Rotorua is one of New Zealand’s bigger riding attractions. Soon, the area’s riders – and visitors – will have to get by without its main gondola. Skyline Rotorua, which accesses many of the tracks used by Crankworx Rotorua, announced it is closing to bikes in March 2027.
Skyline shared the announcement at the end of March, saying “We have decided that Skyline Rotorua’s mountain biking operations will conclude next year, on 25 March 2027.”
Skyline isn’t the only mountain biking area in Rotorua, but it is the main gondola-accessed one. It’s uplift to the Mt Ngongotahā trails was also the first gondola-serviced network in New Zealand. So mountain biking in Rotorua is far from done.
“A deliberate choice to focus on new and innovative visitor experiences.”
Skyline didn’t say too much about why it is suddenly closing its mountain biking operations. The park seems popular and hosts a major international event every year, Crankworx Rotorua.
There’s also no clarity from Skyline about what will replace the current mountain bike operations.
“As we look at the next chapter for our site, we’ve made a deliberate choice to focus on new and innovative visitor experiences,” The announcement reads. “Keeping Skyline Rotorua’s broad appeal relevant, and world-class is something we strive for – the recently completed rebuild of our Luge tracks is one sign of that commitment, and there is more to come”
As that indicates, the mountain bike trails aren’t the only attraction at Skyline Rotorua. The gondola also helps serve a luge track, sky swing and zipline.
What does this mean for Crankworx?
Crankworx has put Rotorua at the core of its World Tour series of events for years now. The New Zealand stop even held the coveted position of the Grand Finale for a time. The closure of the mountain bike trails isn’t exactly a good sign for the future of Crankworx in Rotorua, but the announcement does leave the door slightly ajar.
“Key features of the MTB park, including the Pump, Slopestyle and Dual Slalom tracks, will remain part of the landscape in the immediate future, leaving the door open for possible events in the future. We will share more as plans develop.”
In the FAQ section, Skyline clarifies, slightly, that “This announcement relates specifically to Skyline’s operations and does not determine the future of Crankworx events in Rotorua or elsewhere.”
What’s next?
Who knows. With this announcement coming so close before April Fools, it’s tempting to joke that Pickleball courts will be moving in where the trails once were.
Until then, enjoy the trails while you can!