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Ok so i'm planning a sabbatical in January 2017 Anyone done this before? Any tips on locations etc, I need to do it as cheaply as possible, riding every day, guided holidays look too pricety, so thinking Queenstown/Lake Wanaka.......take my own bike on the plane and stay in a cheap hostel or two.....
All advice greatly recieved........
Will be keeping an eye on this. Slightly related: http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/two-weeks-free-in-new-zealand-what-to-do
Wellington and Rotaura were my fave destinations biking on my 6 week trip.Christchurch was ok but a dull place to hang about for to long and probably not the best place to visit due to the earthquake a couple of years ago
Went in April.
Rotorua was awesome.
Rode the Old Ghost Road over 3 day, first real bike packing trip, very hard but enjoyable
Queenstown was good but didn't get to do as much riding as I wanted as I came off and broke my finger.
Wanaka.. wanted to ride but couldn't because of the finger.
Didn't ride in Christchurch but it is perfectly fine to visit (in reference to above comment). Still lots of construction going on but that's only in the city centre.
Port Hills were ok to ride I hear they are building an uplift bike park just outside Queenstown!
probably not the best place to visit due to the earthquake a couple of years ago
What a daft thing to say....? The earthquake was 5 years ago, Christchurch needs visitors, its a good stopping off point and worth visit, on your way to, or way back from Queenstown and the west side of the South Island
Biking wise Rotorua is spectacular! Taupo south of there is well worth a look on your travels south from Rotorua, check out craters of the moon.
Fly in to Auckland, head down to Rotorua, bike your bum off and make sure you go to 'Fat Dog's' cafe for a flat white and Kumara chips and Aioli. Or better still grab pizza and beers and head to 'secret spot' (ask a local) and sit in a hot spring late at night watching the stars...
Head South to Taupo and on from there...
South Island probably has the most variety of riding - you could easily do a couple of weeks around Queenstown/Wanaka without running out of trails. There are loads of accommodation options in both of those towns too (or check out Arrowtown as an alternative between them). The DH trails at the chairlift at QT are awesome, and many don't require a full DH bike.
You might find it hard to get around without a vehicle of some sort as lots of the stuff is a bit spaced out.
Christchurch is worth a visit, but the Port Hills really benefit from local knowledge to link up the best bits. It's also worth noting that the trails there are very weather dependent, and riding wet trails is frowned upon in the Port Hills.
Queenstown/Wanaka is certainly where it is at in NZ. Just back from living there for 4 years and helped volunteer on the build of a lot of trails...
Get in touch with QMTBC and go and see some of the LBS's - Bikeaholic / Vertigo, would be my tips, and ask for some local advice on the tons of cheeky trails... be warned though, the majority are extremely advanced.
A day or two with Queenstown bike taxi's is money well spent for shuttles... Coronet peak to rude rock to pack, track and sack is a sure fired winner with the climb out of skipper canyon memorable. Zoot track (from Follow Me - Stevie smith/ gee atherton... and then climb back up to the top of the ski field for Corotown decent in to arrowntown. If you have a vehicle of your own you may be able to buddy up with someone and do your own shuttles.
Moonlight track around the back of ben lomond / queenstown is a great ride but go arthurs point to moke lake for the better flow/DH.
7 Mile reserve in QT and Sticky Forest in Wanaka are both great rabbit warrens of trails and there is a newish place called Welcome Rock as well which is supposed to be pretty good nearer to Kingston (near QT). Rabbit Ridge in the Gibston Valley is pants, would steer clear of that if i were you, but the winery and cheesery there is amaze-balls.
Further up the west coast there is the recently completed Old Ghost Road. Looks epic if you are in to bike-packy type stuff. I've only ridden both ends of it as it was still under construction when i left.
Heaphy track and queen charlotte track also nice multi-day trips if that floats your boat.
Loads of other stuff... just ask the locals. they're all incredibly nice and helpful.
Oh, and craigieburn! definitely go ride there! Epic! and Nelson has some world class riding... although sadly i don't know the area all that well... again, just get in touch with the local mountain bike club
Rotorua
Timber trail
Taupo
Wellington great riding now, brilliant
Wakamarina nr havelock
Nelson variants inc copper mine, peaking ridge
Kill devil
Rameka
Chch
Craigieburn
Stavely and wharfdale
Wanaka
Roaring Meg/speargrass
Queenstown
That should keep you busy !
All the obvious spots have been listed but -
Nelson seems to have been eclipsed over the last 10 years but there's a great scene there - have a look at the old Dirt films to give you an idea- some great dh and xc routes - get a copy of the Kennet bros. book - it's pretty comprehensive lists the kilddevil (hated that ****er), third house Peking ridge etc mentioned above.
I spent a month riding round there - loved it.
Port hills around Christchurch are great - haven't been since the quake but I hear things are ticking over quite well and the community is strong as ever - get to some of the hike shops as there's always regular rides out. While you're there you might want to consider an hour's drive to Methven to ride Mt (s)Hutt as there's some nice bits up there (was on their enduro stage race)
You'll love it, won't want to come home.
Gosh was it 5 years ago are you sure!!!probably not the best place to visit due to the earthquake a couple of years ago
What a daft thing to say....?
Ok have friends in Christchurch and they keep us updated and everything is very slow moving reconstruction wise! came close to moving out there found the place very dull and to english 🙂
If you are serious then get your hands on these two books.
http://www.kennett.co.nz/product/classic-nz-mtb-rides-north-and-south/
Best place to start. Most of the classic spots have been covered already but I would get your hands on a decent size station wagon and just Road trip. Use the books to get a bit off the beaten track. There are loads of very good quality hostels and lodges in every town for cost effective accommodation.
Buy a copy of the Kennetts brothers guide to mountain biking NZ, loads of ideas as smashit suggested. Plus, if you are down in the south island go to Alexandra, unbelievably good trails there built by a local trail building genius. Dry, dusty, rocky and terrifying! For a small town there are 2 bike shops and the main pub has a bike shed which the local Wednesday night riders all meet up in for huge bowls of free chips. Awesome place.
+1 for Alex. I've put my thoughts down many times, have a search through the forums.
Rotorua for a couple of days but gets samey after that
Wellington for lots of varied trails in and around a vibrant city
Nelson/ malborough area: whites bay, wakamarina, nydia track, fringe hill, 491, dun mtn, rameka and killdevil. Caveats, some of these are back country and technical
Chch: ports hills for a day, double de CĂ©line, wharfedale track and craigiburn
Wanaka and Queenstown as others mention
Don't underestimate driving time
Have fun
There's Woodhill mountain bike park not far from Auckland which is a good place to start. plus another vote for Alexandra. Great trails there.
There is a new bike park near Christchurch opening up.
Depends how much you like gravity....
Rotorua for a couple of days but gets samey after that
Wellington for lots of varied trails in and around a vibrant city
You can extend is a lot if you like the more local trails.. I'd expect some new stuff for ews and the Skyline has added more if you like fun blacks. Add in rainbow Mountain and something like morangi for a point to point day (see Ed at planet bike for that) food and drink zippys and brew.
Not made it south yet.
Plenty of good suggestions here - re ChCh lived there for 9 months - the xc mtb is excellent but not worth visiting on such a limited time scale IMHO - its like a welsh trail centre but with less kitty litter and more rocks. Similar elevations - i.e. 400 m ish.
Queenstown and wanaka were my favourite for xc riding. Even hired some DH bikes and lapped the gondola - not really my thing.
I can see why Rotorua gets attention but too trail centre not enough scenery (and the smell!) There are some fun trails around hammer springs and then a natural hot spring at the end of the ride - hard to beat. Good stop off point heading south.
Very jealous, its a fabulous country and great riding - but IMHO if you remove the other side of the world mystique its not as good as european Alps.