Last updated November 2026
On a hillside above Geraldine that was cleared of pines and is being replanted in natives, the Geraldine Bike Park at Riddell’s Reserve is a new set of mountain bike tracks above the town.
Bike Geraldine built five mountain bike tracks that run down the hill from a seating area and shelter at the top, plus a gentler graded track for younger children. Its plans included a wide shared path up the slope for cyclists and walkers.
The tracks are laid out from easiest on one side to hardest on the other, so riders can pick a line to suit.
Key Details at a Glance
- Location
- Riddell’s Reserve hillside, Geraldine
- Tracks
- Five downhill mountain bike tracks, plus a graded track for younger children
- Difficulty
- Looking down towards town from the shelter, the two tracks on the right are easiest and they get harder to the left
- Walkers
- Bike Geraldine’s plans include a large shared path for cyclists and walkers up the hill, at a gradient for walkers of all ages (ODT)
- Facilities
- Shelter and picnic area at the top
- Wet weather
- Clay paths still settling; avoid riding when it is raining
- Built by
- Bike Geraldine, led by a five-member volunteer group
- Status
- Check with Bike Geraldine for current track conditions and closures before you ride
What You'll Find Here
The project started with a five-member volunteer group under the Bike Geraldine umbrella, partly because children had been digging their own paths down the hillside for about 25 years.
The slope at Riddell’s Reserve was cleared of pine trees in the summer before work began, and the group set out to replant it in natives and add picnic tables, with a community area at the top looking out over the town.
The group raised $120,000, of which $100,000 was a grant from the Timaru District Council. Construction was due to start in November 2025, and by the following April the Otago Daily Times found parents and children already using the tracks, and the club’s treasurer said he had seen cyclists, runners and walkers there and that “grey haired e-bikers really enjoy it”.
The shelter at the top was built from reclaimed wooden piles from Timaru’s port and provides a picnic area for families.
Choosing a Track
Five ways down
All five mountain bike tracks start at the seating area at the top of the hill. Bike Geraldine’s rule of thumb is that the two tracks on the right, looking down towards the town from the shelter, are the easiest, and they become more advanced as you move left.
For younger riders
The original steep roadway up the hill has been blocked off, and in its place a more accessible graded track was cut into the slope so that younger children can ride too.
Official Sources for Geraldine Bike Park
Bike Geraldine: the club that builds and maintains Geraldine’s tracks, with contact details.
Otago Daily Times: Riddell’s Reserve cycleway proving very popular: the April 2026 report on the tracks, the shelter and the opening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Geraldine Bike Park
Where is the Geraldine Bike Park?
On the hillside at Riddell’s Reserve above Geraldine.
How many tracks are there?
Five mountain bike tracks run down from the top, plus a graded track for younger children.
Which tracks are easiest?
Looking down towards town from the shelter, the two on the right are easiest, and the tracks get harder to the left.
Can I walk up?
Bike Geraldine’s plans include a large shared path for cyclists and walkers up the hill, at a gradient for walkers of all ages, and the club has seen walkers there.
Is it open?
Check with Bike Geraldine for current track conditions and closures before you ride.
Who paid for it?
The group raised $120,000, including a $100,000 grant from the Timaru District Council.
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