With a myriad of trails ranging from family-friendly rides through forests, to white-knuckle downhill runs, the Dunedin mountain bike scene is steeped in mud, sweat and gears. Recent trips by the likes of Pink Bike have put Dunedin on the national and international mountain biking map, but the locals have known it all along...
"Signal Hill, tucked just outside of Dunedin city, provides some great mountain biking trails. Cruise up the Big Easy Up or tackle the steep road, a lap roughly sets you back about 45 minutes to an hour, a perfect excursion from work or study, or for a quick lap at the end of the day. Downhill tracks range from grade 3 to grade 6, the Big Easy Down being a favourite, particularly for families. Signal Hill is my go-to place to ride, being a convenient 10-minute ride away from my flat, perfect for a ride when procrastinating study and assignments. As a student at the University of Otago, having Signal Hill to ride at is valuable to me. The social aspect of riding is something I particularly enjoy, and more often than not, if I start a ride alone at Signal, I end it with a riding friend who I bumped into on the hill. Picnic tables at the plateau give me an opportunity to sit in some sun and get some warmth, key aspects missing from my student flat. There’s even water at the plateau, ideal when have forgot your water bottle during a dusty Sunday ride. Reality is only boujee student flats have outside taps and hoses, therefore many students are left without a place to clean their bike- don’t worry the bike wash station at Signal Hill has got you covered! Signal Hill ticks all the boxes for me; easy to get to, fun tracks, cool people, facilities that are better than my flat and a place to escape close to home."
Written by Amber Werensteyn, Image by Jemma Wells
"Signal Hill is one of our favourite locations to ride. It has a large variety of tracks that cater for all abilities. I enjoy it because as a family, we can ride together and all have a fabulous time, even though we have a variety of riding abilities. You can choose a mellow climb to the top via the Big Easy, or if you are in the mood to get your heart pumping a little faster, the steeper 4WD track is a great climb. The choices are vast for the ride back down. Intermediate Blue trails such as Daily Grind, Moustache Express, Haggis Basher, Debacle, Quarry, Common Ground and Maverick Mike's are my go-to trails for a fun ride."
Erin Hasler & Sheree Hasler
"Whare Flat, or Three Mile Hill as it is also known, is one of the best locations to ride mountain bikes in Dunedin, especially for slightly more experienced riders. With trails ranging mostly from grade three to six, Whare Flat provides a different riding experience to Signal Hill. Its soft dirt, and more natural trail style provide a good contrast to Signal Hills hardpack clay, and man made features. A great selection of trails to sample the Whare Flat riding style, would be London's Calling/Charcuterie, Roll the Dice/No More Heroes, and Obelix. If you're feeling up to a challenge, trails like Peeled Cheese, Miss Piggy's Pudding Pit, and instant classic are well worth a look."
Shaun Hasler & Jason Hasler.
Image by Michael Trillo
To support mountain biking in Dunedin, you can join the Mountain Biking Otago, where your membership fee goes towards buying tools and providing resources for volunteers to maintain and develop local mountain biking trails. All trails around Dunedin are displayed on Trailforks.