So you’re in New Zealand and you think to yourself, “this would be a mighty fine place to explore by bike,” and you would be absolutely correct. Turns out you’re far from the only person to have that thought, which means you’ll find NZ is home to an excellent array of local cycle tour operators who are itching to show you their glorious part of the world by bike.

There are world-class mountain bike trails that draw expert level riders from around the world, but you need not be a Lycra-clad powerhouse to enjoy traversing New Zealand by bike. The two-island country has a huge diversity of trails and tours, and has room for all abilities within its shores. With the ever-increasing popularity of e-bikes, there’s also the opportunity to explore further for longer and with more confidence for those new to bicycle touring. The options are endless.

We’ve pulled together a selection of the finest tours on offer, ranging from pumping MTB to leisurely family cycling, to indulgent food or wine forays on two wheels. The best cycling tours in New Zealand range from just a few days to several weeks, so you’ll be sure to find something to match your schedule, tickle your fancy, and enhance your enjoyment of this wonderful country.

North Island NZ's Best Cycling Tours

1. Timber Trail and friends – 5 Days

Experience the best off-road riding the Central North Island has to offer on a fully supported, 5-day guided trip riding Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest Loop, some sections of the Waikato River Trail and the Great Lakes Trails and finishing with the iconic Timber Trail.

The tour starts and ends in Rotorua, in the centre of New Zealand and is a wonderful way to explore the North Island by bike.

2. Popular Rides Hawke’s Bay – 5 Days

Visit Hawke’s Bay on a self-guided bike tour of delightful flat, off-road trails that run through this picturesque region. Mixing coastal views with agricultural, vineyard, and estuary settings, you’ll be spoilt for choice over the five days, with plenty of things to see and do along the way.

Hawkes Bay / Napier Airport (NPE) is just 10 minutes away from the tour’s start and end points in Napier.

Take your pick and enjoy this peaceful cycle tour of NZ of a brilliant network of coastal paths in this famous wine-producing region.

3. Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay Back Roads – 7 Days

Bike along purpose-built cycleways, quiet rural roads and easy unsealed trails with picturesque postcard views through wine country, farmland and forest, also incorporating Hawke's Bay along the way.

Riding from/to Wellington, the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay Backroads tour is graded introductory. The trails are not technical but you will need to be comfortable riding on a mix of dedicated cycle paths, sealed back roads and unsealed trails.

South Island NZ’s Best Cycling Tours

4. Wine Trail Magic Marlborough – 5 Days

Next up is a delightful, leisurely exploration of the Marlborough wine region, centering around Blenheim, via e-bike. This five-day, self-guided tour is low on kilometers and made all the more pleasant by the assistance of an electric bike as your faithful steed. With light legs you can truly make the most of enjoying the breathtaking scenery, the legendary wine, and excellent five-star accommodations.

The tour starts and ends in Blenheim, Marlborough. Marlborough / Woodbourne Airport (BHE) is a 20-minute flight from Wellington International Airport (WLG) and a five-minute drive to Blenheim. You can also fly into Koromiko Airport (PCN), halfway between Picton and Blenheim. Interisland ferries from the North Island of New Zealand arrive regularly in Picton, which is a 20- minute car ride from Blenheim. Buses and trains arrive regularly in Blenheim.

5. Tour de Great Taste Trail from Nelson – 6 Days

This fully guided bike tour takes you along one of the great cycling trails of NZ. The Great Taste Trail follows Tasman coastline along the top of the South Island near Nelson, heading west to Abel Tasman National Park. This gorgeous region is explored by the off-road, mostly flat, coastal cycling trail with plenty of diversions along the way. Throw in some lovely local wineries, a day in Abel Tasman park, terrific cuisine and lodgings, and you have yourself a six-day tour extraordinaire.

The tour starts and ends in Nelson, where there’s an airport on the edge of the town (Nelson Airport – NSN) and regular flights with Air New Zealand from all the major cities in NZ. Driving is also an option, with a scenic drive from Christchurch (416 kms / 258 miles), so probably worth a stopover en route, or arrive via the inter-island ferry taking you over the Cook Strait from Wellington on the North Island to lovely Picton on the South Island.

6. Alps to Ocean Classic – 6 Days

Discover an iconic cycle trail of NZ's South Island, the glorious Alps to Ocean (A2O) trail. This picturesque trail winds through the vivid landscape from Mount Cook's towering peak through valleys and past turquoise lakes out to the Pacific at the east coast town of Oamaru.

Enjoy a fully-guided adventure of the A2O on this tour, beginning and ending in central Christchurch - fly in/out of Christchurch Airport (CHC). Shorter versions of this tour and exclusive e-bike only tours are also available.

7. Southern Alps Epic – 8 Days

The southern cousin of the previous MTB tour, this awesome, guided mountain biking tour explores the sublime South’s MTB hotspots from the top (Nelson) to Queenstown. You’ll be overwhelmed by the mighty scenery, variety of superb biking options, and all round epic-ness of this adventurers’ playground.

Nelson Airport (NSN) is a domestic-only terminal whereas Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) offers both international and domestic flights. 

BONUS BUY: For those with a bit more time, money, and extra underwear, the exceptional Queenstown MTB Gravity Camp tour caters for those wanting to explore the best biking of this renowned adventure capital, whilst also gaining some new skills and honing existing ones. Why not jump on a plane from Christchurch to Q'town and discover what all the fuss is about. It's worth it, we promise you!

8. South Island by Bike – 8 days

Ride 5 of the South Island's best trails over 8 days on this guided gem. Running from/to Christchurch, you'll hit the iconic Alps to Ocean trail first, then head further south to bike the stunning Lake Dunstan Trail, winding through a deep gorge and past world-class vineyards.  Next, you'll head to the original 'Great Ride', the Otago Central Rail Trail, then onto the Roxburgh Gorge trail which includes an exhilarating jet boat transfer, and finally into Queenstown to cycle some of the lovely rides there - including the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown and the surrounding trails.  Fly in/out of Christchurch International Airport (CHC).