Mountain biking in New Zealand offers some of the best trails and scenery in the world. With purpose-built trail networks, alpine terrain, rainforests, and a strong riding culture, it offers something for every type of rider. You’ll love it here: from bike park downhill laps to backcountry adventures. In this guide we’ll focus on three places that are iconic riding destinations: Queenstown, Nelson, and Rotorua.
What makes New Zealand special isn’t just the trails. It’s the combination of:
- Professionally built trail systems that are maintained daily with local trail orgs
- Incredible scenery everywhere: from volcanic forests to alpine peaks
- Rider-friendly towns with strong bike culture
- Easy logistics once you’re on the ground.
If it’s your first time bringing a bike or planning a trip here, this guide covers everything you need to know—including bringing your bike, renting options, and where to ride in the three biggest MTB destinations: Queenstown, Nelson, and Rotorua.
Things to Know
Taking your Bike? Biosecurity is strict (but manageable)
New Zealand takes biosecurity extremely seriously to protect its ecosystems. Any outdoor gear, including bikes, must be completely clean before arrival. Soil, seeds, or organic matter can result in inspection, cleaning fees, or fines.
| Packing your bike: | At the airport: |
|---|---|
| Wash your bike thoroughly | Declare your bike honestly |
| Clean tires, chain, cassette, and derailleur (and I mean really clean) | Expect biosecurity inspection |
| Remove dirt inside frame pivots and fork crown | If traveling with more than 1 bike, offer up the one that is the cleanest first. |
| Clean shoes, helmet, and pads | If clean, you’ll pass quickly |
| Clean your bike bag or case | If dirty and your honest about everything, they’ll clean it before release with no fine. |
Flying with eBikes and Batteries
This is where things get complicated. Most airlines do NOT allow large lithium e-bike batteries in cargo due to safety regulations. Your best option is the rent a battery.
This is common practice in New Zealand and widely supported by bike shops. We reached out to a company in Auckland and they were going to rent us a battery for $500NZ for 3 months. Not a bad deal to have your own bike with you. Email shops in advance with:
- Bike brand and model
- Motor type (Bosch CX, Shimano EP8, etc.)
- Battery model and capacity
- Dates needed
Bike Parks in NZ vs. Bike Parks elsewhere
If you’re coming from North America, your mental model of a bike park probably involves chairlifts, gondolas, lift lines, and lift tickets. Places like Whistler define what most riders think of as a “bike park.”
While lift-access bike parks do exist (Coronet Peak and Cardrona) many of the best “bike parks” in New Zealand are actually privately operated trail networks that use vehicle shuttles instead of lifts.
In New Zealand, many bike parks and shuttle zones operate on private forestry land, privately owned farmland, or privately managed trail networks. These trail systems are often built and maintained by local trail organizations or private operators.
Access is usually managed through shuttle fees, trail passes, and membership in the local bike club. This allows trail builders more freedom to create raw, technical, and creative trails compared to resort-managed bike parks.
Trail Grades
One of the first things you’ll notice riding in New Zealand is the trail grading system. It looks familiar at first (green, blue, black) but it doesn’t always ride the same way as North America.
New Zealand uses a national standard grading system managed by Ngā Haerenga (New Zealand Cycle Trails). It’s consistent across the entire country, from Rotorua to Queenstown to Nelson.
| NZ Grade | NZ Color | Symbol | Rough North America Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Green | Green circle | Green |
| Grade 2 | Light Blue | Blue circle | Easy blue / hard green |
| Grade 3 | Medium Blue | Blue square | Intermediate blue |
| Grade 4 | Dark Blue | Blue square (dark) | Advanced blue / easier black |
| Grade 5 | Black | Black diamond | Black / easier double black |
| Grade 6 | Double Black | Double black diamond | Double black / pro line |
Other Major Differences vs. North America
Trails Are Longer and More Sustained
In North America, technical sections are often broken up while in New Zealand, technical riding is often sustained for 20–60 minutes without relief.
Examples:
- Nelson shuttle runs lead to descending 20-30 min.
- Queenstown alpine descents lasting over an hour
- Rotorua links multiple Grade 5 trails continuously
More Natural Terrain, Less Machine & Built Features
Outside of Cornonet, Bike Glendu and parts of Rotorua, trails tend to be more natural.
Expect raw terrain, less sculpted berms, fewer perfectly groomed jump lines, more roots, off-camber sections, and loose surfaces. Rotorua’s volcanic dirt provides incredible grip but roots can be extremely slick when wet. Nelson’s terrain can be loose and technical. Queenstown combines alpine dust, rock, and hardpack.
Each region rides very differently.
If you regularly ride:
- Whistler blacks → Grade 5 trails
- Squamish tech trails → Nelson will feel familiar
- Enduro racing terrain → You’ll love all three areas
- Pro-level bike park trails → You can ride Grade 6 terrain safely
The biggest adjustment is endurance and sustained technical riding, not feature size.
Queenstown: Big Descents, Lift Access, and Endless Vertical
Queenstown riding is spread out from central Queenstown over to Wanaka (Bike Glendu). Take a look at this map to get oriented.
Queenstown is the gravity capital of New Zealand. If you’re coming from Whistler, or any major bike destination, this is where you’ll immediately feel at home but Queenstown has its own personality.
What makes Queenstown unique isn’t just Skyline Bike Park. It’s the vertical scale of riding available. You can descend over 4,000 vertical feet in a single run, linking alpine ridgelines, backcountry singletrack, and bike park terrain into massive descents.
The riding here revolves around three main zones:
Unlike Rotorua, where trails are tightly packed into one forest, Queenstown riding is spread across mountains, valleys, and ridgelines. The terrain is more exposed, more alpine, and often more committing.
Skyline Bike Park: The Heart of Gravity Riding
Skyline Bike Park sits directly above downtown Queenstown and is accessed via gondola, giving you instant access to some of the longest lift-access descents in the Southern Hemisphere. The vertical drop is around 450 meters (1,500 feet) per lap, and you can link trails into much longer descents depending on your route. Trails range from fast jump lines to steep technical tracks.
Compared to Whistler, Skyline is steeper, narrower, and more technical overall. There’s less braking bumps, fewer crowds, and more sustained steep sections.
Favorite Trails/Routes off Skyline:
What’s important to understand with Skyline is that it’s not a bike park but a private company that operates a gondola to access community built and maintained trails. You’ll hear the trails that you can access from the top of the lift referred to as the Ben Lomond Trails, The Skyline Bike Park, and Fernhill Trails.
Coronet Peak and Coronet Loop: Queenstown’s Best Trail Riding
While Skyline gets most of the attention, Coronet Peak offers some of the best trail riding in the region. Don’t let the lack of trails there discourage you. In NZ they focus more on the quality of trails the number of trails. You will not be disappointed. Grab a chairlift to the top of Coronet Peak where you go left to the Dirt Serpant or the DH trail or left to take the easier way down.
Favorite Trails/Routes off Coronet:
This is where Queenstown starts to feel more like an adventure ride rather than a bike park lap.
Queenstown Trail Network/ 7 Mile
The Queenstown Trail network connects Queenstown to Arrowtown, Gibbston Valley, and surrounding areas. This riding is less technical, but incredibly scenic.
It’s perfect for: recovery rides, exploring new areas and/or big mileage days without extreme technical riding. You ride past lakes, rivers, vineyards, and historic towns and there’s even a cave!
7 mile is an xc focused area where you start and end at the beach!
Bike Glendhu (Wanaka): Shuttle-Access Riding with Incredible Scenery
Bike Glendhu, located just outside Wanaka on the shores of Lake Wanaka, is one of the best purpose-built private bike parks in New Zealand. Set on a high-country sheep station, the riding here combines incredibly well-designed trails with some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. From the upper trails, you’re looking out across Lake Wanaka toward the Southern Alps, and nearly every descent delivers uninterrupted views alongside fast, flowing singletrack. You might have heard of the tourist hotpsot hike Roys Peak. At Bike Glendu you get the same views at the top but also get to rip down amazing trails!
Bike Glendhu offers two shuttle options to access the upper mountain. The main shuttle uses vans with bike trailers to transport riders up the access road, providing efficient access to the lower trails. For riders looking to reach the very top of the network without pedaling, reserve the ATV shuttles.
Favorite Trails/Routes off Coronet:
At the base, Velo Café is the perfect place to catch a bit midday or recover after a day of riding. Located right at the trailhead, it offers excellent coffee, food, and outdoor seating. The day we were there food took a long time to come out as they only have 1 oven. So plan accordingly.
Bike Shops in Queenstown
Vertigo Bikes is one of the best shops in town. They offer high-end rentals, service, and local trail advice. They bled my brakes on the spot in 20 min and my bike ran great after.
Alta Bike Shop across the street from Vertigo also saved our trip. We had a technical issue with our transmission derailleur that other shops could not fix (solution was $400+ for a new part) but Alta fixed it on the spot!
Where to Stay in Queenstown
Staying near Skyline allows you to ride directly from your accommodation. Even if you stay in the CBD prepare to pedal your bike up steep hills to get to the Gondola. Many downhill riders drive to the car park next to Skyline.
Best areas:
House on Malaghan Street – We loved where we stayed on Queenstown hill as the view was incredible. In the evenings and morning we just sat and watched the beauty and energy of Queenstown below.
The Dairy Hotel – This will be the best location for Skyline.
LyLo – Budget option right near Skyline and CBD.
Holiday Park – Great option near Cornonet and close to Queenstown if you’re camping or want to stay in a cabin.
Best Places to Eat and Recover
Queenstown has an incredible food scene. We only scratched the surface of where to eat so if you have suggestions please drop them in the comments.
Post-ride highlights include:
- Fergbaker — Ignore the hype and line at Fergburger (it’s not that great) and get a meat pie nextdoor at the bakery.
- Handlebar Eatery – Out of town near the airport this eatery is a local’s favorite and they have amazing huge breakfast sandwiches. The owner is from Los Angeles so if you miss American style breakfast sandwiches with a NZ twist this is your place.
- Saigon Vietnamese — Affordable, authentic and great for the entire family. We had a great meal there.
- Atlas Beer Café — Cute bike themed cafe with lake views
- Patagonia Ice Cream — There’s one in Wanaka and Queenstown. The ice cream is worth the hype here.
- Onsen Hot Pools — Perfect recovery after big riding days near Coronet.
Rotorua: The Most Complete Mountain Bike Destination in New Zealand
Rotorua (Roto) offers the best overall trail riding experience in New Zealand. The Whakarewarewa Forest (Redwoods) trail network is one of the most complete, rideable, and well-designed systems anywhere in the world.
The trails are built in volcanic soil, which drains incredibly well and provides amazing grip year-round. Unlike Queenstown, Rotorua riding is centered in one massive forest network. You can ride for days without repeating the same trails. Roto also has a Skyline Gondola but the trails aren’t as extensive or seem as popular as Queenstown. For this guide we’ll focus on Whakarewarewa.
The density of trails is unmatched as you can see in the image below.
Waipa Car Park: Everything in One Place
Most rides start from the main Redwoods trailhead at the Waipa Car Park. This base area functions as the hub of Rotorua mountain biking. You’ll find parking, trail maps, bathrooms, and most importantly, Mountain Bike Rotorua, the main bike shop located right at the trailhead.
Having a full-service bike shop directly at the trailhead makes logistics extremely easy. You can rent a bike, grab a shuttle pass, and be riding within minutes. There’s also a café and seating area nearby, making it a great place to regroup between laps or meet shuttle pickups.
Whakarewarewa Forest: Endless Trail Combinations
Nearly all the riding is located within Whakarewarewa Forest , a massive trail network just 10 minutes from downtown. What makes Rotorua special isn’t just the quality of the trails, it’s also how easy everything is. The trailheads, bike shops, shuttles, cafes, and recovery spots are all located in one central base area, making it incredibly easy to ride here.
You can build rides ranging from short one-hour sessions to full-day epics.
Popular trails include:
The dirt here is some of the best in the world.
Shuttle Riding in Rotorua
When we first arrived I was confused how the shuttle system works and where to pick it up. Hopefully this explanation helps you. I also noticed the Mountain Bike Rotorua site was recently updated with explanations and images to show 2026 operations.
Overview – The shuttle is first come, first served and operates via a punch card.
Shuttle Card – You can purchase a shuttle card at Mountain Bike Rotorua. I suggest you do this so you can talk with them about where the shuttle picks up and any impacts on the trails. Since they are actively logging in the Forest operations change by the hour. It’s really hard to get a feel for this online. Also the first pickup of the day (around 10am) picks up right outside in the parking lot.
Shuttle Stops – There are shuttle pickups and stops around the forest and, like I said above, this changes daily based on Forestry operations.
In addition you can schedule private shuttles. I highly recommend doing this on one of your first days so you get some guidance on what to ride and can also pack in a lot of riding with the private option. We did a half day Battle Waka shuttle and learned so much about the area.
Bike Shops in Rotorua
There are a lot of bike shops around Rotorua and we found them all to be helpful and well stocked. Here are a few that stood out:
Mountain Bike Rotorua – Right at the trailhead. They also have some branded gear if you want a Bike Rotorua shirt etc…
Electric Bike Rotorua was also very helpful when we needed some brake pads everyone else was out of. CycleZone did some work on one our bikes and had lots of gear. Both had friendly staff. Ride Rotorua also helped us with a part and they had some cool t-shirts in there.
Where to Stay in Rotorua
The best place to stay is near the Redwoods trail network to minimize driving. Many accommodations cater specifically to mountain bikers and offer secure bike storage.
Best areas:
Thermal Holiday Park – The closest to trails and affordable option. You can bike to the Forest from here and they also have thermal hot tubs.
The Sanctuary – This is where we stayed in 2025. It was a great little house with a hot tub, bike shed, and we could bike to and from the trails.
Haka House – Dorm style accommodations in Central Roto. They cater to cyclists with bike storage.
Best Places to Eat and Recover
One of the biggest advantages of riding in Rotorua is the easy access to geothermal hot springs. After a full day of riding, soaking in a hot pool is the perfect recovery. There’s also a lot of places to eat.
Post-ride highlights include:
- Secret Hot Tubs — This is your #1 go to spot because they have the best smash burgers, non-smelly soaking tubs with cold plunges, and it’s right at the Waipa car park. They also provide bike parking and locks for your bike.
- River’s Catch – A small fish a chips takeaway spot. It’s in a neighborhood off the beaten path but worth it for fresh seafood.
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa – A newer, upscale facility with modern pools and spa treatments.
- Skyline Luge – A must do thrill on tiny carts bombing down the mountain!
Nelson: Raw, Technical, and True Adventure Riding
Nelson offers some of the most technical, challenging, and rewarding riding in New Zealand. Unlike Rotorua’s compact trail network or Queenstown’s lift-access bike park, Nelson is all about big terrain, long descents, and raw, natural trails. The riding here feels more like zones above Whistler or Colorado backcountry. It’s less polished, more physical, and more adventurous.
Nelson’s trail network is spread across several mountain ranges surrounding the city, with access points just minutes from downtown. Most rides involve either long climbs or shuttle access to reach high ridgelines, followed by sustained descents that can last 20 minutes to over an hour.
BUT don’t let that scare you off visiting Nelson if you’re looking for something a bit easier. They’ve also done an excellent job of creating easier tech and fun flow trails that can be accessed via great climbing trails and/or public or private shuttles.
Shuttles
Nelson has public and private shuttle runs. Public shuttles are run by Gravity Nelson and cover Codgers (aka Andrew’s Farm) and Fringed Hill. Both of these areas are pedaling distance to the Nelson CBD. In summer they run on Wednesday nights and weekends.
The Gorge is also accessed via a public shuttle that requires a reservation in advanced. Spots are usually open on the weekends and some weekdays.
Cable Bay has a shuttle but the schedule is infrequent as of this writing. Check the website for updates.
Technical Riding and Natural Terrain
Nelson trails are less groomed and more natural. Expect roots, loose rock, steep grades, and technical line choice. This is some of the most rewarding riding in New Zealand.
Codgers/Fringed Hill
Codgers (Andrew’s Farm) MTB Park is the most accessible riding area and a good place to start. Located minutes from the city center, Codgers offers a mix of climbing trails, flow trails, and technical descents. This area is very well taken care of and you can trust the ratings and trail conditions.
Popular trails include:
Silvan Forest
Silvan Forest MTB Park is just outside of Nelson in Richmond. It offers an expanding network of trails, great views, and trails for everyone. In our experience the trails here are less maintained and the grading is not consistent. It’s a relatively new area that was impacted by heavy logging at the top and now the focus is 100% on mountain biking and tree planting. I can only imagine this area is going to get better and better.
Two of the trails from the top Jericho and De La Luna are rated as Grade 4 but have sections that are in questionable condition without warning and can ride like a Grade 5/6. We find the trails lower down in the trees to be more fun and cared for.
Popular trails include:
The Gorge
Only an hour from Nelson The Gorge is an experience unlike anything else. It’s the former mtb playground of a billionaire that donated it all to NZ a few years ago. Nelson MTB Club now maintains the trails and organizes shuttles and lodging. It’s a must stop experience that feels like the real deal NZ deep in the bush.
Don’t worry too much about planning what trails to ride here as you’ll have the chance to ride everything you want and there’s some logistics to where the shuttle drops you off each time and what’s open. Definitely bring a lunch and enjoy the lodge for a rest at some point during the day.
Kaiteriteri
The Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park should also be on your list when visiting Nelson. This one is also about the experience as much as the trails. You start and end your ride next to one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand. The water is turquoise blue and at high tide you can jump or enter the water at the bridge and have a nice float into the ocean.
For your first visit, we highly recommend the Grade 5 Karmakaze trail. You’ll get the most enjoyment, excellent views, and fun signs to keep you motivated on the climb. Treehugger is also another great trail if you only have 1 day here.
Cable Bay
Cable Bay is known for it’s infamous enduro races and steep, technical trails. It’s another one of those riding areas in NZ that’s hard to explain and not found anywhere else. It’s at an adventure park (zip lines etc…) and shuttling is not consistently offered there. You’ll need to purchase a pass and then either pedal the trails (huge day) or hire a private shuttle.
If it’s your first time there we suggest doing a half day private shuttle, enjoy the onsite cafe (they have great pies), and then head over to Cable Bay for a swim. I know I say this a lot about places in NZ but this place is also a beautiful must stop.
Bike Shops in Nelson
The Nelson area has a number of bike shops. Here are the ones we’ve had good experience with:
Gravity Nelson – They save us time and time again with parts and repairs. The shop may be small but are the hub of the mountain biking community in Nelson. If they don’t have something they are always happy to order it in. They also do most of the shuttles in the region, bike rentals, and bike clubs/lessons.
Evo – A larger store and chain with a really friendly staff. This is where we’ve picked up shoes, a bike rack, pedals etc…They tend to have some good sales as well.
Where to Stay in Nelson
The best place to areas to stay to be near the Nelson CBD and Codgers/Fringed Hill mountain bike trails would be Maitai area, The Brook, or The Wood. Other areas (closer to water) involve longer rides and hills to reach the riding.
Best areas:
Tide Hotel – Great location in town with easy access over to the trails.
Nelson City Escape – We stayed in this home on our first visit. Beautiful views and great access to trails. You do have to climb a hill to get back home.
Maitai Valley Camp – Near the trails but farther from town.
Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park – You’d have to drive to the trails but a great option if you plan to hit all the Nelson area trails and will be driving anyway.
Best Places to Eat and Recover
Nelson is all about good food, the beach and swimming holes. Relaxing after a ride will not be hard.
Post-ride highlights include:
- Toads Hall — In Motueka on your way to/from riding in Kaitertei. Great stop for lunch. They also have a bakery and small food store.
- The Boat Shed – If you can fit in a nice dinner go here. No need to dress up. It’s an old building that jets over the sea.
- Marty’s Meats Smash Burgers – Nelson has no shortage of burgers. These smash burgers are amazing.
- Must stop swim spots – Kaiterteri beach at high tide, swimming holes along Maitai Road (there’s a great on at the exit to hotbox). Tahunanui Beach
Ok, now start planning your trip to NZ! I hope this post helps you plan the mountain bike trip of your dream. Look out for more detailed guides on each of these areas coming soon.