You’ll imagine New Zealand as your natural paradise, surrounded by high-altitude peaks, fresh air, spectacular beaches and a fertile landscape. New Zealand is an active landscape at all levels. The proud Kiwis, lovers of its wild land, have developed a tourism sector based on the epic Natural Beauty and a tourism sector that will continue long-lasting conservation and certainly inspire admiration. For cyclists, the land of long white clouds provides a utopian playground offering various rides and riding abilities.
Bay of Plenty
It has many different terrains, from coastal to mountain terrain. Whakatane is located near the coast. Forest-covered Mountain biking trails are nearby! Mountain bike enthusiasts should stay in Whakatane and book several nights – it’s a must. Onepu Recreational Park features relaxing paths while the Whirinaki Mountain biking tracks take around 2-3 hours to navigate. For an intense and demanding challenge, you can complete the Moerangis Track within seven hours but you can split this into several days in an outdoor hut. Find a more detailed description of hiking in Whakatane. Travel to Rotorua’s thermal city to see many trails in Redwood forests.
Gisborne
The Motu Trail at the border of the Bays of Plenty and Eastlands is mountain biking instead of downhill mountain biking. When looking for stunning views of forests, dunes and farms, then the Motu hiking trail is for you. Opotiki is an area where people mostly stay to walk trails. The trails are possible to combine for an adventurous trip. The Dunes Trail provides easy access to dunes offering stunning views of the sea. The Muku Highway trail has been abandoned as it has a variety of downhill trails The track in Pikawa was the most advanced selection, mostly due to the drop in certain parts of the tracks.
Queenstown
Queenstown is home to some of New Zealand’s best off-road riding. There are many different trails to choose from depending on what kind of rider you are looking for. If you want to go fast and have lots of jumps then the Kawarau River Trail is perfect. You can ride along the river for about 8km before hitting the first jump. After that, the trail goes straight downhill for another 5km until you hit the second jump. Then it starts going uphill again for another 6km until you reach the end at the top of the valley.
Redwoods
Trail options include abundant fantastic singletrack, exciting volcano landscapes, and getting packed with tourists. Much was written about the iconic Rotorua Mountain bike trail. It’s probably the most enjoyable ride in New Zealand and has the oldest mountain biking network in the region. The trails are well designed, the riding terrain is impeccable & the terrain is varied for miles (160 km – exactly). Several MTB tracks are separated by riding areas.
Central Otago
Central Otago is home to the world-famous Routeburn Track. This track is over 100km long and takes between 4 and 10 days to complete. It is considered one of the best multi-day hikes in the world. The track is not only great for hiking but also for cycling. Once you finish the hike, you can continue on the cycle route. This cycle route is much easier than the hiking route and takes around 2 days to complete.
Wanaka
Wanaka is known for its beautiful lakeside scenery and stunning views. It is also home to the famous Wanaka Bike Park. The park offers a wide range of trails for beginners to experts. If you are a beginner, start on the Beginner Trails. These trails are flat and easy to learn how to control your bike. As you get more confident, move on to the Intermediate Trails. These trails have bigger jumps and drops than the Beginner Trails. Finally, if you feel ready, try the Expert Trails. These trails have even bigger jumps and drops than those on the Intermediate Trails.
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland is home to some of the most unique landscapes in New Zealand. One of the most popular activities in Fiordland is white water rafting. Rafting down the Class III rapids of the Buller River gives you a true adrenaline rush! Another adventure activity in Fiordland is kayaking. Kayaking gives you the chance to explore the fiords and look for wildlife.
Nelson Lakes District
The Nelson Lakes District is home to Lake Manapouri. This lake is surrounded by mountains covered in native bush and grasslands. Fishing is a popular pastime here and visitors can rent fishing equipment. Other activities in the area include horse riding, walking, swimming, and sailing.