Road Cycling

Enjoy great riding on several loops of sealed road in and around the area.

Try the 28km Ohakune/Tohunga Junction/Raetihi loop, and you can add to that with various extensions, such as out and back along Ruatiti Rd which offers a good hill climb. Then take a detour off the main Ohakune/Raetithi road via Pakihi Rd/Lakes Rd taking you away from traffic on good seal through farming land, before joining back to the main road about 2kms from Ohakune.

Think about heading out to Rangataua (or further) and back along Dreadnought Rd beside the rail track, adds another 16 kms.

Mountain Road from Ohakune offers New Zealand's only "Hors category" climb. The 17km sealed road rises over 1000m finishing in the carpark at Turoa skifield. The spring summer and autumn provides the best times with light traffic and moderate temperatures. The record is 44 mins 7sec set during the Kune Climb 2011, which is part of the Ruapehu Cycle Classic, held in February each year. Enjoy the exhilerating descent back to Ohakune.

For longer distances:

• follow the initial section of the Ruapehu Classic Cycle Race route (held in February) and ride through to Waiouru, then, following the Race route, either left onto the Desert Road for as long as you want, or turn right towards Taihape to the Napier turn off. (90 kms return)
   
• from Ohakune up State Highway 4 to National Park Village, then turning right to Whakapapa (100+kms return)
   
• the road from Ohakune through Raetihi and out towards Pipiriki along the picturesque valley offers great riding on good paved surfaces with some decent climbs. About 3 hrs+ return with little traffic.
   
• head out from Ohakune to State Highway 4 at Raetihi turning left towards Wanganui, then turning up Fields Track at Kakatahi and back to Ohakune. Fields Track to Ohakune is stage 8 of the Wellington to Auckland Cycle race.
   
• follow the 160km round the mountain route of the Ruapehu Cycle Classic.

All roads are chip sealed and traffic volume is light throughout the spring to autumn months.