Summer deals and news from our National Partners

Published 2022-12-12

Plan and book your Summer Great Ride adventures with special deals, a brand new guide and other tempting offers from Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails' awesome national partners.

All aboard – including e-bikes – to Taumarunui and the Timber Trail!

Full steam ahead to the centre of the North Island! Great Journeys New Zealand's Northern Explorer train journey is now stopping at Taumarunui, giving riders a super-scenic, lower-carbon option for getting to the Timber Trail. Sweet wee 'Taumarunui on the old trunk line' is the gateway town to the Great Ride, reached using local shuttles or biking the Timber Trail Connection cycle route. 

KiwiRail's Tracey Goodall is thrilled about this new service and the visitor packages Great Journeys New Zealand and Visit Ruapehu have been developing, 'Our packages are about getting domestic and international travellers off the beaten track and out into the regions to really experience what New Zealand has to offer'. Find out more about the Northern Explorer and the latest deals and packages here.

Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton steps off the Northern Explorer at Taumarunui (Great Journeys New Zealand).

In another brilliant development, up to four bikes, including E-bikes, can now be taken on Great Journeys New Zealand's scenic trains: the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer. Places must be booked in advance and Ts n Cs apply; or you can, of course, hire a bike from one of the Great Rides official partners – easy!  

NZ SuperGold members Australian Seniors Card holders are eligible for a 10% discount on train journeys – just check the appropriate box when you book online (more info here).

The Northern Explorer – the super-scenic, low-carbon way to visit the Great Rides of the central North Island (Great Journeys New Zealand).


Summer at the Heritage – stay 2 nights & save 15%

Your summer escape starts with Heritage Hotels! Play, relax and save 15% when you book 2 nights in Paihia, Auckland, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington, or Nelson. Valid for stays between 15 December 2022 - 31 January 2023. Terms and conditions apply. Find out more here.

Enjoy New Zealand’s best cycling destinations with Heritage Hotels. Heritage has a range of personality-packed, cycle-friendly  properties on or near the Great Rides – they're the perfect places to prepare or wind down after some pedal-powered exploration. 

Stay in style at Heritage Queenstown – a great base for the Queenstown Trail.


Hot off the press – the AA's new Cycling Must-Do's Guide!

The AA Traveller's 2022/23 Cycling Must Do’s guide features all 23 Great Rides, including the new Whakarewarewa Forest Loop Trail in Rotorua and Central Otago's Lake Dunstan Trail. There's also a selection of Heartland Rides that form part of Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails, including the Little River Rail Trail between Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. 

There's a new section on bikepacking, plus more fabulous photos, detailed maps, information on how to plan your cycling adventures, and what to do and see on and around the trails.

Pick-up this 144-page glossy, full-colour magazine-style guide from more than 500 outlets nationwide, including AA centres, i-SITEs and visitor information centres. Hard-copies can also be ordered online from the AA Shop (it's free, you just have to pay postage).

The guide can also be viewed online here.
 

The AA's 2022/23 Must-Do's Cycling Guide

The Must-Do's Cycling guide has useful info on all the Great Rides of New Zealand and more.

Save on accommodation & cycle tours

AA Members can save 10% on selected accommodation using the code AASAVE10 (T&Cs apply; find out more).

Members can also save 10% on selected guided cycling and hiking tours with Adventure South NZ. From cycle trails, e-biking and road cycling to mountain biking and hiking, these adventures are not to be missed (T&Cs apply; find out more).

E-biking AA members now have peace of mind if they find themselves in trouble on their rides. The AA have extended their Roadside Service and will come and rescue you! Find out more.


Stay at cycle-friendly holiday parks

Holiday parks are the perfect accommodation choice for bike-lovers and holidaymakers looking to hit the trails. They're close to most of the Great Rides, with heaps of practice space for new cyclists, and set in beautiful surrounds. They're so much more than places to park your van or pitch a tent too, with a variety of high-quality accommodation – from comfy cabins through to stylish studios and luxury apartments.

Cycle Hub member parks make your biking holiday even easier by providing excellent advice on local rides as well as bike-cleaning facilities and secure parking, e-bike charging, and contacts for local mechanics, shuttles and tour operators. Some also have on-site bike hire.

To find a Cycle Hub holiday park, download the free Holiday Parks App or visit their website. Don't delay and book your summer spot, there's still plenty of availability, but with the borders open, things are likely to get busier over peak times.

Creeksyde Queenstown Holiday Park – charming and cycle friendly.

Enter the Great Rides Summer Photo Competition and be in to win a $500 accommodation voucher, generously donated by Holiday Parks New Zealand. 


Fully upgraded and FREE to download!

The only mobile app designed for our Great Rides has been upgraded recently with some fab new features such as bird calls, tree/plant IDs, and links to great trail stories. Find out more about the new version of the Great Rides App, and how it's created in this fascinating article.

Download the Great Rides App from:

 

The new-and-improved Great Rides App – easy to use and free to download!


Sailing across Cook Strait for over 60 years!

Whether you're headed north or south, kick off your summer road trips with the Interislander's seriously scenic cruise across Cook Strait! 

If you’re crossing Cook Strait on the ferry, be sure to book early during the school holidays. The Interislander is very bike friendly, with no charge for bike racks on the back of your car. If you’re riding your bike onto the boat or taking it on as excess baggage, it’s just $15 extra; and it’s easy to check your bike in, roll it on to the ferry, and lock it up on the vehicle deck. Bike spaces are limited, so it's best to book in advance, just in case!

If you’re travelling without children, why not upgrade to one of our comfortable Premium Lounges, where all food and beverage, including beer, wine and a hot meal are provided. Families with children might like to hire a cabin with private facilities or keep the little ones entertained in the Family Area, or in one of our air-conditioned cinemas.

Check here for family, student and senior discounts.

The Kaitaki ferry cruising through Queen Charlotte Sound (Interislander).