Bright spring days are the perfect antidote to a long, listless winter in New Zealand as the months begin to warm. Walks in the great outdoors, the sweet fragrance of newly bloomed flowers and action-packed New Zealand cycling trips are the ideal way to experience the country’s beauty. Autumn is also a beautiful time to visit the country, with its falling leaves and crisp cool air.
All year round, the country is rich in breathtaking scenery and must-see attractions; however, cycling in New Zealand is one of the most memorable ways to explore the country during these seasons. Cycling in New Zealand is an excellent way to enjoy the scenery while visiting must-see attractions and discovering hidden gems.
Together with our friends from Tourism New Zealand, we’ve compiled a list of the best New Zealand cycling trails available for the coming seasons, ranging from adrenaline-pumping mountain biking to relaxing family cycling to luxurious and indulgent food and wine forays on two wheels.
READ MORE: Here’s our community list of the best hikes in New Zealand
The best cycling tours in New Zealand range from a few days to several weeks, so you’ll be able to find something that fits your schedule, tickles your fancy, and enhances your enjoyment of this fantastic country.
New Zealand Wine and cycling tours
A leisurely tour of the New Zealand countryside, admiring the tranquilly lush scenery that surrounds it, is an experience that cannot be duplicated. Cycling through lush vineyards is also a great way to explore New Zealand’s lush landscape while sipping some fine wine. That’s the great thing about wine tours by bike: they feel like a complete experience, but there’s also wine to be tasted! It’s truly a “wine-wine” situation.
New Zealand is an excellent destination for any cyclist or wine enthusiast, with a diverse range of options available from the South Island to the North Island. The country’s wine is known around the world for its exquisite taste, which you can sample as you cycle through the vineyards and wineries.
Ride and wine through these stunning vineyards across New Zealand with these amazing trails that include a taste of New Zealand’s most famous wines.
Hawke’s Bay Trails
The Hawke’s Bay Trails stretch over the Heretaunga Plains and weave between the twin cities of Napier and Hastings. Ride through wine-growing areas over 1-4 days and 187 km, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate cyclist. Takaro Trails offers guided cycle tours.
Wine Trail Magic Marlborough
Another great cycling tour where you can ride and wine is through the Marlborough wine region, centring around Blenheim, via e-bike. This five-day, self-guided tour is low on kilometres and made all the more pleasant by the assistance of an electric bike as your faithful steed. With light legs, you can truly make the most of enjoying the breathtaking scenery, the legendary wine, and excellent five-star accommodations.
Multi-day New Zealand cycling trips
Nga Haerenga (‘The Journeys’) is an unforgettable way to explore New Zealand, with breathtaking scenery and must-see attractions. The Great Rides, mostly off-road and traversing a remarkable range of landscapes, offer adventures for almost every age and ability over a few days or a few weeks.
Alps 2 Ocean Trail
The glorious Alps to Ocean (A2O) trail winds through the vivid landscape of New Zealand’s South Island from Mount Cook’s towering peak through valleys and past turquoise lakes out to the Pacific at the east coast town of Oamaru.
It is an easy-to-intermediate trail that covers 312km in six days. Guided cycle tours are available from Natural High, Active Adventures, PureTrails, and Adventure South.
READ MORE: Why not enjoy the cold, here are 5 things to do in New Zealand in Winter
The Timber Trail
Pureora Forest Park, located in the heart of the North Island, is a mix of virgin, regenerating, and exotic forest. The 87-kilometre trail will enchant you with its breathtaking beauty. The Timber Trail follows in the footsteps of old logging roads and tramlines, which have been linked and smoothed using modern trail-building techniques. It connects the tiny settlements of Pureora and Ongarue, with the similarly small Piropiro located roughly halfway. Due to limited road access and remoteness, a two-day, one-way bicycle ride is the most rewarding.
The Great Lake Trail
The Great Lake Trail, which skirts the shore of New Zealand’s largest lake, provides a breathtaking view on wheels, with lush forest and wetlands, waterfalls, beaches, and panoramic views from a series of lookouts. The entire ride can be completed in two days or divided into shorter sections.
Should you go cycling in New Zealand?
The short answer is yes, you should definitely do it. What could be better than experiencing the beautiful landscape and lush forests going on a New Zealand cycling trip with your friends and loved ones?
Have we missed out on your favourite trails or are there any other places you go cycling in New Zealand that you think we should recommend? Let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to include them in our future lists.
