If you look at the terrain of New Zealand, you could easily be convinced that some pedal-pushing super-being had designed it as one huge mountain-biker’s paradise. It’s hilly and rugged – and that’s just in the urban areas. Kiwis love their bikes. Their penchant for the fast and furious is reflected in the number of mountain-bike tracks and parks around the country. Many are publicly owned (get the info on local parks and tracks from the council or neighbourhood bike shop) and you can ride through a few private parks, too, but national parks are almost all off limits. Sometimes you’ll be sharing the track with other recreational users, so follow good safety procedures and show courtesy.

For those who like the thrill of hurtling downhill in the dark, night-riding is becoming increasingly popular and, in winter, the snow-clad mountain slopes are the place to test your mettle. There are many mountain-biking events and series throughout the country and they nearly always have options for teams and individuals and offer short courses and endurance races. While it’s an individual sport, a feature of mountain-biking is the camaraderie between participants, especially in recreational events. BikeNZ (www.bikenz.org.nz) is the umbrella body that incorporates MTBNZ. Check out the top 10 rides online. Bike NZ also has contact details for mountain-bike clubs around the country.