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Adventure Made Easy

8 Benefits of Booking Your Next Cycling Holiday Through a Bike Tour Company

Lake Dunstan Trail, Central Otago
Geoff Marks

Inspiration Adventure Made Easy

The Otago region of New Zealand’s lower South Island is considered by many to be one of the best cycle touring destinations in the world. Over the past 25-years the region has invested massively in cycle infrastructure with a 500km network of purpose-built cycle trails which form part of Ngā Haerenga, the Great Rides of New Zealand.

Otago’s trails traverse diverse landscapes from the Southern Alps of Queenstown, through the rugged gorges of Central Otago and along the mighty Mata Au | Clutha River all the way to the east coast. Factor in hundreds of kilometres of backcountry roads for gravel biking, numerous dedicated mountain bike parks and MTB tracks and it’s easy to see how planning and booking an itinerary can quickly become quite a daunting exercise…

That’s where the advice and expertise of a local bike tour company comes in.

Otago has a 500km network of Great Rides, MTB parks and hundreds of kms of backcountry gravel roads... So where to start?!

The Great Rides include icons like the 152km Otago Central Rail Trail.

There are mountain bike parks and MTB tracks across the entire region, like Coronet Peak in Queenstown (pictured).

And thousands of kilometres of backcountry gravel roads connecting to the network of Great Rides and their Trail Towns.

8 Reasons to Book Your Next Cycling Holiday Through a Bike Tour Company

1. Expert Planning and Support: Bike tour operators provide well-researched, organised and fully supported multi-day itineraries, with routes tailored to your personal needs removing the hassle of planning and booking things like accommodation or transfers directly.

2. Local Knowledge: Bike tour operators know the trails and local communities intimately. By working with local experts, itineraries will often include unique activities, special touches, and hidden gems which you might otherwise have missed on your own. Tour operators are also aware of the latest trail conditions and factors like local events or festivals.

Tour companies can help you discover hidden gems along the trails, like idyllic wineries...

...or a side trip to try curling in Naseby or Alexandra.

3. Route Planning: Bike tour companies can recommend and design routes that match your skill and fitness levels; factoring in seasonality, the difficulty of the trail, elevation gains and distances between Trail Towns for those all-important coffee stops, lunches and your bed for the night. This means no surprises - like that long, steep hill which you missed in your own trip planning! Local knowledge will also give you confidence in the latest trail conditions so you can avoid any potential hazards, and ensure smooth, easy travel.

Operators will provide detailed trip itineraries with maps and directions for each day of the tour, and many are now leveraging smart phone mapping and GPS technology with highly accurate route descriptions which are available offline on your device. Itineraries often include side trips to viewpoints or sites of interest along the way and importantly let you know exactly how much further it is to the next coffee stop!

Most operators offer customisable tours which can be tailored to suit different skill levels, interests, budgets, and schedules, allowing for a highly personalised experience.

4. Logistics & Convenience: All logistics are covered so you can relax! Bike-friendly accommodation, meals, bike rentals, airport and daily luggage transfers are all taken care of, allowing you to focus on enjoying the ride and being on holiday.

Tour companies will take all the guesswork out of route planning.

And book the accommodation which suits your style and budget! (Photo: Ormaglade Cabins, Clutha Gold Trail).

Accommodation ranges from historic B&Bs (photo: Olivers in Clyde on the Rail Trail and Lake Dunstan Trail)...

... to purpose built cabins on a high-country farm (photo: Wedderburn Cottages, Otago Central Rail Trail)

5. Safety and Security: Support vehicles are available in case of emergencies or bike issues, providing peace of mind knowing that someone’s got your back. You can even get a lift in the shuttle if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

6. Quality Equipment: Operators will provide high-quality, well-maintained bikes and equipment including helmets, toolkits, panniers etc. Most tour companies offer a fleet of bikes for you to choose from to suit the trail conditions which you’ll experience along your route. These can include e-bikes with step-through frames ideal for less experienced riders on easier trails like the Otago Central Rail Trail, or full suspension mountain bikes for more challenging rides like the Lake Dunstan Trail or sections of the Queenstown Trails. Kids bikes are also available with a wide range of tow-along accessories to cope with the 'age and stage' of young riders.

For experienced cyclists, knowing that quality bicycles are available for hire removes the need to travel with their own, which can be a real hassle when transiting through airports or using public transport. Often cyclists choose to bring their own saddle, pedals, shoes and helmet with them to personalise a rental bike and make it feel similar to their usual set-up.

Travelling with an e-bike is especially tricky due to their weight, but also airlines do not permit e-bike batteries on flights.

Bike tour companies will help you choose the right bike for your trip and provide instruction on how to operate it and ride safely.

7. Support for the Trails. Otago’s cycle trails are all managed by not-for-profit trusts which rely significantly on donations for their upkeep. The trails all have official partner programmes through which partners such as local tour companies, cafes or hotels contribute to support trail maintenance, development and enhancements. Official partners will generally meet or exceed quality standards and are committed to working with the trail trusts to help keep the trail experience at the highest quality for everyone to enjoy, for the long term.

By booking with a bike tour operator which is an official trail partner, not only can you be confident that you’re booking with a reputable company with the expertise and knowledge to help build a great itinerary for you, but you’ll also be supporting the trail itself.

8. Group Experience: For couples or those travelling alone, joining a small group tour can enhance the experience through camaraderie and shared experiences with like-minded cyclists. Educational, conference or incentive groups are also well supported whether requiring bike hire or bringing their own. 

Official trail partners - like Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown - support trail maintenance and development.

New trail developments - such as the Wharehuanui Trail in Queenstown - rely on donations and partner support.

Find a bike tour operator:

Here are some useful links to the official trail partner listings for the Otago Trails, including bike tour operators. 

Exploring Otago's expansive network of trails is made simple and easy with the help of professional bike tour companies (photo: Queenstown Trails).

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