West Coast

Rich in mining history, the West Coast offers a great range of riding across the region from the shorter rides around Hokitika to the much longer tracks which form part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail. The areas remoteness and ruggedness makes it a wild and dramatic landscape, a perfect location for mountain biking.

The Coast’s historic MTB tracks and multi-day rides include the Old Ghost Road and Heaphy Track. Head down the Great Coast Road to Westport, near the Denniston Plateau tracks… Greymouth, where the West Coast Wilderness Trail begins… And Hokitika (home of the Wild Foods Festival) – check out the Blue Spur MTB Park and Nationals track.

West Coast Dirt Features 

Best Christmas Ever - Riding The Old Ghost Road by Nicole Montgomery

Mostly Downhill. Riding the Heaphy Track by Laurence Mote

Go West - The Wild West Coast by Dave Mitchell

Riding Through Reefton and Blackball by Dave Mitchell

Reefton

Big River and Kirwans Tracks are tough but superb rides and complement a number of excellent local Reefton trails.

Westport

A short drive from Westport is the historical Denniston Plataeu, 600mts above sea level. The area offers 9 exciting circuit rides ranging from Grade 2 (easy) to Grade 3 (intermediate). Situated on DOC land the tracks surfaces vary from gravel roads to rocky tracks and some walking is required in places.

Further north up the Karamea Highway is the Old Ghost Road. 'In the North West corner of the South Island of New Zealand a ghost has awakened. A long-forgotten gold miners’ road has been revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. The 85km-long Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.' - oldghostroad.org.nz/

Hokitika

There are a number of riding options around the Hokitika area. There are some shorter, easier rides around Lake Kaniere and Lake Mahinapua that are fantastic family rides. For more challenging riding (Grade 3) there is an excellent network or tracks in the Blue Spur Mountain Bike Park. More info is also available on the awesome Westland MTB Club's website.

Greymouth

Part of the NZ Cycle Trail the West Coast Wilderness Trail starts at Greymouth and traverses Kumara en route to Hokitika eventually (this part to be completed) finishing in Ross. The majority of the 139km ride is a Grade 2 (easy) 4-day cycling adventure with many attractions along the way including gold panning, trout fishing, art and carving and the West Coast Treetop Walks.

Seddonville

Home to two great rides, Seddonville is just a few kms from the northern trail head of the Old Ghost Road. The second more relaxed track in the area is the historic Charming Creek Rail Trail.