being actively planned in one week. if that doesn't get the stoke going then honestly we don't know what will.

Eagle vs Shark lower is open. go ride it. the upper rebuild is coming. and with every donation that comes in, every working bee that shows up, every trail sponsor who steps up – it gets closer.

this is real. this is happening. 💚

🐝 TIM TAMS WORKING BEE – SUNDAY ABSOLUTE UNIT

the Tim Tams working bee on Sunday was an extraordinary effort – 28 volunteer hours of pure community love poured into this one, and she's in the race so there are lots of peeps out there who are going to really appreciate every smooth metre – and the crew of legends behind every bit of it 💚

THE REST OF THE MAHI 🌲

FOREST LOOP – TE ARA A WHERO, TE PIKITANGA WHANGAPIPIRO (MUD POOL), AREPA WEHERUA & TE ARA KI WAIPĀ 6 🌲💧

the Forest Loop has been getting systematic love across multiple sections this week – blowing, drains, and vegetation cleared on Te Ara A Whero, Mud Pool (both Thursday and Friday!), Arepa Weherua (two full days of blowing and vegetation), Te Ara ki Waipā 6, and the Tarawera Road Trail on Wednesday.

the Forest Loop is enormous and keeping every section of it in world class condition requires this kind of consistent, methodical attention. the crew is absolutely delivering. if doing the full loop right now, every section of it is humming 🌲

BLACK HOUSE DOWN – Back in Business 🏚️💨

Black House Down got a fresh blow on Monday to keep it in top condition following last week's full reopening. it's back, it's sorted top to bottom, and it is absolutely delivering. go find it!

REDWOODS MEMORIAL GROVE WALKING TRACK (RED) 🌲🚶

the Memorial Grove Red walking track got blown on both Friday and Monday this week. this is one of the most soul-nourishing walks in the whole forest – ancient trees, golden light, total peace. whether heading out for an after-work walk or a weekend wander with the family, it's absolutely pristine right now. go soak it up 🍂

CHALLENGE ROADSIDE – New Adopter Still Going OFF 💪

the Challenge Roadside adopter was back out on both Saturday AND Sunday doing more surface repairs – same legend who also looks after Challenge DH and New Exit. Oh and to all the legends who came by the trail, he has a message for you: No need to apologies for riding the fresh trail, thats why hes there and you are actually HELPING pack it down! But please, if you see that trail maintenace sign, slow down 🙂 🙌

PIG TRACK 🐷🌿

Banger of a trail, banger of a trail adopter, and banger of a tune to have a poem set to, all thanks to the trail adopter:

"(To the tune of Even Flow by Pearl Jam)

Chorus:

Even flowwwwww

Next time it happens to rain

The water will gooooo

Down these lovely empty drains!

Chorus 2:

My leaf blow(er)

Said these pine needles just can’t stay

They fell from treesssss

So we blew them all awayyyyy!

*Also trimmed veg "

🐷

MAD IF YOU DON'T 🤪💨

Mad If You Don't got the full treatment on Thursday – blowing, drains, vegetation, AND event prep ahead of the Highlander this weekend. it is in absolutely primo condition for Sunday's riders. and honestly, with the trail in this shape – it really would be mad if you don't get out there this weekend!

PUARENGA WALKING TRACK 🚶💧

Puarenga got surface repairs on Wednesday – keeping this lovely walking corridor safe and enjoyable for everyone on foot. small job, meaningful impact. chur to the crew and the adopter for getting it sorted!

THE BIGGER PICTURE 💚

three trail rebuilds being actively scoped.

Eagle vs Shark lower open and looking beautiful.

$2k in donations in two weeks.

working bees on Tim Tams

Challange block refresh

the Highlander on Sunday.

this forest is going from strength to strength because this community refuses to let it be anything less than extraordinary.

if you want to be part of the rebuild story – you know where to find us:

👉 www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz – 3 clicks. any amount. straight into the trails.

see you out on Sunday – and if passing a Highlander rider digging deep, give them everything you've got. a cheer costs nothing and means everything 🏔️🤙

aroha nui,

– the crew at rotorua trails trust 🌲 See less