SHIMANO VOLCANIC EPIC 2025 STAGES - Overview 

⨠ TOTAL Distance : 202km
⩓ ​TOTAL Elevation: 5434m
⩙ TOTAL  Single Track: 87.9%

Welcome to the 2025 course overview. Check out the world class single track you'll be riding over five or two days.
Course Maps: We are currently finalising private land access for some of the stages & the distances are subject to change. The maps will be provided late 2024. You can also check out what we rode last year here

STAGE 1 - PROLOGUE 
Rotorua 26 March
⫸ Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road

​⨠ Distance : 21km
⩓ ​Elevation: 699m

The prologue sets the scene for the next four days of racing. ​Meet your fellow riders, get into the swing of riding with the Volcanic Epic and set your seeding for the following day.  Once you have checked in you can head straight out on to the course, there is no set start times.

​STAGE 2 
Rotorua 27 March
⫸ Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road
​
⨠ Distance : 55km
⩓ ​Elevation: 1522m

Stage 2 is a loop format. Based in the same location of the prologue, today riders will take on flowing single track and punchy hills within Whakarewarewa forest, a world-class trail destination. 

Stage 3  
Lake Rotoiti to Rotorua 28 March
⫸ Lake Rotoiti (TBC)
​🏁 Te Putake O Tawa Carpark, Tarawera Road

⨠ Distance : 38km
⩓ ​Elevation: 1,248m

We are in a new riding area for Stage 3. This a point to point format starting at Lake Rotoiti and returning to our Stages 1 & 2 venue. This stage will include the epic backcountry Western Okatina Walkway. Riders who are not on the transport plan will need to sort their own transport to the startline or purchase a single day shuttle pass

STAGE 4 
Taupo 29 March
​⫸ Craters MTB Park,  Taupo

⨠ Distance : 40km
⩓ ​Elevation: 797m​

Stage 4 is a loop format, and will start/finish at the Hub at Craters MTB Park.  The amazing volcanic pumice-based trails of Craters MTB park a completely different riding experience of the first 3 days.

Craters MTB park is private access and is managed by Bike Taupo and you must have a membership to ride here outside of the event, get a membership to ride here

Stage 5 
Rotorua 30 March
​⫸ Te Puia, Hemo Road
​🏁 Government Gardens, 1220 Hinemaru Street

⨠ Distance : 38km
⩓ ​Elevation: 968m

Stage 4 is a point to point format starting at Te Puia and finishing at Government Gardens CBD. Stage 4 brings us back to the epic landscapes of Rotorua. From geothermal to native forest, the ride will go through the woop-inducing singletrack of the Whakarewarewa forest before bringing riders home via the volcanic Sulphur Flats.  No shuttle is need to this startline