more stats
1.8 miles
Distance
170 ft
Climb
-407 ft
Descent
00:14:42
Avg time
-237 ft
Altitude change
1,181 ft
Altitude min
1,502 ft
Altitude max
1,418 ft
Altitude start
1,181 ft
Altitude end
-2.5%
Grade
-27.9%
Grade max
26.8%
Grade min
2,710 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
325 ft
Distance flat
00:14:42
Avg time

Taura Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
    Whakarewarewa Forest
    Rotorua
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Advanced (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 70 in E-Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #40064 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #47913 in E-Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1

The English language translation of the Maori word Taura is - Tether, rope, cable, cord. In this case, it represents a tether that connects the outback trails with the inner trails of Whakarewarewa forest.

At the end of Taura there is a new return loop on Yellow Brick Road Trail. This short section is built at the same grade as the rest of Yellow Brick Road.

Keep in mind that the tar seal 8 Mile Gate Road. is off-limits to riders - make use of Taura trail to link back towards the inner network of trails.
The open areas of this trail can succumb to frost damage, so please avoid when frosty.

source: Ride Rotorua
Access Info

Starts on Green Lake Road near Sandstone Road. It intersects with Tikitapu Rd, goes along the road a bit and then the trail continues very close to the intersection with the tar seal 8 Mile Gate Rd.
Riders coming from the end of Kung Fu Walrus trail will appreciate this option to avoid either the big climb over Moerangi Rd. or the long slog around Sandstone/Fern Drive to get back to the inner network trails.

Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 20 miles average
6 Months
  • 31 rides
  • 21 miles avg distance
All
  • 558 rides
  • Last: Aug 22, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Taura Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Aug 23, 2026 @ 8:54pm (Pacific/Auckland)
13 hours
Taura riding well The first section has had a couple of corners enhanced by building berms. These were added after the section was cleaned up by...
Jul 12, 2026 @ 9:38am (Pacific/Auckland)
Jul 11, 2026
Trees reported are sorted Invisible crew
Jun 28, 2026 @ 8:12pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Jun 28, 2026
Taura is running mint. Today the trail had the No Brains team walk through clearing debris & drains, fix up slips, remove stumps and add a...
May 17, 2026 @ 8:04pm (Pacific/Auckland)
May 17, 2026
Vegetation trimmed back between String Rd & 1.5km marker. The multiple slips around the 1.5km marker cleaned up until the next storm. Overall...
Apr 27, 2026 @ 9:36pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Apr 27, 2026
Taura all clear and riding well. The section between Tikitapu & String Rds has had vegetation cut back to improve sight lines abd drainage...
more »
Status:
on Aug 23, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.87 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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        Directions to taura trailhead (-38.213910, 176.287400)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        129 more »
        mtb
        121 |
        Mar 10, 2026 @ 8:54am
        Mar 10, 2026
        mtb
        139 |
        Mar 28, 2025 @ 10:15am
        Mar 28, 2025
        mtb
        111 |
        Mar 28, 2025 @ 10:15am
        Mar 28, 2025
        mtb
        92 |
        Mar 28, 2025 @ 10:15am
        Mar 28, 2025

        Videos

        1 more »
        youtuber Taura Mtb Trail and the return loop of Yellow...
        mtb
        10:26 | 887 | Jan 16, 2022 , Rotorua

        Trail Lists

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        4 ★ 46%
        3 ★ 15%
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        6 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        Whakarewarewa Forest

        • By ralleyTF Pro & contributors
        • #47964 - 5,624 views

        Frequently Asked Questions About Taura

        ▼ Where is Taura located?
        Taura is located in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand. It is part of the Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -38.21391, 176.2874.
        ▼ How hard is Taura?
        Taura is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 2.5%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Taura?
        Taura has 170 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 407 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,181 ft to 1,502 ft.
        ▼ Is Taura a point to point trail?
        Yes, Taura is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Taura?
        Taura is 1.8 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Taura?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Taura. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Taura?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Taura are:
        • October (21 activities)
        • November (14 activities)
        • December (14 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Taura? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Taura are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Taura?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 17 minutes to ride Taura. The trail is 1.8 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Taura?
        Taura is a moderately popular trail. There have been 3,732 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,690 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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