Mountain Bike Rides

Halfway Bush and Abbott's Hill Roads
Pigeon Flat/O'Connell Road
Signal Hill
Swampy Summit Circuit
Karetai, Buskin and Paradise Roads
Chain Hills Road Mountain Bike Track

Halfway Bush and Abbott's Hill Roads
Sections of these roads are unsealed and, when coupled with other roads and tracks make an interesting part of a circuitous ride. Turn right off North Taieri Road onto Abbott's Hill Road. The unsealed section connects to Mount Grand Road. Halfway Bush Road is off Three Mile Hill Road.

Pigeon Flat/O'Connell Road
From Pine Hill Road turn right into Cowan Road. Twenty metres after the tar seal turns to gravel turn left into a private drive. (Please respect their privacy). Continue to follow the drive around to the left until you see the sign indicating the start of the track. Follow this rough track which has superb views until you get to O'Connell Road. Please do not deviate left off the formed track. Stay on a gradual right curve, going around the side of Mt. Cargill. At the end of the track, turn left onto O'Connell Road, left again onto Pigeon Flat Road then at the Leith Saddle, follow this down until you are at Woodhaugh Gardens and back into the city. A nice ride with a variety of views and track conditions. Round Trip approximately 2-3 hours.

Signal Hill
It's uphill all the way to the Signal Hill Lookout via Great King Street North, Opoho Road, and left onto Signal Hill Road. This is a recreation reserve with some tracks for mountain biking. A few single tracks crisscross the reserve. Other recreationists also use the area so please watch out for them. One main track runs from Signal Hill down to Logan Park High School (off Butts Road). To get from the track to Butts Road use the main school drive. Please take care for others using the drive and of school property. Do not use any other pathway through the school to get from the end of the track to Butts Road. Please do not use the track to ride down to Ravensbourne.

Swampy Summit Circuit
This is an excellent long ride (2 - 3 hours), comprising a mix of gravelled roads and rough four-wheel drive tracks. Turn right off Three Mile Hill Road onto Flagstaff Whare Flat Road. Head up this road, past the Bullring, and down into the Whare Flat Valley. Head right onto an unmarked gravel road which heads up hill again. Go over a locked gate and ride up to Swampy Summit. Check out the views! Come back along the Swampy Ridge Track, finishing back on Flagstaff Whare Flat Road. Do not turn onto the pineapple Track or the Flagstaff Walk.

Karetai, Buskin and Paradise Roads
This is a mixture of sealed roads and "paper road" tracks on the Otago Peninsula. A section of Karetai Road is accessible only by four wheel drive vehicles, mountain bikers and walkers. Buskin and Paradise Road run off Highcliff Road. Ride down one and up the other to make a good round trip.

Chain Hills Road Mountain Bike Track
You would ride this track either as a loop or get dropped off at the start of the rough stuff and picked up at the other end. If riding the loop and to avoid the southern Motorway, ride via Kaikorai Valley into Green Island then onto SH1 at Sunnyside. Battle the traffic as you cycle into and nearly through Fairfield. Just before you get out of Fairfield, Morris Road is to your right. Cross the traffic and cycle up Morris Road. Turn right onto Chain Hills Road which is partially sealed but then becomes gravelled. The road branches into two both still called Chain Hills Road. (This could be confusing, so just keep to the left). Once you reach the dead end climb over the fence onto Halfway Bush Road. Turn right from the stile to get back to town via Brindson Road or Three Mile Hill Road, which is seen as a gap in the gorse hedges on the right as you head from the Chain Hills Road along Halfway Bush Road towards Three Mile Hill Road. Once on  Bridson Road, go down, meeting Dalziel Road to get back into city. If you stay on Halfway Bush Road you'll meet Three mile Hill road and get into town. Parts of this track crosses private property. Please respect this and leave gates secure.