Top Mountain Biking Trails In Wellington

Known primarily for its culture and art scene, thriving city centre and cool little suburbs where you can find cafes, restaurants and plenty to do, Wellington is one of the hottest destinations in New Zealand and especially in the North Island. It's not all about the city and the arts however; Wellington offers an enjoyable stay for other reasons too. Thrill seekers make their way to the capital not for the cute little cafes, the galleries or even Te Papa, but instead to take on some of the top mountain biking trails that can be found around the region.

If you're keen to give it a go yourself or you're looking for a place to take your bike during summer, check out some of these top mountain biking locations in and around Wellington.

Hutt River Trail

A popular recreational trail, the Hutt River Trail can be found between Petone and Birchville along the riverside. It runs for 28 kilometres and offers an easy gradient and beautiful views, making it the perfect mountain biking trail for beginners. Some might find it quite a long ride if they aren't used to being on two wheels, but it's easy enough to pick and choose where you cycle and it can be completed in part or over a number of days.

Queen Elizabeth Park

This 36 kilometre ride offers a bit more of a challenge. Tackle Queen Elizabeth Park's mountain biking trail if you're keen to conquer a few hill climbs and weave your way in and out of the sand dunes. Make sure you don't hit this track when the north-westerlies are blowing though; the Queen Elizabeth Park track is near the beach and gusts of wind can send the sand flying at you on blustery days.

Beeline Trail

Found near the Wainuiomata Road saddle car park, the Beeline Trail is a downhill track built for speed and agility. It's a bit of a rough ride, testing riders with several jumps and steep slopes. It's only one kilometre in length, but it's a kilometre of absolute, incontestable thrills. Regularly maintained this is a trail that keeps on changing, so even if you have been before you will want to check it out again to see what has been added or altered.

Don't spend all of your time staring at paintings. Explore Wellington on two wheels and take your bike off-road for a bit of excitement during your stay in the capital.

Find out more about what's on in Wellington on the Wellington Waterfront website.

Article Source: Maria_Mouroukis

Mountain Biking in La Plagne

In the summer months the Paradiski region of France takes on a completely different scene, the crystal white ski slopes give way to lush green trails and mountain biking is rife. Within Paradiski there are numerous mountain biking areas. Here we look at mountain biking in La Plagne.

Over the last 5 years, La Plagne has worked hard to create a reputation for world-class mountain biking. La Plagne is a fantastic holiday spot for anyone interested in mountain biking with over 200km of dedicated mountain bike trails. These winding trails are comprised of 18 different routes some of which can run for up to 22km. Probably the most spectacular of these sees you descend from the summit of the Roche de Mio at a height of 2700m all the way down into the villages of Monchavin and Les Coches which sit at 1250m. Overall there are a total of 8 downhill trails, 6 endro as well as 4 cross -country trails.

So now you may be thinking wow that 1450m descent sounds amazing but the trail up sounds near impossible! Don't worry, during the summer months there are a number of ski lifts open to mountain bikers.

The following lifts are open to bikers during the summer:

• Télésiège de la Roche
• Télécabine de la Roche de Mio
• Funiplagne Grande Rochette
• Télésiège de Montchavin
• Télésiège de Plan Bois
• Télésiège de Montalbert
• Télésiège du Fornelet
• Télécabine de Champagny
• Vanoise Express

If you are planning to stay in some of the beautiful La Plagne chalets during your holiday, Les Coches and Montchavin are fantastic bases for mountain biking as they offer access to all of La Plagne's biking trails but also, via the Vanoise Express, the 93 km of runs in Les Arcs.

Monchavin and Montalbert are areas of La Plagne with 3 enduro trails each. It's easier to access these trails by using the Télécabine de Champagny as the cable car will take you to the start of 3 tracks that wind down through the Piste des Bois to Champagny. You can either head down towards the Col de Forcle or Mont de la Guerre. There are also a few beautiful trails alongside the Doron river, these can range from nice relaxing easy rides to challenging those who enjoy a little white knuckle rides. Montchavin also has a new bike "fun park" that is open to everyone.

If you fancy a trip to La Plagne to experience the spectacular mountain biking for yourself then visit www.snowchateaux.co.uk for a fantastic range of La Plagne chalets.

Article Source: Kriss_Davies

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