Started by Fred Christensen, later taken over by the Rotorua MTB Club, and then owned by the council and managed by Event Promotions, the Moonride was a multi-hour mountain biking relay event featuring 6, 12, and introduced later, 24-hour races.

There has been a lot of discussion about the origin story of the Moonride, but after quite a few chats, we think the first Moonride event was held in 1994 at the Agrodome, in Ngongotaha, Rotorua. These were mid-winter, full moon riders starting at 8pm and finishing at 8am. They were eventually moved to both the Waipa MTB Carpark and the Rotorua Racecourse (yup, a bit random but unique for sure). Eventually the Moonride settled at Waipa for a over a decade although it did spend the a couple of years at a local camp facility before returning to Waipa and eventually being parked... until now.

Participants, either solo or in teams, tackled a looped course—typically around 9 km—aiming to complete as many laps as possible within their chosen timeframe. The event was renowned for its inclusive spirit, welcoming everyone from seasoned racers to enthusiastic amateurs.

​

At its peak, thousands would descend on Rotorua for an epic weekend of riding fun at the Moonride.