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RIDE! Don't drive

6 Reasons why riding a bike is the best way to explore Otago, New Zealand.

Views of Queenstown from the Jacks Point Trail.
Geoff Marks

Inspiration RIDE! Don't Drive

OK, so let’s begin by addressing that big grey elephant in the corner of the room… No, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy cycling holiday in Otago.

With an e-bike, you can spin up hills with minimal effort meaning you’ll be immersed in the moment and not immersed in sweat! Even if you do ride an old-school analogue bike, the trails are designed for easy, scenic riding, making them suitable for beginners, families, or anyone who just wants a relaxed adventure.

With region-wide options for bike hire, shuttle transfers, and a 500km+ network of well-maintained Great Rides that connect to all the must do activities and attractions, as well as a seemingly endless choice of gravel roads for bikepacking, you’ll soon realise that exploring on two wheels beats four, every time.

Here are six reasons why riding a bike is a better way to explore Otago than driving a car.

Social interaction and meeting the locals is a top reason for riding instead of driving.

Not a car in sight - miles away from traffic on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail.

1. Biking Avoids the Stress of Traffic and Parking Completely

Sure, driving is an option. But let’s be honest, you could spend hours circling around for a parking spot or stuck in peak season traffic instead of soaking up the views and enjoying quality time with friends and family.

Your wallet might also benefit. Whilst daily rental fees for a small, budget car and an e-bike might be similar, with the bike there are no hidden costs like insurance, parking, fuel, or excess kilometre charges.

No traffic. No parking hassles. Just you, your bike, the great outdoors and plenty of time for coffee stops...

2. Community and Social Interaction

As controversial former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong wrote in the title of his book, "It’s Not About the Bike". In fact rarely - if ever - does visitor feedback from the cycle trails mention bicycles!

This probably sounds counterintuitive in the context of a cycling holiday, and yet, feedback from people that have ridden the trails consistently highlights the quality time spent with family and friends and connecting with friendly locals.

Warm hospitality, welcoming local communities and social interaction are the themes which always dominate trail reviews.

It seems that when people arrive in Otago (whether it's Queenstown, Central Otago, Dunedin or Clutha), they talk about the scenery and the trails they’re going to ride; but inevitably they leave telling stories about the people they’ve met and experiences they’ve shared.

Immersed in nature on the Clutha Gold Trail.

Or immerse yourself in Otago's world-class wineries, with no car keys to worry about! (Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn).

The trails access all sorts of immersive experiences... Onsen Hot Pools on the Queenstown Trail in Arthur's Point.

Riding a bike gives you free licence to eat whatever you want!.. Pizzas at Carrick Winery, Lake Dunstan Trail.

3. A Scenic, Immersive Experience

Otago’s cycle trails take you through dramatic landscapes that you’d otherwise miss altogether from the road. You’ll ride alongside lakes and rivers, through vineyards and deep gorges, and across impressive swing bridges and viaducts.

The trails provide both unique access and a unique perspective on the landscapes. Take the Roxburgh Gorge for example – known as NZ’s Grand Canyon – which cannot be experienced from the road, or the old railway bridges and tunnels along the Rail Trail and Clutha Gold Trail where you’d never be able to drive your car.

On your bike you’ll be immersed in the landscape, rather than just passing through as it flashes by the windscreen of your car. Yes, you’ll also be immersed in the weather, but thankfully Otago – especially Central Otago - has one of the driest and most settled climates in New Zealand making it ideal for multi-day cycling holidays.

4. Great Food, Better Wine, and No Car Keys

One of the biggest perks of biking? You can enjoy the region’s world-class wine and craft beer scene without worrying about driving. Many of Otago’s Great Rides take you right to the doorstep of vineyards, tasting rooms, cellar doors and breweries.

Plus, riding a bike pretty much gives you free licence to eat whatever you want!

Two of the best for wine lovers are the Gibbston Valley Wine Trail in Queenstown which takes you right through the heart of the “Valley of the Vines”, or the Lake Dunstan Trail with a diversion along the famous Felton Road in Bannockburn.

If beer is your thing, then Dunedin is arguably the craft beer capital of NZ or check out the cluster of breweries on a circumnavigation of the Queenstown Trails. In Central Otago head to Olivers in Clyde or Station Brewing in Alexandra – both just off the Otago Central Rail Trail (also known by locals as the “Ale Trail” due to the proliferation of country pubs along the 152km length of the route)!...

Don’t worry if you go a little overboard on that cheese platter, most bike tour operators offer bag transfers and shuttles, so you can ride between tastings without worrying about logistics.

No cars here...although maybe the odd jetboat. Shotover Gorge Trail, Queenstown.

No trains any more, and certainly no cars. Bridges and viaducts line the Otago Central Rail Trail.

Native habitat restoration on the Clutha Gold Trail at Waihola Wetlands.

Extensive tree planting along a section of the Queenstown Trails network.

5. The Green Choice: Reduced Environmental Impact

Cycling is a sustainable, low impact way to travel, helping to reduce your carbon footprint and supporting community initiatives like Queenstown's goal of a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.

Most cycle trails pass through conservation areas, where community-led efforts are restoring native habitats - something you can really appreciate up close on a bike. If you’re staying a while then perhaps consider volunteering to help, these groups are always looking for extra support plus there are regular community events, like tree planting, which you could join.

In many places the cycle trails also act as essential wildlife corridors, and so you’ll have a good chance of encountering native wildlife too.

6. The Healthy Choice: Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Cheese platters and wineries aside, cycling is a great way to stay active and healthy while on holiday. There’s always a great sense of accomplishment in completing a ride, whether it’s a short morning trip or a multi-day journey.

Like walking and hiking – those other quintessential Kiwi outdoor activities - biking combines exercise with sightseeing, making a trip enjoyable, beneficial for your wellbeing and above all, memorable.

Parking stress and traffic jams? Yeah…nah. (Coronet Loop, Queenstown Trails).

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