NZ Great Rides: the best cycle trails and how to plan them

New Zealand has built one of the best networks of cycle trails in the world. The 23 Great Rides, promoted by Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails network, follow old railway lines, river gorges, lake shores and backcountry tracks. Some are flat enough for a first-time rider; others are serious mountain bike adventures.

This guide compares all 23 rides, picks the best easy and multi-day options, and covers bike hire and transport. Distances, times and grades are from Ngā Haerenga as at November 2026.

How the grades work

Ngā Haerenga grades every ride on a five-step scale. Pick by the hardest grade you are happy with, not the average:

Each ride page on Ngā Haerenga’s site shows the grade and how long most people take, and some rides mix grades along their length. If you are unsure, start lower than you think and ride a short section first.

The Queen Charlotte Track’s own site describes its advanced sections as having long, steep climbs, narrow track, poor traction and obstacles that are difficult to avoid, which gives you a feel for grade 4.

All 23 Great Rides compared

Easy rides for beginners and families

If you have not ridden for years, start with a ride graded Easiest. There are five:

• Otago Central Rail Trail, 152 km, 1 to 5 days. The classic: wide gravel on an old railway, with tunnels and viaducts. The trail’s trust says most riders average about 10 km/h. See our Otago Central Rail Trail guide.
• Hauraki Rail Trail, 160 km, 1 to 5 days, in the North Island’s Waikato and Coromandel area. Good if you are starting from Auckland.
• Hawke’s Bay Trails, 177 km, 1 to 4 days. The trails’ site calls it nearly 200 km of easy to intermediate riding through vineyards and along the coast. Our Hawke’s Bay guide covers the wineries.
• Clutha Gold, 135 km, 2 to 4 days, in Central Otago.
• Twin Coast, 87 km, 2 days, in Northland.

Rides graded Easy add a little more climbing but are still fine for most people, especially on an e-bike. The short Roxburgh Gorge (21 km) and Lake Dunstan (41 km, 5 to 8 hours) rides are good one-day options in Central Otago, and the Queenstown Trail (138 km) lets you ride sections between Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston.

Insider tip: ride an Easiest trail first, even if you are fit. A day on a bike seat is harder than it looks, and an easy ride tells you how many hours a day you actually enjoy before you commit to something bigger.

Multi-day rides

For a real cycling holiday, these are the big ones:

• Alps 2 Ocean, 315 km, up to 7 days, Intermediate. The longest Great Ride, from the Southern Alps towards the coast.
• Mountains to Sea, 231 km, up to 6 days, Intermediate, in the central North Island.
• Tasman’s Great Taste, 200 km, up to 4 days, Easy, around Nelson and Tasman. Pairs well with the Abel Tasman.
• Around the Mountains, 186 km, 3 to 5 days, Intermediate, in Southland.
• West Coast Wilderness, 133 km, 4 to 5 days, Easy, on the West Coast.
• Queen Charlotte, 73.5 km, 2 to 3 days, Intermediate, in the Marlborough Sounds. Our Marlborough Sounds guide covers the track pass and water taxis.

For experienced mountain bikers, the Old Ghost Road (85 km) and Waikato River Trails (104 km) are both graded Advanced.

Bike hire

You do not need to bring a bike to New Zealand. Most popular trails have local hire companies with bikes, e-bikes and support. As an example, Trail Journeys in Central Otago charges from $40 for a child’s bike to $230 for a dual suspension bike as at November 2026, and says it runs regular shuttles and offers back-up if something goes wrong.

On the Otago Central Rail Trail, the trust says local tour planners can book your accommodation, bike hire, luggage transfers and shuttles as one package. The Hawke’s Bay Trails site also lists hire companies and guided tours.

Helmets are compulsory for cyclists on New Zealand roads, and hire bikes come with one.

E-bikes have changed who can ride these trails. They make long days and hills far easier, so a 60 km day on a rail trail becomes a relaxed one. They are popular, so book early: Trail Journeys notes its e-bikes are subject to availability. Check the battery range against your longest day, and ask whether your accommodation lets you charge overnight.

Getting bikes and yourself to the trails

Most trail starts are in small towns, so you need a plan for getting there and back.

• Hire company shuttles. The simplest option. Many hire companies drop you at the start and collect you at the end.
• Your own vehicle. Hire a car or campervan with a bike rack and use shuttles to return to it.
• Ferries. Interislander and Bluebridge carry bikes on the Cook Strait crossing. RealNZ’s Stewart Island ferry charges $35 one way for a bike and $55 for an e-bike as at November 2026. On the Queen Charlotte Track, water taxis carry bikes and luggage between bays.

Our campervan vs car and motels guide helps you decide which suits a cycling trip.

When to ride

Summer and autumn are the most popular times, with long days for big distances. Spring brings fresh growth and fewer riders but more changeable weather. Winter riding is possible on lowland trails, and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust publishes advice on it, but some businesses close or cut their hours. Whenever you go, carry layers, a rain jacket, water and a basic repair kit, and book accommodation early for summer weekends and school holidays.