EPIC EVENTS BERM BUSTER
Trail Ride to your hearts content! Heaven on Dirt. Berm Buster is more than a Trail Ride it is our passion.
Our mission is to make the best Trail Ride possible by making each trail ride better than the last! We offer an experience, dreams are made of, with a ten thousand acer playground, covered in trees with unique Taupo pumice, making it no problem for parking or riding, even when wet.
You can pick the trails, mix and match to make a different lap each time. With three main trails KTM 30ish KM, Husqvarna 12KM and the Gasgas 16KM, plus breakouts, our tracks & trails are from grade 1 - 6 (1 easiest - 6 hardest) main trails are grade 1-2, you can make your own lap from 2km to 70km
That is over 100 km of Trail riding heaven, on Saturdays including 45+ breakouts to keep you wanting more. Sunday has fresh track options giving over 130+km of dirty fun! For your little people we have a Mini Only Bike Track, Novice kids forest track, then the learner adults and kids Big, Bigger and Biggest track and the Motorex Mud Track
We have raised the bar on the old-style trail rides and continue to allow families and friends who play together to stay together. Hire bikes, AFC Outlet store, Huka Honda bike repairs, food cart, The Medic Company-Critical care Paramedics, bike recoveries.
More details below
GENERAL INFORMATION 2025
Just so you all know the NO quads rule is from the forest managers. Also no dogs allowed sorry.
Location: Epic Events Berm Buster click the link for google maps
Berm Buster is located 25 minutes East of Taupo off SH5, Napier to Taupo Highway. Turn onto Taharua Road off SH5. Look for Epic Events arrows into the forest Homestead Road (gravel).
At Berm Buster our 3 x main trails all grade 1 are easily rideable in all weather conditions by beginners, kids and adventure bikes. If it actually rains the grip mostly improves. Plus we have extra fresh trail options for Sunday.
Off the main trails there are lots of optional breakout trails, grades from 2-6 (Grades 1 = easiest to 6 = hardest)
If you should have any trouble on these trails we have up to 30 sweep riders plus medics and 4 recovery drivers with Side by Sides with recovery trailers, with radio communication back to base.
With so many trails you will need two days to do them, plus there is normally new trails each event.
Plus we have a free camping paddock with a port a loo just before the entrance to the event. We also have demo bikes, hire bikes, AFC outlet store for any gear you need or forgot, Huka Honda supply bike and tyre repairs, and Savanahs Ltd supply a great range of food, drinks and coffee available from 7.30am they do a great breakfast.
Epic Event Calendar 2025
OCTOBER 18-19
NOVEMBER 15-16
Epic Event Calendar 2026
April 25-26th 2026 / May 30-31st 2026 / June 27-28th 2026 / August 29-30th 2026 / October 3-4th 2026 / November 14-15th 2026
New Zealand’s most popular Trail Ride
When: April-November 2024/2025 Sarturday's have over 100 km of riding and Sunday over 130km of riding, mix and match, The Berm Buster Way
Where: Off Taharua Rd, SH 5, Taupo
District: Taupo
Directions: The event is located off Taharua Rd, SH 5 (Napier/Taupo Rd), about 25 minutes from Taupo. Epic Events signs & arrows on SH 5.
Suitable: for all abilities 2 wheels only, no quads forest rules.
Terrain: The unique Taupo pumice makes it rideable in all weather. We need rain to compact the track. Over 140kms of tracks in total, with rolling hills, winding gully’s, cranking firebreaks & jumps. Millions of berms and mega traction. Lots of variety! All main trails freshly groomed after each event! Pump up your skills on a variety of optional breakout trails, off the main trails and there’s some purpose-built trails for the novice riders and for the kids too. Enduro X track.
Skill Levels: All Trails and optional Breakouts are graded 1-6 just like mountain biking.
Grade 1: Is ridable in all-weather by beginners (Main Trails).
Grade 2: More like your average trail ride.
Grade 3: A bit more old school with some single track, NO logs.
Grade 4: Getting tricky some small logs.
Grade 5: Take a drink, bigger everything.
Grade 6: Be prepared to lift and push your bike depending on skill level, not ideal for MX bikes.
Tracks:
KTM track approx 30km grade 1-2, plus optional breakout tracks.
Husqvarna track approx 12km grade 1-2, plus optional breakout tracks.
Gasgas track approx. 16km grade 1-2, plus optional breakout tracks.
Motorex Novice, Novice kids and Kids mini forest track, Kids mini and mud track.
All have optional breakout sections, that you can ride over and over grades between 2-6. The KTM and the Husqvarna have common sections so you can mix and match.
Sign in from: 7:15am
Tracks open between: 9.00am-3.00pm (under normal circumstance)
Other details:
Enter on the day by cash. No Eftpos.
Weekend pass discounts if bought on Saturday
Families Mum, Dad and up to 3 children, 15 years or younger from the same family!
Sweep Riders and Bike Recovery: Regular sweeps on all main trails and roaming sweeps on breakouts.
Paramedics: Onsite at each event- critical care paramedics the people who work on the rescue chopper, it does not get any better than this. The Medic Company, all moto type events should have this standard.
Hire Bikes we have hire bikes! 9am-12pm or 12.30pm to 3.30pm slots for more information please go to our website hire bike page for prices of different bikes, all late model or call Dee 021 49 5155
Fire extinguishers are compulsory for adult riders and can be bought on the day for $30 or (hire system, pay $30, bring it back and get $20 back at the end of the day or weekend)
Food: Awesome Coffee, Great Food and Cold drinks for sale.
Accessories: Check out the AFC Outlet Store plus some of the latest dirt riding gear available now for the winter season.
Motorcycles: AFC Motorcycles will have KTM, Yamaha and Stark-Varg demo bikes, Powersports will have Husqvarna Demo bikes, and Huka Honda will be doing service and have Honda demo bikes.
Service: Huka Honda are onsite with parts, tyres and tubes, they can do most minor repairs. www.hukahonda.co.nz
Accommodation: Lots of options in Taupo, pays to book early. List coming!
Camping: We have a camping option near the forest base. On the corner of Taharua Road and Homestead Rd, this is the gravel road to the entry of the ride, Epic Events Camping Paddock click the link for google maps directions. No Charge at this stage. We are paying the landowner.
The camping paddock will be open and have the signs up from midday Friday until midday Monday.
ABSOLUTLY NO ENTRY INTO HOMESTEAD ROAD OR THE FOREST BEFORE SATURDAY 7.00AM
There is heaps of room and no one has got stuck yet even in the rain.
We will put a portaloo there but that’s it, you need to be self-sufficient, and it can get COLD out there. Security is your personal responsibility. Only quiet camping, THIS IS NOT A PARTY! No riding around the paddock.
No bikes started after dark, and we expect to be able to sleep after 9pm
No ripping up the paddock… etc common sense. This is private property, and we need to respect the owners and their land. (Please self police this or risk losing it)
No Charge at this stage. We are paying the landowner.
Organiser: www.epicevents.co.nz
Contact: Dee Kiernan 021 49 5155
Warning the map below has changes, this is already missing Far-Canel and Hill Climb Havoc both on the KTM Track ask on the day!
On Sunday I have been leaving both Saturday and Sunday KTM main trail open, requested by riders who like to do all the breakouts!
CHECK OUT THE BEST RATED DIRT BIKE TRAILS IN NZ.....
We are a company specialising in off-road motorcycling , dedicated to bringing you great trail riding.
At Epic Events we aim to lead the field with the safest and best managed motorcycle events.
Our events are our passion and our way of life...
Our rides have tracks for ALL abilities, and in Taupo they're on all weather pumice terrain, offering exceptional traction no matter what the weather!
Epic Events welcomes you and your bike at our events and we promise to provide you with a fantastic ride!
The safety of all our riders is of utmost importance to us! In order to support the health and wellbeing of everyone;
Thank you :-)
POSTPONEMENTS/CANCELATIONS
So far Berm Buster has only ever had to cancel for Covid. We are an all weather event.
Possible exceptions are extreme fire risk and extreme winds.
Any postponements or cancellations will be listed on Facebook. Please check here before travelling if unsure.
Proudly sponsored by KTM New Zealand
AFC MOTORCYCLES
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