A guide to New Zealand’s Great Rides — Queenstown, Otago, Roxburgh Gorge, Lake Dunstan, A2O, Christchurch and Auckland — with tips, maps and easy cycling options.
New Zealand was a wonderful surprise. We knew the scenery would be beautiful, but we didn’t expect the cycling network to be so extensive or so well organized. With 23 official Great Rides, the country has created a connected, easy-to-navigate system that’s perfect for relaxed explorers, families, and anyone who loves a scenic adventure on two wheels.
There are excellent planning resources at NZ Cycle Trail and New Zealand Tourism, and the trail grading system makes it simple to match routes to your comfort level. With so many choices, we focused on rides that suited our “fun-first, no-rush” style.
What we rode — our 2024 Highlights
We chose six of the Great Rides in 2024 – Queenstown Trail, Otago Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge, Lake Dunstan Trail, Alps to Ocean Trail, and the Hauraki Trail. We didn’t aim to complete each one — instead, we sampled the highlights. That worked perfectly, giving us an excellent overview without feeling stretched. In 2026 we’re returning for four more routes… because once you start exploring New Zealand by bike, it’s hard to stop!
What we rode – our 2024 Highlights:
Queenstown Trail
Queenstown is a cyclist’s dream, with a growing network of purpose-built trails and signature suspension bridges. We rented bikes at Better by Bike, starting with a shuttle to Arrowtown, an old mining town, then rolling through the countryside to Gibbston before looping back towards Queenstown. Wide, flowing paths made this a joy to ride — one of our absolute favourites. We’re already eager to return and explore more in and around Queenstown, and Lake Wanaka and are looking forward to soon-to-open Kawarau Gorge Trail.
Otago Rail Trail
The Otago Rail Trail was New Zealand’s first Great Ride, launched in 2002. Stretching through historic gold-mining country, it’s an easy, pleasant route with tunnels, bridges, and big-sky landscapes. We rode one section into Clyde as part of a three-day package with Bike It Now.
We can’t say enough about Bike It Now! They offer a variety of trips in and around Clyde and can make a bike route customized for you. We wanted to catch a glimpse of the Otago Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge and Lake Dunstan and they made it happen. They also arranged our stay at an amazing vineyard B&B complete with a gourmet dinner, their team shuttled us to and from ends of the routes, gave tips on what to see and do in the Alexandra and Clyde area and even booked restaurant reservations long before our trip! Next time we go to back to the South Island, we’ll be sure to contact the great staff at Bike It Now.
Roxburgh Gorge
If we had to choose one standout from the 2024 trip, this would be it. The Roxburgh Gorge is spectacular — a purpose-built riverside trail that suited our level of gravel riding. The trail is wide and flowy and rolled along the shoreline of the river. The scenery reminded us of BC’s Fraser Canyon and the weather was spring-like perfect.
When we were there, a jetboat shuttle connected a missing trail link, and the historic mining tour offered along the way was a real highlight. The route is now fully connected, but if the boat tour is still offered, we highly recommend it as an exciting and fun part of the trip.
Lake Dunstan Trail
The Lake Dunstan Trail is an engineering marvel, with bridges and cantilevered boardwalks clinging to steep rock faces above a turquoise lake. Most of the trail is wide and flowy with a few steep and technical sections, I walked a few of the more challenging bits, but it’s one of the most exciting rides in the country and a must-do just to see what can be done in tough terrain. This was another excellent day arranged through Bike It Now with a shuttle to Cromwell at the start of the day.
Alps to Ocean Trail – A2O
The world-famous Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is New Zealand’s longest continuous cycle trail and offers an incredible variety of scenery and terrain. We rented bikes and arranged luggage shuttles with Cycle Journeys, who made everything seamless including daily luggage transfer.
There are two starts to the route – a memorable helicopter drop from Aoraki/Mount Cook and a long road out, or the more relaxed trail beginning at Lake Tekapo.
We loved the route to Lake Ohau, the view from Tarnbrae, Lake Benmore then rolled into Otematata. Book ahead to see the blue penguins return to shore at night in Oamaru, another highlight of our New Zealand adventure.
Visit artist Denise Nel to see wonderful handrawn maps highlighting the best walking and cycling trails in New Zealand.
Christchurch
We spent a memorable day cycling around Christchurch with local writer and cycling advocate Angela Cassidy, whose column on New Zealand rides I found while planning our trip. Instead of joining an organized group tour, Angela suggested we rent e-bikes from Chill Bikes and follow her on one of her regular loops — an offer we happily accepted.
We began in Hagley Park, circling the gardens and lakes then joining the riverside path at the Antigua Boatsheds. We followed the Ōtākaro Avon River through the heart of the city, stopping at places that reveal Christchurch’s story of loss and reinvention after the 2010-11 earthquakes. We visited the Earthquake Memorial, crossed by the Bridge of Remembrance, and admired new architecture like Te Pae, the striking convention centre shaped to echo the region’s mountains and braided rivers.
As we continued along the river, the scenery shifted. The vibrant city centre gave way to the quiet, open spaces of the residential red zone, where thousands of homes were cleared after the earthquakes. Riding through this landscape — empty lots, new wetlands, the remains of the twisted Medway Bridge — made the scale of the city’s transformation feel very real.
The trail carried us all the way to New Brighton on the Pacific coast and around the estuary. We followed the new Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway toward Sumner then looped back toward the city centre along one of Christchurch’s major cycleways. This was one of our favourite urban days in New Zealand: scenic, meaningful, and wonderfully connected by a network of greenways and paths. If you have time in Christchurch, we highly recommend renting e-bikes and exploring the river and coastal trails. And if Angela happens to be free, you couldn’t ask for a better guide.
Hauraki Rail Trail
Close to Auckland, the Hauraki Rail Trail with its gentle terrain is one of the easiest trails on the North Island. The standout was the historic railway corridor through the Karangahake Gorge — featuring bridges, tunnels, and river views. Part of the route goes along the Shorebird Coast with its quaint historic towns. on The Cormandel Peninsula. The southern part of the route ends in Matamata, home of the Hobbiton Movie Set where we enjoyed the tour and special lunch, yes touristy but we really enjoyed the day! Jolly Bikes arranged our bikes, accommodation, and shuttles and put it together nicely!
Auckland City Tour
City bike tours are one of our favourite ways to get to know a new place. We spent the day with Power to the Pedal, exploring the city on e-bikes — the perfect way to ride in a city full of hills and built on now-extinct volcanoes.
Our guide led us along the Light Path, a bright pink elevated bikeway that has become one of Auckland’s signature cycling experiences. From there we wove through quiet neighbourhoods, leafy parks, and vibrant streets. It is the kind of local perspective we love — seeing how residents live, and discovering areas we never would have found on our own.
The route was almost entirely on dedicated cycleways or calm residential streets. We rode at an easy, sightseeing pace, stopping often to look out over the harbour, learn about Auckland’s history, and hear stories about how the city is changing and growing.
Next Trip to New Zealand ~ 2026
We’re heading back to New Zealand for another round of Great Rides — again focusing on highlight sections that fit our timeframe and our relaxed style. This year we’re excited about:
– West Coast Wilderness Trail
– Twin Coast (Herenga ā Waka / Herenga Tai)
– Hawke’s Bay Trails (Napier)
– Great Taste Trail (Nelson)
Planning Resources:
- NZ Cycle Trail – official Great Rides information
- New Zealand Tourism – travel planning and cycling resources
- Ride With GPS – mapping and navigation for all routes
- Bike It Now!, Cycle Journeys, Jolly Bikes, Chill Bikes, Power to the Pedal – rental + shuttle operators we used
I’m always happy to share ideas — whether you’re curious about which sections to ride, e-bike options, or where to stay along the way. Send a note anytime ~ colleen at letsgobiking dot net
For help planning your trip, I recommend Chelsea Lodge at Fine Tours Group – she made the trip amazing for us: chelsea@finetoursgroup.com
FAQ:
• Which New Zealand cycling trails are best for beginners?
Queenstown Trail, Otago Rail Trail, and Hauraki Rail Trail offer gentle grades and wide surfaces.
• Are e-bikes allowed on New Zealand’s Great Rides?
Yes — most Great Rides are e-bike friendly, and many operators provide rentals and chargers.
• What’s the best season for cycling New Zealand?
September–April offers the best mix of weather and trail conditions.
Good to Know:
- Book trips and shuttles in advance, especially in New Zealand’s summer.
- Weather changes quickly — pack layers, sun protection.
- New Zealand drivers are accustomed to cyclists on Great Ride routes.
Let’s Go Biking ~ Routes Around the World
Türkiye, Ελλάδα ELLÁDA (Greece), Miami Beach Walk, Bogota Colombia Ciclovia, Japan – Noto Peninsula, Italy Routes: Sellaronda, Dolomiti Rail Trail, Alpe di Siusi Italy and more to come!
Photos and maps © Let’s Go Biking / All images by Colleen MacDonald unless otherwise credited.
Watch for more great places to ride, walk and roll Around The World with Let’s Go Biking!
Do you have a favourite ride somewhere in the world? If so, I’d love to feature your photos and finds. colleen at letsgobiking dot net
Happy Riding! ~ Colleen
