Southstar Shuttles

Southstar shuttles gets you to the top of Rotorua's world-famous trail network in Whakarewarewa forest and Christchurch's Vic Park trail network in the Port Hills. The shuttles give you access to a variety of trails from cruisy to extreme. Each accessing over 30km of handcrafted trails that can be put together in endlessly new ways to give you the best part of a mountain bike ride - railing down a mint trail - without the ride up.

Use the shuttle to extend an xc ride, or rack up some descents on a downhill rig.

When & where

Both Southstar shuttles run Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays. In addition the Rotorua shuttle runs Tuesday evenings during daylight savings, School Holidays and daily Dec 27th to Feb 1st. The Christchurch shuttle runs Wednesday evenings during daylight savings.

The Rotorua shuttle leaves Waipa carpark off SH5 just south of Rotorua (map) at 9.30am and 1pm and every 15 mins from the corner of Hill and Pipeline Roads. Last lift at 5.30pm Saturday, 3.30pm Sunday. The Tuesday night shuttle leaves Burger Fuel in Rotorua at 5.15pm and typically does 5 uplifts until dark.

The Christchurch shuttle leaves from Bowenvale Ave between Oakview lane and Wedgewood Ave (map), starting at 9.30am and every 40 mins through the morning. It breaks for lunch around 1pm and restarts from the bottom at 1.30pm, last pick-up 3.30pm. The Wed night shuttle leaves 4pm and typically does 4-5 uplifts until dark.

You don't need to book, just turn up at the pick-up point. To make a mid-week group booking or get a weather update call Jeff in Rotorua on 0276543038, email: jeff[at]southstaradventures.com, or Wilfred in Christchurch 0211178313. The general rule is if it's raining the shuttle isn't operating. If it's been raining overnight and fines up mid-morning, we often run for the afternoon.

Prices

Current shuttle prices are as follows: 1 run $10, 6 run anytime concession card $30 (can be used on any day - i.e you don't have to use it all at once), 100 uplift pass $200 (valid for 12 months from date of purchase). From the 1 Nov both passes can be shared.

News

Southstar ran shuttles for the Wideopen demo day, Camerman Jonathon Drew was onhand to catch the action from Wide Open pros Brett Frew, Matt Scoles and Vaughan Woolhouse


Team Wideopen NewZealand from Jonathan Drew on Vimeo.

Southstar hosted the Lapeirre Salomon team in Rotorua last summer and they have posted a video of their trip in Rotorua, watch it here.

Public Holidays 2009

  • New Years Day Jan 1st 09
  • Day after New Years Day  Jan 2nd 09
  • Wellington anniversary Monday Jan 19th 09 (Rotorua shuttle)
  • Auckland Anniversary Monday Jan 26th 09 (Rotorua shuttle)
  • Waitangi Day Friday Feb 6th 09
  • Good Friday April 10th 09
  • Easter Monday April 13th 09
  • Anzac Day Saturday April 25th 09
  • Queens B-Day Mon 1 June 09
  • Hawkes Bay Anniversary Fri  Oct 23rd 09 (Rotorua shuttle)
  • Labour day Mon  Oct 26th 09
  • Canterbury Anniversary Fri  Nov 14th 08, Nov 13th 09 (Chch shuttle)

(Not running Christmas day and Boxing day)

Valentines Day is always 14 February each year, in 2009 this is a Saturday
Mothers Day is always the 2nd Sunday in May, 10 May 2009
Fathers Day is always the 1st Sunday in September, 6th Sept 2009

School Holidays (Rotorua shuttle):

Fri 10th April 09 - Fri 24th April 09
Mon July 6th 09 - Fri 17th July 09 10
Mon 28th Sept 09 - Fri 9th Oct 09 10

Races (Rotorua shuttle):

The Rotorua shuttle will be running for the public on all the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club race days, these dates will be advertised on the RMTBC website.  These are typically as follows:

  • North Island Series late November /early December Sat/Sun
  • National round early January, Fri/Sat/Sun
  • Jump Track Race last weekend of May, Sun
  • Mudbuster last weekend of August, Sun
  • Triple Crown Oct 27th 2008

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Southstar Trail Solutions

The skills and expertise gained from construction of trails in the whaka forest with the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club, at Castlerock and Rotorua's World Championship 4X track have enabled the development of a special trail design consultancy service. Southstar Trails is all about ensuring that trails are developed that meet the needs of mountain bikers and create the minimum impact on the environment. To find out more click here

 

Southstar Clothing Design

Filling the missing link between mountain bikers, street wear and beach volleyball, check out the new clothing lines from Southstar, you can see some more designs in the Southstar Webshop here.


Southstar Tours

Southstar operates 1 week and 2 week mountain biking tours through New Zealand. Our guides take you to the best singletrack in the country, linking together trails like only locals can. We shuttle between trailheads in a van, with bikes safely housed on a 12 bike trailer rack. These trips have set departure dates over the summer, or you can request a custom trip with your choice of lodgings. See the nz tours page for more info


ROTORUA RIDE REPORT: Shuttle is on today Wed 7th Jan. Trails are dry and mint. 10 day forecast here.

CHRISTCHURCH RIDE REPORT: Shuttle is next operating Wed evening 7th Jan. Forecast here.