Looking for a challenge? Get going on a Great Ride
Published 2022-09-14
Challenge yourself this Spring and spice up your life with big dreams, bragging rights and a lasting sense of achievement on Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand.
The 23 Great Rides cover the whole country from Northland to Southland, with cycling holidays and experiences to suit everyone. Read more about them in this blog, and download a map of the whole network here.
Choose from the Great Rides featuring classic singletrack, cross-country epics and remote wilderness. Be inspired by the scenery, climb to hilltops, cross remarkable bridges, roll over rough stuff or enjoy the thrill of fast, flowing descents. Get ready for the ride of your life!
The Timber Trail
Adventure awaits in Pureora Forest, a deep, green wonderland in the heart of the North Island. Discover incredible scenery and secrets on the Timber Trail, a journey as fascinating for its history as its natural heritage.
Take a ride on the wild side on this ebike-friendly trail following historic byways through the bush. Enjoy flowing riding with gentle climbs, fun descents and fascinating trailside relics. See ancient trees, rocky river gorges and amazing suspension bridges. Take time out to recharge overnight at the remote settlement of Piropiro, home to camping, glamping and two lodges. Marvel at where you’ve come from, and where you’re going. Enjoy the inspiration and tranquillity that this unforgettable journey will bring.
Find out more, and plan your Timber Trail journey here.
The impressive Timber Trail Lodge at Piropiro.
Graceful, lofty suspension bridges are a Timber Trail highlight (Lee Slater).
The Old Ghost Road
New Zealand’s most legendary backcountry Great Ride, The Old Ghost Road offers up to four days of the most rewarding mountain biking you may ever do.
Get ready for exciting singletrack ranging from slow and flowing to tight and technical. Test your mettle on challenging climbs, rocky ridges, bridges, boardwalk and the famous skyline steps. Journey through sheer-sided valleys cloaked in forest and strewn with awesome rock forms. See alpine tarns, fast-flowing rivers and tumbling waterfalls. Soak up the feel-alive vibe of spectacular sunrises, sunsets, starry skies, and vast panoramas. Then enjoy well-earned food, good company and the warmth of the fire in trail huts and tent sites, set in spectacular locations. And discover why The Old Ghost Road is New Zealand’s mountain bikers’ must-do.
Find out more, and plan your Old Ghost Road epic adventure here.
Sweet singletrack and wild West Coast scenery on The Old Ghost Road (Hage Photo).
The Old Ghost Road's legendary Skyline Steps (Sarah Bennett).
Great Lake Trails
Free-draining pumice soils and custom-built singletrack equal sweet, flowing, all-seasons mountain biking on Taupō's Great Lake Trails.
Winding around the edge of Lake Taupō – the massive crater formed through one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history – this intermediate (Grade 3) Great Ride immerses riders in a landscape of spectacular gorges and waterfalls, lush native forest and strange rock gardens. Headlands and outcrops afford amazing views over New Zealand's largest lake and Tongariro National Park’s volcanoes, while beautiful bays offer picture-perfect picnics and swimming. Choose from four memorable half-day rides or link them all together into a 2–3 day epic with shuttles and a boat taxi that doubles as a super-scenic cruise chasing waterfalls!
Find out more, and plan your Great Lake Trails adventures here.
The Great Lake Trails – fast and flowing all year round (Cam Mackenzie/Love Taupō)
The Great Lake Trails – sweet riding and epic lake views guaranteed (Sarah Bennett)
Looking for another type of cycling adventure?
Check out these blogs for more Great Rides inspiration:
Explore New Zealand's amazing landscapes by bike
