Update: Mountain biker seriously injured

A mountain biker has suffered serious spinal injuries after crashing at a popular Rotorua mountain bike park.

The Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter was called to Skyline Rotorua Mountain Bike Gravity Park about 1.30pm today.

A 28-year-old Australian man had crashed while riding a downhill track on Mt Ngongotaha.

He was stabilised by St John staff before being flown directly to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital for specialist treatment.

Skyline general manager Bruce Thomasen told the Rotorua Daily Post the man had been riding the Gravity Park trails over the last few days.

"At this stage, it appears that the mountain biker involved has had a fall after landing badly following a jump towards the end of a ride. We believe he is an experienced rider," he said.

"Gravity Park has highly-skilled first-aiders who are trained to a pre-hospital care level. They were on the scene within five minutes, stabilising the rider and assisting St Johns and the rescue helicopter with evacuation."

He said Worksafe had been notified, as was standard procedure.

"Under Skyline's extensive health and safety protocols, we will be conducting our own investigation. Until this investigation is complete, we are unable to provide any further details."

The man and his partner were four days into their New Zealand sightseeing and mountain biking holiday, a rescue helicopter spokesman said.