Hatupatu Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
Riding Area

Whakarewarewa Forest
Rotorua
AKA

Hatu Patu
Difficulty Rating

Black Diamond Rate
Voted Difficulty

Black Diamond (1 vote)
Local Popularity
30 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 40 in E-Biking
Global Ranking
#71729 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #80232 in E-Biking
Trail Type

Singletrack
Direction

Downhill Primary
Popular Direction Shown
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

Yes up to Class 1

The Hatu Patu trail is rideable - well, rideable for MTB Zen masters. One of the three Department of Conservation trails - along with Tuhoto Ariki (1) and Te Tihi O Tawa (3) on the eastern edge of the Whaka Forest. Distance: 1km MTB only The trail is grade 5/6/HC - rooty, lots of off camber and sections you need to carry momentum to clear.

It starts at the top of the last descent of Tuhoto Ariki - the native bush trail that starts from the top of Tawa Rd, in Whaka forest. Hatu Patu ends near the bottom of Billy T on Moerangi Rd.
The trail was surveyed with funding from the Lion Foundation and constructed by spade and rake wielding volunteers led by Mike and Rob from Bike Culture on Wednesday evening working bees through the summer. DOC helped out with chainsawing some of the fallen logs over the 1km - ish route. This is another cool addition to the track network, but be warned it is tricky, there are only a couple of riders who have made it through with no dabs, so treat it as a challenge.

Tuhourangi iwi, the Department of Conservation and the RMTBC are all partners in this innovative trail initiative. Tuhourangi iwi kaumatua, Anaru Rangiheuea, named it Hatupatu, after a young man who came to Aotearoa on the Arawa canoe and who used to hunt in the forests around Rotorua. “It’s great the trail network has names that draw attention to the history and legends of this area, adding another dimension to the experience,” says Dave Donaldson, who was one of the main movers in the construction of Tuhoto Ariki and Hatupatu. Google “Hatupatu” for more about him, including the story of how he hid from the bird woman, Kurangaituku behind a rock near Atiamuri, now known as Hatupatu’s Rock.

source: Ride Rotorua

Access Info

Entrance is from Tuhoto Ariki trail. Most riders ride from the Tuhoto Ariki trailhead at the highest point of the forest on Tawa Rd.

Because Tuhoto Ariki is one of Rotorua's few two-way tracks it is also legitimately accessed from the other direction - by heading up Tuhoto Ariki's last section from the Moerangi Road. end.

Local Trail Association

Rotorua Trails Trust
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

0 rides

6 Months

5 rides
20 miles avg distance

All

98 rides
Last: Jun 7, 2026

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

update trails status or condition

Hatupatu Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Apr 28, 2026 @ 6:11pm (Pacific/Auckland) Apr 27, 2026	large tree on trail, 50ish meters after the start. it's possible to climb over it with your bike. The rest of the trail is running sweet.
	Feb 22, 2025 @ 10:54pm Feb 22, 2025	Tree that was report for being at head high, is no longer a hazard. AB & RM
	Feb 21, 2025 @ 10:50pm Feb 21, 2025	Tree hanging across the track at head height, approx. 10cm diameter About 100m from the end of the track
	Oct 7, 2024 @ 12:05pm Oct 7, 2024	reporter Tree Cleared by RTT
	Oct 5, 2024 @ 12:07pm Oct 5, 2024	Tree down lower section... Moved most of it but didint have saw with me