Last updated October 2026
The Auckland Mountain Bike Club calls the Arch Hill Scenic Reserve mountain bike tracks the closest trails to the CBD, about 5 km away by bike.
Auckland Council lists six tracks in the reserve, about 3 km of riding in all. They run from Training Wheels, which the club pitches at beginners, to the challenging Steep track, so one small reserve covers a first ride and a hard session.
Volunteers in the Arch Hill MTB Team built the network and still look after it. Drivers can park near the reserve entrance on Tay Street.
Practical Information
- Start
- Reserve entrance on Tay Street (the club’s directions); the club’s working bees meet at the Ivanhoe Road car park
- Distance from the city
- About 5 km by bike from the CBD (Auckland Mountain Bike Club)
- Length
- Six tracks, about 3 km in all
- Grade
- From beginner (Training Wheels) to challenging (Steep Street)
- Tracks
- Training Wheels, Twist and Shout, Super Highway, Tip, Can of Worms, Steep
- Built by
- The volunteer Arch Hill MTB Team (opened 2010)
- Status
- Check Auckland Council’s mountain biking page and the Auckland Mountain Bike Club’s Arch Hill page for current closures before you ride
About Arch Hill Scenic Reserve
Arch Hill is a compact network: six named tracks adding up to about 3 km, which the council describes as well maintained. With that little ground to cover, riders tend to link the tracks into short loops and repeat the ones they like.
The club’s notes give each track a character. Training Wheels is for beginners, Super Highway is for riders who “prefer gravity to get them moving”, Tip Track tests your skills going up the hill and coming down, and Steep Street is there to test your fitness.
What makes Arch Hill unusual is how close it is to town. The club puts it about 5 km from the CBD by bike, nearer than any of its other trails.
The tracks are a volunteer effort. The Arch Hill MTB Team opened them in 2010, and the club says all the work is done by volunteers, who hold regular working bees to maintain and upgrade the trails.
The Six Tracks
The council lists six tracks in the reserve. The descriptions are the club’s:
- Training Wheels: the beginners’ track
- Twist and Shout
- Super Highway: for riders who like gravity to do the work
- Tip: the club’s Tip Track, for testing skills both up and down the hill
- Can of Worms
- Steep: the club’s “Steep Street”, the challenging fitness test
Neither page gives lengths for the individual tracks. If you are new to singletrack, start on Training Wheels and ride to the conditions.
Getting There and Helping Out
By car, the club’s directions are to leave the Northwestern Motorway at Western Springs, follow Great North Road, turn right into Turangi Road and left into Ivanhoe Road, then carry straight on to Tay Street and park near the reserve entrance.
The club’s working bees meet at the Ivanhoe Road car park. Volunteers are asked to wear gumboots or sturdy shoes and gloves and to bring tools if they can. The club posts group rides and events on its Facebook page.
Where to Learn More
Auckland Council: Mountain biking: the council’s list of mountain bike places, including Arch Hill.
Auckland Mountain Bike Club: Arch Hill: track notes, directions and working bees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much riding is there at Arch Hill?
Six tracks, about 3 km in all.
Where do I park?
The club’s directions take you to Tay Street, where you park near the reserve entrance.
How far is it from the city centre?
About 5 km by bike from the CBD, according to the Auckland Mountain Bike Club.
Is Arch Hill suitable for beginners?
Training Wheels is the club’s beginners’ track. Steep Street is the challenging one.
What are the tracks called?
Training Wheels, Twist and Shout, Super Highway, Tip, Can of Worms and Steep.
Who built the tracks?
The volunteer Arch Hill MTB Team. The network opened in 2010.
Can I help look after the trails?
Yes. The club holds regular working bees, meeting at the Ivanhoe Road car park.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.