Pedaling in paradise
It’s not like you need any extra incentive to visit Kaiteriteri. ‘Laxing back on the golden sand, soaking up the sunshine, jumping off the bridge and swimming about in the lagoon – is there a better way to spend summer time in New Zealand?
Kaiteriteri is of the country’s most popular holiday destinations with up to 10,000 visitors descending on the seaside resort every day during the height of summer and a further 2000 staying overnight to camp.
But if you are planning a visit in the near future, you better bring your bike.
Though the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park opened in 2009, its continued expansion and popularity has seen this summer become the park’s busiest yet.
Track counters have been in place since 2012, and during that time approximately 25,000 people have ridden the park.
‘‘It seems busier every summer but this summer particularly it has taken off, especially with the jump line for the teenagers,’’ said park manager Ross Maley.
‘‘That’s attracting a lot of kids and they’ll spend the whole day here, going down that same jump line and walking back up like it’s a BMXtrack.
‘‘But you look down at the car park and there’s so many bike racks down there. Often mumand dad will be down the beach and the kids will be out riding or vice versa, it’s just ideal.’’
The park covers 180 hectares of Department of Conservation land, now managed by the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board.
A registered charity, the park is funded by the reserve board, sponsorship from local businesses, grants and donations from fundraising events, all of which enables it to remain free to ride.
So what makes it so special? Well the answer is simply the location.
The volunteers behind the project are well aware that Kaiteriteri is already a very busy tourist hotspot. But the park wasn’t built as a ploy to lure people in, instead it was seen as an opportunity to provide more activities once you arrive.
‘‘We want Kaiteriteri to be an all-round sport and adventure centre, not just in summer, and mountainbiking is a big part of that,’’ Maley said.
‘‘We want this place to be as bike-friendly as we can.’’
Maley said the park was targeted specifically at families, the people behind the project happy for Nelson and Wairoa
Already one of New Zealand’s hottest holiday destinations, an increasingly popular mountainbike park is making Kaiteriteri even more of a drawcard for families and thrill seekers. Phillip Rollo reports.