The Queenstown Trail will be a spectacular 90km mountain biking ride, which will take riders alongside pristine rivers and lakes and beneath mountain ranges, focusing on three distinctive destinations - Queenstown Bay, the historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown and Gibbston, internationally renowned for its award winning wines.
The trail route includes seven bridges, with five crossing the iconic Arrow and Kawarau Rivers, which are recognised as places of outstanding natural beauty. The trail’s terrain is varied and provides outstanding views of the famous Remarkables Mountain range.
Riders will have the choice of completing the full trail over 4-5 days or of selecting from a range of shorter riding options. There are many accommodation options in Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Gibbston or along the trail route. There is also a wide range of cafes and restaurants located along the trail.
The trail is technically intermediate and suitable for most riding abilities. However there will be a few hill climbs and descents that will require walking.
Home to innovative commercial jet boating, bungy jumping and river surfing ventures, Queenstown's reputation as one of the world's favourite adrenaline destinations is well deserved. Cyclists visiting Queenstown will be able to participate in a wide range of other tourism attractions including a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw Steam Ship, skydiving, canyon swinging, whitewater rafting, parapenting and heli-skiing. Visitors may also enjoy walking, winery visits, sailing, hiking, climbing, fishing, cycling, golfing, off-road quad biking and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Cycle route directions
There are several sections of trail around Queenstown that are ready to ride. At this stage, the best is the 1-hour Lake Hayes loop. From Queenstown, drive northeast on State Highway 6. A couple of kilometres past the Shotover River bridge, turn into the signposted car park on the left. Ride down to the lake and complete a lap in either direction. Apart from a couple of stiff wee climbs, this ride provides an excellent outing for the whole family. Lake Hayes can also be accessed from Arrowtown via the Lake Hayes Road. In the near future there will be continuous cycle trail from Queenstown to Lake Hayes, via the Frankton Walkway.
Best time to ride
The trail can be ridden and enjoyed during all seasons.
Getting there
Riders will have the choice of accessing the trail from a range of locations along the trail route including Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston. Queenstown’s town centre is ten minutes drive from the international airport. There are regular airport shuttles, taxis, rental cars and a local bus service. Many activity and accommodation providers also offer free shuttles to/from the town centre.
Trail partners
The Queenstown Trail is a joint initiative of the Wakatipu Trails Trust, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and the New Zealand Cycle Trail project.
