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Cycling vacations in New Zealand

Cycle tourism has exploded in New Zealand, and it’s one of the best ways to see the country’s remarkable scenery. Cyclists brings so much income to rural communities that it seems like every small town in New Zealand is pushing for funding to create their own trail. Our vacations make use of local accommodation and food, too, so that your big journey brings big benefits.

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Cycling vacations in New Zealand

Cycle tourism has exploded in New Zealand. The 23 ‘Great Rides’ take you across some of its finest scenery, and you can cycle the length of the country on well-managed trails.

A New Zealand pie sandwich is exactly what it sounds like – take one hot pie and smash it between two squares of buttered bread. Excessive? Maybe. But going on big rides requires big snacks.

New Zealand’s leisure cycling network is pie-worthy. The New Zealand Cycle Trail comprises 23 ‘Great Rides’ on off-road biking trails through its best scenery, and requires good snacks as an accompaniment.

The West Coast Wilderness Trail, Thermal by Bike, the Old Ghost Road, Tasman’s Great Taste Trail: the names evoke what’s fantastic about these trails – the landscapes, the history, the communities – and the sheer variety. There are routes where you’ll be able to smell sulphurous thermal pools on the breeze as you bomb down the hill. And then there are paths where you have to stand your bike on one wheel to cross suspension bridges through fern-filled virgin forest.

The Great Rides can be connected, so it’s now feasible to cycle down the entire length of the country, primarily off-road. The 3,000km-long Tour Aotearoa is just one of our fully-supported New Zealand cycling vacations, crossing from paradisical beaches through temperate rainforest to glaciers and tussock grassland.

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A new cycle culture

New Zealand has gone from having very little cycle tourism to it being one of the most profitable industries in rural areas. When the Otago River Trail – the first ‘Great Ride’ – opened on South Island, it became the second-largest income for the area after farming, as hungry cyclists came and spent in nearby towns: fixing flat tyres, and buying flat whites.

Most of the Great Rides’ trailheads are located conveniently near settlements and have been brilliant for bringing money to smaller communities, so much so that towns are clamouring to get them. “It seems that every small town is pushing for funding to get their own cycle trail and link into the wider network,” says Alice Baker, communications manager and cycling guide at our expert New Zealand cycling partner, Escape Adventures. “Government at local and national level really seem to be getting on board and realising how positive this is for the community and economy.”

The pandemic super-charged cycling culture in New Zealand, especially electric bike sales. E-bikes freewheeled off the shop floors during lockdown, as everyone clamoured to explore on their doorstep (and what doorstep views these are!). Domestic cycle tourism has grown enormously – and with it, international cycle tourism.

“I got into cycling here because that’s what everyone was doing,” says Alice, who moved to New Zealand in 2013. “Riding a bike here is really ingrained from a young age.” Now, some schools teach children how to mountain bike as part of their outdoor education. In Queenstown, sporting capital of South Island, you can ride the first bike gondola in the Southern Hemisphere, which takes mountain bikers (their bikes dangling off the outside of the bubble) up to the top of Bob’s Peak.

Quality trails

If you’re used to road cycling, you’ll be surprised to hear that most of the best-established trails in the country are off-road, and that mountain bikes and gravel bikes are your friend. Whilst there is road cycling, the government focus over the last few years has been on developing off-road paths, repurposing old railway lines, little-used 4x4 tracks and farm tracks.

The fact that the routes do not follow the national highways was very much a deliberate choice, spreading tourism further into rural areas, and taking visitors into beautiful places. New Zealand’s population is small for its size, meaning less dense road networks and plenty of wild spaces. Some of the Great Rides are chosen for their access to wilderness – such as the West Coast Wilderness Trail, the Motu Trails, Old Ghost Road Cycle Trail, Timber Trail, Coppermine Trail, and Waikato River Trail.

“Chatting to guests, it sounds like our trail network for leisure cycling far surpasses what is available in other places like the UK and Canada,” Alice says. “We had two Brits on tour that had also spent a lot of time living in the USA and they just couldn’t believe the quality of trails they were riding that had been built specifically for bikes!” Trails are maintained with a mix of government funding, charity support and local support. Our vacations also help fund maintenance of the West Coast Wilderness Trail.

What are cycling vacations in New Zealand like?

The climbs will test your legs, but the views will still your beating heart

Changing terrain & weather

Expect rocky terrain, and places so hilly that even the hills have hills. The climbs will test your legs, but the views will still your beating heart. This is where electric bikes come into their own. Going electric is very popular and can make challenging rides far more enjoyable – whilst you’ll still be putting in effort. “They’ve been a game changer for many cyclists who had given up the sport. Now, all of sudden, these rides are possible again,” says Alice.

‘Hike a bike’ – the art of pushing or carrying your bike when the terrain gets too much – is sometimes a necessary skill to navigate boulders the size of footballs, and steep climbs. But it’s the end of these more challenging trails where you’ll get the biggest payoffs.

With its mountainous topography and long coastlines, New Zealand has fantastic views from its hilltops – but also changeable weather. But one constant is its strong sun: the air is so clear and pollution-free that the UV rating is far higher than similar places in the northern hemisphere – slap on that suncream!

Memorable encounters & local stays

First-time visitors to New Zealand are often surprised at how relaxed the culture is – that people shop barefoot in the supermarkets, dress codes rarely reach above smart-casual, and residents welcome visitors. “The hospitality and welcoming nature of the people along the way when you’re cycle touring is something that really sticks with you,” says Alice.

Trips use a range of locally run accommodation close to the trails, whether that’s vacation cabins, motels, farmstays – and on one trip, even a historic musterer’s hut, where herders of sheep and cattle could rest after a hard day in the saddle. I ask Alice what people love about these adventures. Camaraderie and community are her answers: “They love getting away from the beaten tracks, exploring the back roads, being immersed in small communities and seeing real life in rural and remote areas.”

How fit do I need to be?

These are ambitious, multi-day journeys over rough and hilly terrain. But Alice has reassuring words for those on the fence about going. “You don’t need to be a race rider or pro athlete to ride these tours, just spend some time on your bike and make sure you can sit on your saddle fairly comfortably for decent lengths of time,” she says.

Where to go on a cycling vacation in New Zealand

North Island, or South?

Many international visitors have made a big trip to reach New Zealand, and intend to explore both islands, but if you just do one, pick carefully. The majority of New Zealanders live on North Island, and there are plenty of tourist attractions, including Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo and Taupo. For cyclists, there are warm beaches and pretty landscapes of rolling pasture – plus the pleasure of cycling the Timber Trail through pristine forest. South Island is colder, less inhabited, more rugged, but the scenery isn’t just pretty, it’s majestic. Some of the best chances to take it in are on cycle routes: in the St James Conservation Area, on the Alps 2 Ocean and Around the Mountains Cycle Trails.

Tour Aotearoa

Yes, you can cycle the length of New Zealand, closely following the ‘Tour Aotearoa’ route. The total route is 3,000km and takes around six weeks, but you could just do North Island – starting with a thrilling ride down the wave-bashed beach from Cape Reigna before passing through virgin podocarp forest, and skirting Tongariro National Park’s volcanoes. Or stick to South Island – follow the wild west coast via the Wilderness Trail, skirt along the edge of the Southern Alps, cross lakes by ferry in the presence of many mountains, and pass through Queenstown and then Otago farmland to reach Bluff.

Cape to Cape

For a more unusual Kiwi cycling challenge: cross North Island at its widest point, going from East Cape to Cape Egmont, a distance of 1,100km with 17,000m of elevation, on a trip that follows the Kopiko Aotearoa cycle route. After cycling the scenic Tairawhiti coastal highway you can pick up the Waikato River Trails, and the leafy Timber Trail, before cycling past epic Mount Taranaki. It’s challenging to sort the logistics of this often remote ride for yourself. Instead, our 16-day organised Cape to Cape cycling tour might appeal.

Canterbury

New Zealand’s high country – the high-altitude pastoral plains of tussock grass that run through South Island – are part of its national identity, their lonely hill stations and historic farms emblematic of a longstanding pioneer spirit. Spend your days cycling on quiet farm tracks through sheep stations, surrounded by big views. And then spend the evenings eating gourmet local produce. You can do an adventurous cycling vacation over six days, riding between 25km and 60km a day.

Marlborough

New Zealand’s famous wine country makes for rollicking riding, and the Marlborough Sounds, a series of flooded valleys on South Island’s northeast edge, are a beautiful setting to relax and enjoy an excellent glass of Sauvignon blanc. You can do an epic 620km round trip cycling vacation in this area, starting and finishing in the city of Christchurch, combining the Marlborough Sounds with a climb inland into high country – and the historic hill stations in its midst.

In summary…

New Zealand is home to some of the best off-road cycling in the world – expect well-established trails across some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Our vacations are ambitious, but you’ll be amazed what you can achieve – you can cycle all the way down North Island, or South Island, or all the way down both, north to south, closely following the ‘Tour Aotearoa’. Or traverse North Island at its widest point east to west – 1,100km. For just a taste of cycling, ask for a day of cycling on a tailor made tour. Popular places to explore include Tongariro, or the Hawkes Bay wine region. Mountain bikes are the best bikes for the job as the terrain isn’t always smooth, and you’ll nearly always be off-road. E-biking is a great way to go if you’re less confident of going the distance – or tackling the country’s hills. Our small group vacations are fully supported – that means a support van (a ‘sag wagon’) close at hand with snacks and spares and a place to rest, and a tour leader riding at the back of the group to ensure everyone is together. And there are usually just 8-12 cyclists. Accommodation along the way is a mix of farm stays, motels, vacation huts – whatever is locally owned and close to the trail.