Cycle Trails in Queenstown

An easy Grade 2 ride trail making it good for beginner while still offering a little challenge to intermediate riders. It wends close to some fantastic vineyards in the Gibbston Valley so wine lovers can sample some of Otago’s best Pinot Noir.

See the quieter side of Queenstown while absorbing the silence and beauty of incredible New Zealand alpine scenery some of which can't be seen unless you're investing time to explore on the bike trail.

This ride covers the best components of the Great Ride (92kms) in just two days. This option is best suited to those with intermediate riding abilities as you'll be covering more ground in less time.

This ride is a component of the ‘Great Ride’ – a 4-day iconic New Zealand trail ride that begins and ends in Queenstown. This portion begins at Kawarau Suspension Bridge and weaves its way alongside the Kawarau River and then continues on through the renowned wine valley of Gibbston.

This ride is a component of the ‘Great Ride’ (a 4-day iconic New Zealand trail ride that begins and ends in Queenstown). This portion begins Arrowtown and is for those who love nature, scenery and history. It offers fabulous landscapes and since the trail is an easy Grade 2, it's a good option for families (inlcuding those with kids) or for those who are just starting to enjoy cycling.

Prepare to see some stunning off road back country scenery on this intermediate trail. This full day trail is also ideal for lovers of history.

A slightly quieter trail situated away from the hubbub of Queenstown that wends its way past lakes, rivers and towering trees whose seasonal shading and colours make this ride a crowd favourite in Autumn.

A challenging half day ride for more advanced riders, whose efforts will give them access to sweeping mountain views of the Remarkables and stunning Otago lake and tussock vistas. There are some steep climbs, descents and a couple of tight bends for the more technical riders.

Cycling the banks of both the Shotover River and the Kawarau River. This trail offers greater remoteness and more of a wilderness feel than many of the other component trails of ‘The Great Ride’ network. If you’re looking for solitude and natural splendour, then this ride is for you, although we recommend packing water and refreshments since its remoteness means that you’ll struggle to purchase options on the trail.

This full day journey will take approximately 6 - 8 hours depending on your cruising speed so it’s best to pack a picnic and make a day of it. There’s majestic scenery, rushing rivers, picnic spots and access to the Gibbston Valley winemaking area so there’s also Pinot Noir!

A little bit of something for everyone here! This full day ride takes you on a countryside tour with amazing vista's, photo opportunities, swim spots and picnic places. Easy to Intermediate (Grade 2 to 3) and if you're lucky enough to ride this trail in Autumn, the colours are magnificent.

This 26km trail will take cyclists between 4 – 6 hours so you can make a day of it. It’s a combination trail consisting of a Grade 2 first half, but the last half contains some challenges for more advanced riders. There are some tight turns, steep climbs and smooth descents but there’s also some incredible views as you hug the lake and some wonderful spots to stop and just enjoy the views or to have a picnic.

Like the name suggests, this ride is a circuit meaning that you can start and finish anywhere on the loop that you’d like. This 30km intermediate ride (Grade 3) is also a mix of surfaces and terrains. The loop takes you past ideal places to stop for refreshments or a munch, but there are also wild places where you can stop for a picnic amongst the natural beauty and wilderness scenery.

PLEASE NOTE: This trail ride is currently under repair due to a slip. Please check to see if the trail has reopened before planning your adventure. This is a trickier and more technical (intermediate to advanced) trail ride for those looking to push themselves a little. It’s a single track that passes between Arthur's Point and the Old Lower Shotover Bridge It’s 8.1kms in one direction.

This lesser-known trail runs from the restored Old Lower Shotover Bridge 3.2km (one direction) out to Tucker Beach Wildlife Reserve. It’s a mixed-use trail so you’ll see walkers as well. Given its easy nature, it’s an ideal trail for the entire family so consider packing a picnic and making an afternoon of it.

Ride it your way! You can start in Kingston or you can begin this incredible tour from Walter Peak. If you cycle like a demon, you can knock it out in 3 days or amble and take in the sights and sounds, spreading the journey over 5 days.

This 73km long ‘Great Ride’ (one of a few acknowledged as New Zealand’s most iconic trails) only requires a moderate level of fitness. It’s a very well managed trail making it easy to follow and taking you through everchanging and attractive scenery that ranges from historical remnants and places of New Zealand’s gold rush, back country towns, swimming holes and picnic spots and classic tussock, mountain and riverside scenery.

While this track is considered a reasonably easy track (Grade 2 – 3) there are remote sections of this track that aren’t accessible from the road so when travelling, please ensure that you take contact and safety equipment and water and provisions and be prepared for weather changes. There are extended areas with high exposure on this trail so you should ensure that you’re protected against sun and also against the cold (in cooler months). This trail covers various types of terrain such as dirt and gravel tracks, but the most noteworthy terrain are wooden boardwalks along the edge of Lake Dunstan.

This shared trail includes a boat transfer and is highly recommended in late spring when the wild thyme bursts into glorious purple bloom, scenting the air pleasantly. Otago is renowned for its colours so the purple blooms add a lovely new tone to the golden tussocks, greenery of the trees and grasses and grey bed stone rock.