Over the past five to ten years, New Zealand has slowly transformed into a paradise for bikers. There are now 22 so-called Great Rides (the biking equivalent to the Great Walks) and their connecting Heartland Routes which means you could ride the length of New Zealand.

Of the following NZ cycle trails, some are part of the Great Rides and some aren’t. What they all have in common is that they’re unique, scenic and most of them can easily be tackled as long as you have a moderate fitness level. All of the rides have the possibility to hire a bike near the trail and/or offer shuttle buses. There really are no excuses not to try cycling New Zealand.

Scroll down to see a collection of blogger’s favourite New Zealand bike rides.

Stunning NZ Cycle Trails For Riders Of Any Fitness Level

North Island

Coromandel Town to Colville

There’s no better way to explore the more remote parts of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island than by electric bicycle.

It is a rugged part of New Zealand, but don’t let that put you off.  There are well-marked trails and with the arrival of electric mountain bikes, the hills aren’t anywhere near as challenging as they look.

One of them is the ride along the trail above Coromandel Town down to Colville.  The ride is about 18 kilometres. The first part of the ride is along well-marked forest trails.  The last part is along the sealed road into Colville. 

Along the way, take a quiet break at the Mahamudra Buddhist Centre for Universal Unity.  You can’t miss it, just look out for the huge stupa (shrine)in front of the retreat.  

Part of the ride is across private property, with a locked gate at the boundary of the property.  Bush eBikes in Coromandel hire out top-shelf e-mountain bikes (e-MTBs) and have permission for their customers to ride across this private property.  They will also arrange for you to be picked up from Colville if you don’t feel like the ride back to town.

Colville has a character all of its own.  The Coromandel Peninsula was home to a number of hippy communes during the Flower Power era of the 1960s and 1970s.  The communes have all gone, but Colville still retains a wonderful old-world feel to it.  

Stop at the Hereford ‘n’ a Pickle Café for great coffee and burger to celebrate the completion of this unique bicycle ride.

By Keith of Travellin’ Lite

Hauraki Rail Trail, Coromandel

The beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, in the north of New Zealand, is home to stunning coastline, rolling hills, great food and of course, friendly locals. It also features a variety of awesome hikes and bike trails, all of which are a great way to get out and about and experience the best this region has to offer.

One of the best all-round bike trails is the famous Hauraki Rail Trail. As the name suggests, the trail follows historic railway tracks along a 197-kilometre route which would usually take anywhere from 2-5 days to complete; however, it can also be broken down into five smaller sections, easily be completed in day rides. This Grade-One trail is fairly flat throughout and suits all ages and fitness levels, making it the perfect trip for a family. 

You can experience a variety of landscapes on this trail, including rustic farmland, heritage towns, forests, wetlands, waterfalls and even the famous Karangahake gorge. The final section of the trail, recently opened in 2019, allows riders to venture to Matamata, home of the Hobbiton set. 

Along the way you will find a host of amenities, as well as plenty of cafes, restaurants, shops and even a winery. There are also shuttle options and bike hire along the way, for those who want flexibility. 

This trail is open year-round, and begins in the seaside town of Kaiaua, south of Auckland. A perfect ride for everyone, Hauraki Rail Trail is not to be missed!

By Jenna of I Know The Pilot

The Great Lake Walkway, Taupo

If you’re looking for a two-wheeled adventure to get out of the house, get some exercise to keep fit and enjoy nature, a bike ride on Lake Taupo is a fantastic place to be outdoors.

The Great Lake Walkway is an easy bike ride tour along Lake Taupo through to 5 Mile Bay that you can do by yourself, with a friend or partner, or with your kids.

It’s a flat ride the whole way which allows you to take in the spectacular views of the lake and mountains in the distance. And at around 20km, young kids can join you for a great family day out in the sun.

And of course, you don’t need to do the full 20km… so you can leave the Red Bull at home for this ride!

The ride can be enjoyed all year round as long as you have suitable clothing for the winter chills coming of the Lake.

I rode the track in October so the temperature was almost perfect, not too hot, not too cold. Then the next day we headed up to Mt Ruapehu for some skiing.

Lake Taupo has it all if you’re into nature and stunning scenery, with a relaxed small-town atmosphere to make it the perfect place to enjoy a bike ride or any type of fitness activity.

By Matt of Exercises.com.au

Old Coach Road, Ohakune (Tongariro)

Most people visiting Tongariro mainly hike the Tongariro Crossing or maybe go skiing in Winter. Not many know that there’s a lovely, not too hard 15km mountain bike ride nearby. The Old Coach Road follows, as the name reveals, the old railway line and what used to be the connecting line between Wellington and Auckland. 

A shuttle brings you and your bikes from Ohakune to the trail start in Horopito. From there, it will take you around 2.5 - 3 hours to ride back to town through native bush, over an old railway viaduct and past many signs that tell the local history. There are some ups and some downs but neither is overly steep or technical.

If you’re not that used to biking and don’t have a full-suspension bike, your bum might go a bit numb along the way as you jolt over countless cobblestones from back in the day. The lovely half-day bike ride’s well worth it, though. 

By Alex of Discover Aotearoa 

South Island

Alps 2 Ocean, Mount Cook

The Alps 2 Ocean, or A2O as it is commonly known, is a challenging but incredibly rewarding cycling trail through the Mackenzie Basin and down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru on the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. There are two starting points for the ride; the official one is from Mt Cook Village and involves a helicopter flight across the Tasman River, the alternate starting point is from the banks of Lake Tekapo.

The A2O is an easy to intermediate trail that covers a distance of 300km and can be completed in either 4 (only for the certifiably insane), 6 or 8 days.

You ride through some truly magnificent countryside where you are treated to stunning views of Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau. The most challenging day of the ride, from Lake Ohau to Omarama, takes you up to the Tarnbrae highpoint where your hard work is rewarded with stunning panoramic views across the basin to the Ben Ohau Range.

As an added bonus, Narnia fans will have the opportunity (just after Duntroon) to ride through the site used for Aslan’s Camp in the filming of the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.

By Susan of Thrifty Over Fifty

Heaphy Track

The Heaphy Track is a 78 km picturesque wonderland located in the Kahurangi National Park between Golden Bay (the top of the South Island) and Kohaihai on the West Coast. Every section of the track is full of absolutely breathtaking scenery and unique wildlife. The Golden Bay end is decorated in stunning red and silver beech trees and tiny orchards. The middle of the track is open with rolling red tussock, flax and shrubs and home to the forbidden forest! The West Coast part of the track is perhaps my favourite covered in nikau palms, vine forests, stunning white sanded beaches and has an amazing subtropical feel. The track is home to various birdlife including weka, tui, bellbird, wood pigeon and cheeky robins to name a few.

The Heaphy Track is open for biking from 1 May to 30 November and available for hiking all year round. The track is well-formed and easy for walkers but there are numerous swing and suspension bridges and some rough track on the West Coast side which can be challenging for bikers. Biking usually takes between 1 -2 days and hiking the Heaphy Track can take anywhere from 3-6.

By Lee-Ann of Bee Free With Lee

Cycle Marlborough Wineries

Exploring wineries by bicycle near Blenheim in the Marlborough wine region is an idyllic way to spend the day. If you are visiting New Zealand and don’t have your own bicycle, Bike 2 Wine offers comfortable and well-maintained bikes that you can rent and take on a self-guided day trip to the wineries around Renwick. This cycling adventure is definitely doable for visitors with an average level of fitness. The distance between vineyards is not too far (between 10 - 30 minutes at a leisurely pace) and the roads in the area are flat and quiet. If you visit on a hot day, the journey may test your endurance but, silver linings, renting bicycles from Bike 2 Wine comes with a pick-up service if you find yourself more interested in one more glass of wine than cycling back to their office in Renwick town. How much ground can you expect to cover in a day? Plan to visit two wineries in the morning then stop for a leisurely lunch and visit one more winery in the afternoon. We visited Forrest Wines, Wairau River, and Bladen Wines punctuated with a trip to Allan Scott Winery for a leisurely three-course gourmet lunch.

By Jennifer (aka Dr. J) of Sidewalk Safari

Moke Lake bike ride, Queenstown

 A 20-minute drive from Queenstown lies the stunning Moke Lake, offering serious Middle Earth vibes. A top recommendation from me would be to visit Moke Lake in the early evening, this is when the light is typically 'just right' and you can catch the magical reflections of the mountains on the lakes' surface.  

Part of the appeal for Moke Lake is the drive in: Rolling green hills and depending on the season, you may spot several baby lambs. The road is mostly unsealed, so, you will need to drive slowly to avoid scaring the cows, sheep and other farm animals dotted along the hillside. Worth noting is that Moke Lake is not accessible by public transport. 

Thankfully, you can park easily at the large car park next to the Lake before taking off on your bike ride.  

The bike track is a loop track, taking approximately 90 minutes in total. The track starts at the carpark, takes you across a short wooden bridge and then onto the track itself. I would class the Moke Lake bike track as relatively easy, with just a few short uphill climbs. The track can be very narrow in parts, so it is worth taking your time on the few sharp corners, especially considering this track is shared with hikers.  

Make sure to take your camera with you for this bike ride, as I promise you will be stopping regularly to shoot the breathtaking scenery. 

At the end of your bike ride, why not take a dip in Moke Lakes icy water to cool down? Moke Lake is also a campsite, operated by the Department of Conservation. If you have time, I highly recommend spending the night here. The night skies at Moke Lake are spectacular, and it is in fact classed as a Dark Sky Reserve.

By Aimee of Snap Happy Travel

Otago Central Rail Trail, Middlemarch to Clyde

Most visitors to New Zealand’s South Island picture towering, snow-capped mountains and dozens of waterfalls streaming down the fjords of Milford Sound. But a unique landscape sits in the middle of the island: the desert region of the Central Otago Valley.

The Central Otago Valley is best known for its famous wines. For the more adventurous, you can rent a bike and explore some of the region’s scenery and history on the Central Otago Rail Trail. The area was first established during the New Zealand gold rush of the mid-1800s and the railroad was built to transport mining supplies and gold. Once gold mining fell out of favour, the railway fell into disuse.

In 1990 the government converted the ageing railway into a bike path, which is now enjoyed by over fifteen thousand people per year. Visitors can choose distances ranging from half-day to multi-day rides, but fortunately, most segments of the trail are almost entirely flat (since it was easiest to build the rail lines that way).

Along the way, make sure to look up from your handlebars to catch the beauty of the Central Otago Valley. You’ll see rolling hills, plenty of sheep and birds, fun railway tunnels and fascinating historical markers. Take your time! Exploring by bike offers a wonderful balance of slowing down while still seeing lots of places.

By Melissa of The Family Voage

And what’s your favourite NZ cycle trail? Let me know in the comments below or message me!