How to plan a biking trip to the New Zealand’s Southern Lakes and Central Otago regions

18.09.2023 - 19:33 / lonelyplanet.com

In Lonely Plan-It, we take you step by step through how we planned some of the most complicated travel adventures. Here, Craig McLachlan explains how to make the most out of your biking adventure to this South Pacific paradise’s deep south.

New Zealand has gone mad for cycling, with off-road, unpaved, purpose-built bike trails now found throughout the country.

Enthusiasts can thank a government initiative to attract international visitors, get Kiwis out on their bikes to explore their own backyard and to re-energize struggling rural regions. While there are now 23 spectacular “Great Rides” (Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails), the absolute highlights are down south around the Southern Lakes resorts of Queenstown and Wanaka, and in nearby Central Otago.

Cycling is possible all year long, so think through what works best for you.

When considering your trip, keep in mind two factors: that New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, meaning the seasons are opposite to the northern half of the globe, and that it gets colder the further south you go. The Southern Lakes and Central Otago region’s hub is Queenstown, latitude 45°S – halfway between the equator and the South Pole. (This is the equivalent of southern France and northern Oregon in the northern hemisphere.)

While Queenstown and Wanaka are ski resorts, there’s seldom snow at lake level, even in mid-winter. This means that most of the day-trip bike trails are accessible year-round – though locals consider the warmer months of the year (October to April) prime biking season. Queenstown Airport receives direct international flights from Australia; the region is particularly popular during the New Zealand and Australian summer school holidays in December and January. Book accommodation and flights well ahead if visiting in these months. 

February, March and April are the ideal months to visit, with local families back at work and school. Even better, there’s warm, settled weather in February and March, plus stunning autumn colors in April.

All you need is a suitcase with the right clothes for riding. 

New Zealand is a long way from anywhere, and virtually all international visitors arrive in these remote islands by plane. There’s no need to take your own bike: Queenstown, Wanaka and the Central Otago towns of Cromwell and Clyde have everything visiting cyclists could require. Rental outlets offer both off-road e-bikes and regular cycles, while outdoor stores stock everything you could possibly need while out on the trails. In short, all you need to pack is the appropriate clothing.

An abundance of routes is yours to explore.  

If the idea of staying in an internationally renowned, year-round resort and mixing in your biking with a huge variety of other