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So... We have 6 weeks in New Zealand and bike hire is very cheap!
Where do you go!? We will have a car so able to get off the beaten track. Anything hat feels 'out there's is good but needs to have hire facilities.
Which bit? 2 islands and lots to see
Both islands, first 2 weeks in the north but the 4 weeks after we are completely free
There's a number of long distance gravel cycle routes setup and waymarked (on the north island at least) which might make a good trip for a few days.
I spent a day riding in one of the bike parks around Wellington and, tbh, there looks to be enough round there for a week's 'proper' trail riding where you don;t hit the same trail twice. Lots of bikes offer decent 'enduro' bikes for hire too.
North island rotorua
Lots of different options depending what you want.
The classic areas not to miss for the best classic mountain biking are
Nth Island: Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington
Sth Island: (Too many to list!!): Nelson, Christchurch (including cragieburn etc), Wanaka, Queenstown
But there are LOADS of lesser known spots with great riding. If you want to any biking in NZ just get your hands on this:
http://www.kennett.co.nz/product/classic-nz-mtb-rides-north-and-south/
Most Kiwi bikers own a copy!
Whakarewarew Forest aka The Redwoods in Rotorua is a must do. You can pay for a shuttle (Southstar Shuttles) for a day and there's a good mix of tracks. It's very flowing, the soil has excellent drainage and is grippy as anything. Rotorua also has a gondola, lots of food options and nice to relax in the spa after a day riding.
Taupo has a few options the best day ride is the W2K trail from Kinloch. It's a there and back, but you can arrange a water taxi to take you back to the starting point. There's a cool little trail nearby called Craters of the Moon that takes in some of the thermal sites. Wairakei Terraces or DeBrett's spas are good for post ride relaxation.
If you've got time and want a real adventure then The Old Ghost Road is as good as it gets. This is a tough back country ride following an old gold miners route in to the mountains.
Queen Charlotte track in the Marlborough Sounds is a pretty special ride.Very scenic, opportunities to stop and have a swim/kayak. Nice places to eat and stay along the route.
Nelson area has tonnes of riding, The Heaphy track in the Kahurangi being the most famous. This is only rideable in the winter months from May-Nov and you may have to book a huts in advance if you wanted to stay overnight. It can be done in a day. You can even get a small plane to bring you back to the start. Great beer in Nelson (it's where all the hops are grown) and normally good weather.
https://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/top-mountain-biking-tracks-in-nelson/
Then you've got endless trails in Queenstown and some nice ones in Wanaka - Dean's Bank track is nice wee ride.
Christchurch has a bike park and Gondola in the Port Hills. Craigieburn not far from Christchurch is a brilliant ride.
There's tonnes of riding in New Zealand. You won't be disappointed!
You can go Heli-Biking if you feel the need to have a "special" day. Was not that expensive as I recall.
A very timely thread, as myself and the wife are also planning a 6 week trip there too😀
Some great suggestions. I’ve been watching BKXC’s YouTube videos of his NZ trip...Wow!
The old ghost road looks amazing for a once in a lifetime ride. I’m planning to take my own bike, mainly because I’m a very creaky 57 year old, and am bit of ‘princess and the pea’ with bike fit. Hoping I’m not going to regret taking my own bike - it’s the PIA of travelling with it that’s concerning me.
We were thing of hiring a car at Auckland, drive to Rotorua for couple of weeks, then fly to Nelson, few days there, then fly to Queenstown and pick up a car to get to Wanaka etc. (Or maybe drive from Nelson to Christchurch).
How are you getting between places - driving or using some internal flights?
Also, bit of an odd question, but do the hire bikes in NZ have the same brake lever layout as the UK?
Plenty of good riding around Queenstown, Wanaka, etc.
We also did the Old Ghost Road (I'd say that's a "must do") - there's a company that will drive your car from the start to the finish. Book huts well in advance.
Nelson is supposed to be really good, and if I went back I'd def do the Heaphy trail.
Whaka forest by Rotorua was also ace.
I did some awesome XC riding around Nelson, loads there.
I also did heli-biking in Queenstown that was brilliant and some DH too. There's loads though, it's 2 sparsely populated, mountainous islands, you'll not go short of trails.
Brake setup is the same as UK
As above, brakes are the right way round here.
You can't go wrong in Rotorua, the trails at Whakarewarewa are superb and you can get an app called TrailMapps which is kept mostly up-to-date with three latest tracks and allows you to use your GPS to see where you are on the trail network. The shuttle is a good call if you want to see all of the trails in a few days (and there are some you'll want to ride several times).
Taupo is also good, the Craters of the Moon trails are like a smaller version of Whakarewarewa, but not as good (not because they're not good, but because Rotorua is superb). As mentioned above, the W2K track is a great day out too.
Both locations are a good base for doing the Moerangi Track. 35km, doable in a day fairly easily with a drop-off and pick-up arranged, or out and back of you fancy a very big day out. You can stay in one of the huts overnight too, would need to check whether you need to book though.
I haven't done the Old Ghost Road but know people who have, and they all rave about it.
A bit further south is the 42 Traverse, another back-country track.
And that's just the top few bits of the central North Island...
With any of the back-country tracks you need to check current closures as various places are closed to public access due to kauri die-back, a fungus which is killing native kauri trees. The DoC (Dept of Conservation) website should have info.
Can’t fault any of the above, Rotorua and Queenstown being the highlights.
For Queenstown: The gondy is an obvious choice but 7mile is good for an evening trail centre blast and get yourself on a shuttle (Recommend Queenstown Bike Taxis) or befriend some locals to do Coronet Peak (Rude rock into Zoots is a great flow trail you’ll want to do again and again, it’s in Follow Me), Pack Crack & Sack (grade 5-6), Corotown into arrowtown (again grade 5-6) and Skippers (XC scenic DH) all start from up there.
Wanaka is a bit meh for riding IMO.
For something more mellow but mega scenic and with fancy accomodation half way (Furneaux lodge) check out the Queen Charlotte Track from Picton. Get the mail boat to drop you off for a 2-3 day XC cruise overlooking the sounds.
Hit me up if you need any specific advice, depending on when you’re here I’m based in Wellington and Queenstown.
Some solid advice above! You might also want to consider the new Paparoa track on the West Coast, opening in December:
Wairoa Gorge near Nelson, possibly the world's least bike parky bike park, is unmissable.
The Kennett books are a good starting point, but be aware a lot of the riding in them is of the gentler variety and there's a lot more on offer here in the steep/techy category if you like that!
Wairoa Gorge near Nelson, possibly the world’s least bike parky bike park, is unmissable.
https://www.thegorge.nz/
/blockquote>+1 this! It's only relatively recently been opened up to the public having previously been owned by a millionaire and was only available once a year for a bike race. Next level riding, lots of it techy as!
Just back from a family holiday in NZ and managed to get a days riding in Wairoa Gorge.
https://www.thegorge.nz/
My goodness that's a great day out on the bike if you like it steep and techy. If you make it to Nelson, don't miss out.
I hired a bike (Evil Insurgent) from https://gravitynelson.co.nz/
Blimey, I’m getting reet psyched up for this now! The Queen Charlotte trail in on Mrs B’s wish list, so good to get some feedback on that (ta kiwicraig).
BTW, just wondered - are there plenty of freelance mountain bike guides over there? If so, what’s the going day rate?
(We’re tying to get as best an idea of cost before we go - might even give me an incentive to stop spun*ing my money on bike bits😁)
old ghost road is a great spin, although a bit of a pain with logistics getting from one end to the other, but that appears to be the way with a lot of NZ trails. if you are in wanaka there is a great wee park made by locals and well signposted. its great fun red and mild black single track. bikes to hire in the town
BTW, just wondered – are there plenty of freelance mountain bike guides over there? If so, what’s the going day rate?
Not really, it’s not really a thing here, at least not like you’d get in the (European) Alps. A few bike shops in big cities might do tours but usually only if it involves a 4WD/Helicopter.
I wouldn’t have said you’d need one. Everything in this thread will be well signposted and download TrailForks for offline map access. Friendly locals and/or Facebook groups if you want pirate trails or the local low down but the way marked stuff will keep you busy.
Bowglie, depending on your plans for your trip internal flights with the bike can be a faff and driving in nz is easy and amazingly beautiful in the main it'd definitely be worth considering more driving and less internal flights especially over a 6 week trip. camper van could be an option and also consider starting at the south and driving north as hire cars are generally cheaper that way.
definitely drive! NZ is a beautiful place and there's not much traffic. Just to add a couple of places not list yet there's Woodhill bike park just outside of Auckland which is worth a look. On the south Island there's great mountain biking around Alexandra, but you'll probably need someone to show you round as it's not waymarked, well it wasn't when I went but that was a long time ago now. Altitude bikes in the town should be able to point you in the right direction.
Not much to add other than the OGR is an awesome XC ride, and it appears that the Queenstown gondola won't take bikes for a certain period at Christmas!.