Summerhill Secret

If Summerhill was a jigsaw puzzle, it would be the 1000-piece deluxe version.

The vast 400 hectares of land in the Bay of Plenty’s Papamoa Hills is glorious and complex in its many interconnecting pieces, and in the mix of people dedicated to making it work.

Making up a large chunk of the puzzle are the mountain bikers who test their limits with climbs, hills, and drops as the Bay days all stretch into one long canvas of blue.

Paul Riordan knows the pull these hills can have – especially if you are a mountain biking fan. Well known in local building and business circles, he started out volunteering for a few hours when his son was young and into his mountain biking.

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“It comes back to the fact that I just love working up there. I caught the mountain biking bug, and decided to find a way to spend more time here.”

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Now, though he struggles to put a label on his role at Summerhill, Paul is a huge part of making the puzzle fit. “Park maintenance manager and trail builder” barely encompasses what he does for Summerhill, and for the Mountain Bike Tauranga community he is passionate about.

He talks about the working bees, held on a Sunday at the park, about Thursday “dig nights” every second week of the month, Monday night races, and teaching keen bikers about trail building and caring for the land. Paul has become well known for working tirelessly to secure sponsorships and funding to maintain and upgrade Summerhill.

“It comes back to the fact I just love working up there,” Paul says. “I caught the mountain biking bug, and decided to find a way to spend more time here.”

As Summerhill continues to attract more visitors, Paul believes everyone who enjoys it contributes their little bit. The payoff, he says, is more than worth it.

“When you’re pointed down a hill on your bike, you can’t think about anything else. I love helping people experience that rush and freedom from daily stresses.”

A group of seasoned bikers, affectionately known as the “trail trolls,” have also been invaluable. “Some have been coming up here for years, carving out the original trails.

“They’re another group which just gives and gives,” Paul says with a smile. Paul has been tapping into his building contacts, seeking volunteers, trade prices, and sponsorships to help with the building of the Summerhill community hub. Finding a way to make this vital project work with a limited budget, and with the help of volunteers, is essential for the park’s success.

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There are the trees winding across the landscape – the cypress, ash, poplar, and redwood – planted, harvested, milled and seasoned on the property at the request of architects throughout New Zealand via the Summerhill Timbers Ltd. Some of the trees were planted decades ago by David and Cloie Blackley, who founded Summerhill Charitable Trust in 2014, gifting the 126 hectares of land to ensure education and recreation in the Papamoa Hills in perpetuity.

Now, their daughter Gabrielle oversees much of the operation. One of four Blackley daughters who grew up on the land, she is deeply connected to its rhythm and works hands-on to keep things running smoothly. “It’s such a beautiful site and these spaces, so close to the city, are rare,” Gabrielle says.

It is easy to see what her parents fell in love with 65 years ago. “They fell in love with the view, and they still love the view. That’s why they did what they did. It’s about ensuring people can keep coming here and enjoying what makes this place special.”

Sustainability is at the heart of  Summerhill’s forestry, farming, and recreation. Speciality timber from the property is used for projects like the Summerhill community hub, scheduled to be completed in early 2025. There is also the unique shelters dotting the land, including a Japanese tea house and a hilltop sculpture-meets-shelter designed by students from the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning.

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Even the animals play a role – sheep and cattle roam the working farm managed by farmer Hamish Sutherland, who balances farming with hosting visitors, including schoolchildren and polytechnic students gaining hands-on experience.

The determination to protect, enhance, and educate about Summerhill is shared by everyone involved. “Personally, I’m all about the mountain biking,” Paul says, “but there are so many moving parts. If we didn’t have the people we have, I’m not sure how it would work.”

It seems more and more people are discovering what an incredible asset Summerhill is. The secret’s out – in the best way possible. Now, everyone wants a piece of the puzzle.

summerhill.nz
summerhilltimbers.co.nz
summerhillcharitabletrust

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Words by Katherine Whittaker

Photography by Alice Veysey

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