QUEENSTOWN TRAIL
Head to our country's most popular Great Ride that starts in the heart of Queenstown where the network of trails spreads out into the Wakatipu basin to explore outstanding natural landscapes, vineyards, luxurious resorts and village cafes.
The track network is on well formed and generally wide trail on relatively flat to undulating terrain. Most cyclists choose to combine one or two rides as a day trip that are most suited to their riding ability and what they would like to see and do along the way.
The Queenstown Trail is a network of trails that weave their way through and around the Wakatipu Basin - the outer area around Queenstown. The trails have a gravel surface and are graded as being easy to intermediate level of riding difficulty.
The trail offers cycling from just a few hours to a few days, stopping at different attractions and sights. Most trail users link some of the trail sections together to form a loop or arrive at a destination for a shuttle pickup.
One of the most popular and scenic sections is the Arrow River Bridges Trail from Arrowtown to Gibbston. Starting in the quaint heritage mining town, the trail flows down the tree-lined river edge before crossing over large suspension bridges to finish at one of several vineyards in the Gibbston vineyards.
The Lake Hayes Trail is a good pick for those who are looking for a short loop trail with one of the most reflective views in the district. The Twin Rivers Ride is a quieter trail that crosses a historic bridge and follows the course of the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers.
The main services and accommodation for the trail are located in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown. The rides can be undertaken in either direction and while there are some short and challenging hills there is minimal elevation change between the main attractions.