2027 DATES TBC
THANKS FOR MAKING THE MOONRIDE AWESOME...
LET'S MAYBE DO IT AGAIN?!?
One of the OG mountain bike events for Aotearoa New Zealand is BACK! The event that kicked off the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club and helped turned the little city in to a HUGE name in the mountain bike world. Together with some of the early sponsors, we have brought back one of the best parties on two wheels, the CATEYE MOONRIDE!
KEY DATES:
2027 | TBC
MOONRIDE?!?
I THINK I'VE HEARD OF THAT BEFORE...
The Moonride in Rotorua was a beloved mountain biking event that combined endurance racing with a festive, community driven atmosphere. Held annually in the renowned Whakarewarewa Forest, it attracted riders from across New Zealand and beyond.
PHOTO CREDIT: Rotorua Lakes Council
RETURN OF THE MOONRIDE
The iconic Moonride is well and truly back again, blending the thrill of endurance racing with the magic of night-time riding. Held under the glow of the full moon, this 12-hour (or 6 hour for those not keen on the night) race will be a load of fun for all skill levels to tackle fast, flowing forest trails in solo or team formats.
WAIT! SO EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE MOONRIDE?
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.
PHOTO CREDIT: Rotorua Lakes Council
COME FOR THE RIDE, STAY FOR THE VIBE
The atmosphere is electric! Lights blazing through towering pines, music pumping from the event village, and a community of passionate riders coming together to celebrate their love of the sport.
Whether you're in it to win it or just out for a good time with mates and even young ones, the Moonride is all about testing your limits and making memories.
PART OF YOUR ENTRY FEE GOES TO CHARITY
Shop for Good is a simple concept. You buy, we donate...
When you purchase your entry you can take a bow because you are helping contribute to something good for our communities.
We will be donating a portion of your entry fees to charity. In other events we have donated to organisations like the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, supporting kids and their mental health, the Rotorua Trails Trust, maintaining our world class network of tails, and the Rotorua MTB Club, helping keep the First Response Unit in the Whakarewarewa Forest rolling and looking after our manuhiri.
We'll be announcing our partner charity closer to the event.
PHOTO CREDIT: Craig Mayne - Mountain Bike Rotorua, Share the Ride with Whanau
AN EVENT FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE
Whether you're a seasoned pro, or just getting in to racing, this enduro event will cater for you. If you can competently ride Rotorua grade 3 trails, then you can join in on the fun that is the Cateye Moonride.
TITLE SPONSOR
CATEGORY SPONSORS
OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION PARTNER
