Dreaming of a New Zealand vacation that goes beyond the ordinary? Imagine swapping crowded tours for a day of pure, rolling bliss, surrounded by some of the world's most dramatic landscapes. Welcome to the Otago Lakes District, a Central Otago wonderland where rugged mountains meet shimmering turquoise lakes, and every turn reveals a story from the 1860s gold rush. This is more than just scenery; it's an immersive, bucket-list adventure just waiting to be explored.

But what if you're not a professional cyclist? What if you're a family with mixed fitness levels, or simply want to relax and soak it all in? That's where nzbiketrails comes in. As a Qualmark Gold accredited bike hire and shuttle operator, nzbiketrails is the premier choice for a premium, seamless, and unforgettable e-bike experience. Their philosophy is simple: 'Where smiles just keep rolling on.' With an incredible NPS of 96.03 and over 1,000 five-star reviews, their guests consistently rave about the quality of their e-bikes that make rides "easy and fun," the breath-taking views, and the genuine, personal engagement of the team. For many, it's the highlight of their holiday.

Pedal Your Way Through New Zealand's Great Rides with nzbiketrails

New Zealand's Great Rides are a collection of the country's best cycling trails, offering unparalleled access to stunning scenery and rich history. With nzbiketrails, you're not just hiring a bike; you're unlocking a hassle-free, fully supported adventure on these iconic trails.

Lake Dunstan Trail: One of the Best One-Day Rides in the World

Alexine at the top of the Lake Dunstan Trail - you can see the trail in the distance over her shoulder

This 42km trail is a true marvel of engineering and a must-do for any Central Otago itinerary. We're talking smooth, compacted gravel trails and thrilling new clip-on boardwalks that hug the cliffs of the Cromwell Gorge as you journey along the Clutha River. Don't let the Grade 1-3 difficulty (suitable for confident cyclists over 10 on e-bikes) or the two 130m climbs deter you. This is where a premium e-bike from nzbiketrails truly shines, turning what could be a physical challenge into pure enjoyment. You'll pass old miners' water races and hydro schemes, stopping to admire the handiwork of those who shaped this land.

Refuel at scenic stops along the way, including the award-winning Carrick Vineyard, a great stop for coffee and scones on your way through the vineyard, or dive into the local history and excellent cafe’s at the Clyde Heritage Centre. A truly remarkable ride, it earned its status as a Great Ride in 2022.

The Lake Dunstan Trail is a fantastic ride and nzbiketrails can run transport from both Queenstown (+$120pp, min. 4 guests) and Wānaka (options available online)

Roxburgh Gorge Trail: New Zealand's "Grand Canyon"

David (Founder, nzbiketrails) and Alexine on the jet-boat learning the gold mining history along the way

Ready for an adventure that feels straight out of a movie? The Roxburgh Gorge Trail is often called "the Grand Canyon of New Zealand" for good reason.

With nzbiketrails, your adventure begins close to Clyde, from where you'll ride an exhilarating 36 kilometres alongside New Zealand’s powerful Clutha River and through the dramatic, rugged gorge itself. This Grade 1-3 trail takes you through a dramatic landscape of rugged bluffs and hillsides covered in wild thyme, remnants of the region's gold rush past. You'll cycle past historic stone huts left by Chinese miners and other relics of a bygone era.

What makes this journey truly unique is the jet-boat link that connects the trail's two sections. This memorable multi-modal adventure recalls the goldfield ferries of old, adding a thrilling and unforgettable element to your ride.

Queenstown Trails: Adventure for Everyone

The newly built 13km Wharehuanui Trail between Arrowtown and Arthurs Point

While Queenstown is famous for its adrenaline-pumping activities, the Queenstown Trails network proves there’s a softer, equally spectacular side to the adventure capital. This extensive 150km network of trails is graded easy to intermediate (Grade 2-3), making it perfect for those who want a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.

nzbiketrails will give you a great taster for these wonderful trails - no roads - with a 36km experience between the Kinross Winery (on the Gibbston Wine Trail) and Arthurs Point on family-friendly trails .

Gibbston River Wine Trail: Meander through world-class vineyards. You can even watch bungy jumpers from the nearby Kawarau Bridge!
Arrow River Bridges Trail: A family-friendly favourite, winding past swimming holes and historic bridges.
Wharehuanui Trail: the newest addition to the Queenstown Trail network, linking the historic town of Arrowtown with Arthurs Point. The 13km trail is graded as an easy (Grade 2) ride, making it perfect for families and riders of all skill levels.

Otago Central Rail Trail: The Trail That Started It All

The Otago Rail Trail is one of New Zealand’s easiest and most beautiful rides, following an old railway line, and is suitable for all ages of riders

The iconic Otago Central Rail Trail is the one that inspired the entire Great Rides network. Stretching 150km from Clyde to Middlemarch, this trail follows a former railway line that once transported gold, coal, animals and produce. It’s a journey through history, past impressive viaducts and tunnels built during the gold economy.

With nzbiketrails' seamless logistics, you can use our Private Hire options (up to 4 guests in a luxury ute and up to 11 guests in our luxury Transit/Sprinter fleet) to enjoy the best 30km of the Otago Rail Trail between Auripo and the Chatto Creek Tavern. At Chatto Creek you can finish up here for a lovely lunch (not included) or extend the ride further if you wanted to, ensuring your experience is perfectly tailored to you.

On Private Hires this includes pickups from your accommodation in Queenstown or Wānaka and gives a lot more flexibility for a tailored experience where you can choose the trail.

No matter which trail you choose, nzbiketrails simplifies everything. They offer one-way rides and convenient shuttle services so you can focus on the scenery, not the logistics. Their top-quality e-bikes and detailed briefings mean you'll be set for a perfect day from the moment you start.

If you are a holiday company travelling between two locations the team can meet your party and include a ride enroute which is managed and supported by nzbiketrails Guest Experience Managers.

Bonus Ride: The Wānaka & Hāwea Trails

A fantastic family ride, nzbiketrails hosts families from 8 years old in Wānaka and uses Specialized Turbo Levo SL 24” bikes for their youngest riders. The ride is a Grade 1-2 family friendly ride.

For those who want to fully explore the heart of the Otago Lakes District, the Wānaka and Hāwea Trails are an incredible "bonus" ride. This extensive network of tracks is more than just a ride; it’s a journey through the region’s evolution from gold mining and farming to the vibrant recreation and tourism hub it is today.

The scenic beauty of Lake Wānaka is deeply valued by the local community, and biking along its trails offers a special way to connect with this stunning landscape. nzbiketrails makes exploring these trails a breeze. They shuttle you from Wānaka out to Hāwea for a scenic and family friendly 30km return ride along the river trails. This ride is not designated as an NZ Great Ride but it includes the Founder of nzbiketrails favourite 12km of riding in New Zealand so we had to add it as a ‘bonus’ ride.

With 3 shuttles per day leaving Wānaka at 0900hrs, 1030hrs and 1230hrs (bikes returned by 4pm) whether you want a long relaxing ride with lot’s of stops, including the award winning Pembroke Patisserie in Albert Town (closes at 2pm), or a brisker ride where you can enjoy the views and get onto your next activity; the choice is yours. The earlier your shuttle the longer potential experience that you can have. We even get some guests that take the 0900hrs shuttle so that they can catch their boat trip on return to Wānaka at 1pm - the choice is yours.

This ride is a great way to see more and explore more of Wānaka and its surrounding area and regularly appears in ‘must do Wānaka experiences’. We recommend it as an activity to do on your first day in Wānaka which will give you lots of ideas for other places to explore.

Your Otago Lakes District Adventure Starts Here

Whether you have a single day to spare or want to embark on an expansive multi-day journey, nzbiketrails' comprehensive coverage of the Otago Lakes District's most iconic trails allows you to craft the perfect itinerary.

The beauty of their service lies in the seamless, hassle-free logistics. From tailored meeting points to reliable shuttles and thorough bike briefings, every detail is taken care of. Their premium e-bikes are a game-changer, enabling riders of all fitness levels to enjoy the incredible scenery and rich history without excessive physical challenge. This means families and groups of mixed abilities can stay together, sharing in the joy of the adventure. For added peace of mind, your dedicated Guest Experience Manager (GEM) is just a phone call away, providing direct mobile support - if required - throughout your ride.

It's this commitment to exceptional service and unforgettable experiences that has earned nzbiketrails their outstanding reputation and made their rides the 'highlight of their holiday' for so many guests.

Ready to make your own memories? Book your next New Zealand bike adventure with nzbiketrails and let the smiles just keep rolling on.

Book Your Unforgettable Ride Today!

Phone/WhatsApp: +64 27 202 8686
Email: smiles@nzbiketrails.co.nz
Website: nzbiketrails.co.nz
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Explore the Entire Otago Lakes District by Bike: New Zealand's Great Rides & The Wānaka & Hāwea Trails with nzbiketrails