Find Your Ride

GREAT RIDES OF NEW ZEALAND

Showcasing some of New Zealand’s most amazing landscapes, our 23 Great Rides are an exciting and environmentally sustainable way to reach must-see sights and activities.

View all rides on New Zealand Cycling Map

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dun mountain 1

Coppermine Trail

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 0%

Intermediate: 75%

Advanced: 25%

Expert: 0%

Location Black Nelson/Tasman
Clock Black 43km / 1 day (4–6 hours)
Star Black epic panoramas / alpine tops / awesome downhill
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Head up into the hills behind Nelson city for a grand tour of forested valleys, rocky mountaintops and a meandering riverside trail.

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great lake

Great Lake Trails

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 0%

Intermediate: 100%

Advanced: 0%

Expert: 0%

Location Black Central North Island
Clock Black 88km / 1–3 days
Star Black waterfalls & forest / epic lake views / flowing singletrack
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Explore the remote forested shores, valleys and headlands along the edge of Lake Taupō, with massive views across to the peaks of Tongariro National Park.

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motu trail credit Neil Robert Hutton Photography

Motu Trails

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 12%

Intermediate: 71%

Advanced: 17%

Expert: 0%

Location Black Eastland / Bay of Plenty
Clock Black 121km / 1–3 days
Star Black beaches / forest & hill country / Māori & European history
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TRAIL ALERT: Click > for details. Rolling along Pacific Coast sand dunes, and into remote valleys and forest, these diverse trails explore a quiet corner of the Bay of Plenty and Eastland.

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Mountains to Sea cyclists on Bridge to Nowhere Martyn Davies

Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 0%

Intermediate: 93%

Advanced: 7%

Expert: 0%

Location Black Ruapehu and Whanganui
Clock Black 231km / 1–6 days
Star Black volcanic mountains / remote river valleys / wild ocean
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TRAIL ALERT: Click > for details. Tongariro National Park’s volcanoes and magical Whanganui River wilderness are just two compelling reasons to ride this truly epic trail.

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queen charlotte

Queen Charlotte Track

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 0%

Intermediate: 62%

Advanced: 28%

Expert: 10%

Location Black Marlborough
Clock Black 73.5km / 2–3 days
Star Black Sounds views / coastal forest / waterside resorts
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TRAIL ALERT: OPEN WITH RESTRICTIONS. Click > for more details. A New Zealand classic, this track traces bays, hills and ridges for ever-changing vistas of the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.

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st james

St James Cycle Trail

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 8%

Intermediate: 60%

Advanced: 20%

Expert: 12%

Location Black Canterbury
Clock Black 60km / 1–2 days
Star Black alpine views / wild rivers & hidden lakes / farming heritage
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TRAIL ALERT: Click > for more details. This challenging trail takes riders through the remote St James Conservation Area with its soaring peaks, broad river valleys, and captivating farming heritage.

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old ghost road

The Old Ghost Road

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 0%

Intermediate: 0%

Advanced: 92%

Expert: 8%

Location Black West Coast
Clock Black 85km / 2–4 days
Star Black mountain views / wild valleys / riveting history
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Fit, intrepid riders need look no further for New Zealand’s ultimate wilderness adventure – 85 kilometres of epic singletrack snaking through remote valleys and over a spectacular mountain range.

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timber trail v2

Timber Trail

Grade

Easiest: 0%

Easy: 64%

Intermediate: 36%

Advanced: 0%

Expert: 0%

Location Black Central North Island
Clock Black 85km / 2 days
Star Black ancient forest / suspension bridges / fascinating history
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Cycle amidst mighty trees on a trail that also boasts rare birdlife, lofty suspension bridges and intriguing timber-milling relics.

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