4 Day
Queenstown to Central Otago
Bike Tour
Ride the Queenstown Trails, Kawarau Gorge Trail, Lake Dunstan & Roxburgh Gorge Trails on our most popular 4 day cycling adventure
Distance
162kms
Duration
4 Days
Grade 2-3
Easy-Intermediate
DAY 1 - Queenstown Trails
Queenstown to Gibbston - 44km - 4/5hrs
Distance: 44kms
Duration: 4/5hrs
Grade: 2-3 Easy-Intermediate
Your day begins at the Queenstown Bike Hire Shop, or we meet you at your accommodation.
We fit your bike for you and make sure you have everything you need for your ride.
Queenstown to Arthurs Point
Leaving the shop, you follow the Arthurs Point Trail as it leaves central Queenstown via Gorge Road, passing wetlands and quiet neighbourhoods on the way to scenic Arthurs Point.
Arthurs Point to Arrowtown
From here, continue on the Wharehuanui Trail, a gentle ride along the Coronet Peak foothills with wide rural views before rolling through Mill Creek Reserve to Millbrook Resort for a well‑earned drink or snack.
Or, take the more adventurous route which includes the Shotover Gorge Trail through tunnels and over suspension bridges onto the Countryside Trail.
Stop in Arrowtown for lunch
Finish the morning rolling into historic Arrowtown, where charming streets, boutique shops, cafés, and the Chinese Miners Village make for a stop.
Arrowtown to the wineries (Gibbston)
In the afternoon continue your journey towards Gibbston, the valley of the wineries. From Arrowtown the trail follows the tranquil Arrow River before crossing the dramatic Southern Discoveries suspension bridge and winding along quiet country paths to Morven Ferry Road.
Stop at the Bungy Bridge
Continue on toward the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge where you can brave a jump or watch others plunge toward the river below.
Explore the wineries
From there, the ride eases into the Gibbston River Wine Trail, taking you through one of New Zealand’s premier wine‑growing regions with sweeping views over the Kawarau River and opportunities to stop at several wineries.
Stop for the night
Enjoy a relaxed dinner at one of the wineries or Gibbston Tavern, and then head to your accommodation for the night to get a good rest, ready for your next day of cycling adventures.
* FREE pick-up from accommodation in Central Queenstown. Additional fees may apply from outside this area.
What's included?
This 4 day package includes
- Bike Hire
- Bike Shuttle
- Accommodation
- Jet Boat Transfer
- Bag Transfers
- Helmet
- Drink Bottle Holder
- Bike Toolkit
- Panniers
- Map
Trail Maps
We’ve created a set of maps to help you along your journey, free to download and use.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
The cost of the package depends on your travel dates, accommodation options and the number of people travelling. Packages start from $1600 per person.
Your package includes e-bike hire, shuttle transport, accommodation, luggage transfers, making it an easy way to experience four of Central Otago’s spectacular cycle trails without having to organise all the logistics yourself.
This 4-day cycling package includes everything you need for a hassle-free cycling holiday, including:
- E-bike hire
- Four days of cycling
- Shuttle transport to and from the trails
- Accommodation in Gibbston, Cromwell and Clyde
- Daily luggage transfers between accommodation
- Helmet
- Panniers
It’s an easy way to experience some of the best cycling in Queenstown and Central Otago without having to organise bikes, accommodation and transport separately.
Over four days you’ll ride through an impressive variety of landscapes, starting in Queenstown and finishing in the dramatic Roxburgh Gorge.
Your trip includes:
- Day 1: Queenstown to Arrowtown and through the Gibbston wine region
- Day 2: Gibbston to Cromwell via the new Kawarau Gorge Trail
- Day 3: Lake Dunstan Trail from Cromwell to Clyde
- Day 4: Roxburgh Gorge Trail, followed by a shuttle back to Queenstown
It’s a great itinerary if you’d like to experience several of the region’s best trails as one multi-day cycling journey rather than tackling them as individual day trips.
This trip is best suited to reasonably confident cyclists.
While there is plenty of relaxed riding, the Lake Dunstan, Kawarau Gorge and Roxburgh Gorge trails include intermediate sections where you’ll encounter climbs, descents and narrower trail.
The new Kawarau Gorge Trail is graded Grade 2-3 and includes a remote backcountry section with no easy exit route, so riders need to be comfortable controlling a bike on varied terrain.
You don’t need to be a highly experienced mountain biker, but you should be a confident cyclist.
An e-bike will make the hills and longer days much easier.
Yes. In fact, an e-bike is an excellent choice for this itinerary, particularly for the Kawarau Gorge and Lake Dunstan sections where there are some climbs.
All our bikes are fitted with batteries that will comfortably have enough range for every day.
Day 1: Queenstown to Gibbston – approx. 44km
Day 2: Kawarau Gorge Trail to Cromwell – approx. 34km
Day 3: Lake Dunstan Trail to Clyde – approx. 41km
Day 4: Roxburgh Gorge Trail – approx. 34km
An e-bike makes the longer distances and climbs much more manageable, leaving you with more energy to enjoy the scenery and stops along the way.
Yes! Day 1 is designed to combine cycling with one of the Queenstown area’s other highlights: the Gibbston wine region.
You’ll cycle from Queenstown through Arrowtown before continuing towards Gibbston, where you’ll have opportunities to stop and enjoy the area’s wineries and cellar doors.
Wine tastings and food are not included in your package, allowing you to choose which wineries you’d like to visit along the way. We’re happy to provide recommendations!
We have selected accommodation in Gibbston, Cromwell and Clyde that works well with the cycling itinerary and luggage transfer service.
If you have particular accommodation requirements or would like to discuss an upgrade, let us know when you enquire and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
Facilities vary considerably from day to day.
Day 1 offers plenty of opportunities for stops around Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston, but the more remote sections of the Kawarau Gorge and Roxburgh Gorge trails have limited facilities. In particular, the middle section of the Kawarau Gorge Trail is a backcountry environment where riders need to be self-sufficient.
We recommend carrying sufficient water and snacks each day, and we’ll provide information about facilities and recommended stops before you set out.
Meals are not included in our packages, giving you the freedom to choose where you’d like to eat along the way. You’ll be staying in Gibbston, Cromwell and Clyde, with a range of cafés, wineries, restaurants and other dining options available throughout your trip.
We’ll provide information about where you can stop for food during your ride. We recommend carrying some snacks and water with you each day, particularly on the more remote trail sections.
You won’t need to carry your main luggage while you’re riding.
Daily bag transfers are included, so your luggage will be collected and transported to your next night’s accommodation. You’ll only need to take what you need while cycling, such as water, snacks, sunscreen, a jacket, phone and camera.
Opening in October 2026, the new Kawarau Gorge Trail creates a cycling connection between the Queenstown Trails at Gibbston and the Central Otago trail network around Cromwell.
The route follows the Kawarau River through the gorge and features impressive trail engineering, including swing bridges and sections constructed around steep gorge walls.
For this particular package, it’s what makes it possible to create a progressive cycling journey from Queenstown through Gibbston and on into Central Otago.
The Kawarau Gorge Trail is a Grade 2-3 trail with significant climbing, and its middle section passes through a remote backcountry environment with no easy alternative exit routes. Riders should be confident on a bike and capable of completing the distance.
An e-bike makes the climbing considerably easier, but riders still need good bike-handling skills.
Yes. Your Roxburgh Gorge boat transfer is organised as part of your package, connecting Doctors Point and Shingle Creek.
It’s not simply a transfer either. The boat journey is one of the highlights of the day, taking you deeper into the gorge and past historic gold-mining sites that can’t be accessed from the trail.
There’s no need to arrange your own return transport.
After completing your final day’s ride on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, our shuttle will collect you and return you to Queenstown.
This makes the trip particularly easy for visitors staying in Queenstown, as you can start your cycling adventure there on Day 1 and have your return journey taken care of on Day 4.
Central Otago conditions can change quickly, so we recommend being prepared for both warm and cool conditions.
Bring:
- Comfortable cycling clothing
- Closed-toe shoes
- Waterproof/windproof jacket
- Warm layer
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Snacks
- Phone
- Any personal medication
We supply
- Helmets
- Drink bottle holder
- A bike toolkit
- Panniers
- Maps
We can also fit SPD pedals if you prefer to ride using these.
The Queenstown and Central Otago region can experience everything from very hot summer days to cool temperatures, wind and rain, sometimes in the same day!
It’s important to be prepared, and we recommend bringing suitable layers of clothing.
Safety comes first. If conditions mean that part of the planned route can’t safely be ridden, we will advise you of any changes and arrange an alternative itinerary or transport where possible.
This four-day trip lets you experience the changing landscapes of Queenstown and Central Otago as one continuous cycling adventure.
You’ll leave Queenstown by bike, travel through historic Arrowtown and the Gibbston wine region, ride the dramatic new Kawarau Gorge Trail into Cromwell, tackle the spectacular Lake Dunstan Trail and finish with the remote scenery of the Roxburgh Gorge.
With your e-bike, accommodation, bag transfers and shuttles organised for you, there’s no need to coordinate multiple day trips or return to Queenstown every evening.
You simply keep riding towards your next destination.
Customer reviews
Why riders love this trip
Why ride with us?
We're local, we've hired bikes here since the eighties, and we focus on the best possible day out for every rider.
Local experience
40+ years
Happy riders
15,000+
Rated by customers
4.9 ★
Local team
100%
Bikes & gear
Premium
Committed
to sustainability
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