Getting out and about on two wheels is a great way to explore the New Zealand landscape, and cycle-based activities are becoming increasingly popular all over the country.

Some visitors travel the entire country by bike, while others prefer to explore a few localities. You might rent a mountain bike and explore, or take a cycle tour with a group. In Marlborough and Wairarapa, visitors can even go wine touring by bike. The Otago Central Rail Trail, in Central Otago, is a popular 150-kilometre cycle trail through stunning scenery. Another popular option is the A2O – Alps to Ocean – from Aoraki Mount Cook to Oamaru via the Waitaki Valley.

Mountain Biking

Hugely popular with a large number of New Zealanders, mountain biking has become a very common weekend pastime, leading to the creation of excellent mountain biking trails all around the country. Rotorua has some of the most well-established mountain biking trails. Whakarewarewa Forest is home to around 90 kilometres of trails that wind their way through the ferns and are shaded by huge pine trees in a former forestry estate. The Port Hills in Christchurch, Makara Peak in Wellington and Woodhill in Auckland are also popular with mountain bikers of all abilities.