The Redwoods of Rotorua. The gravity playground of Queenstown. The wilderness of Nelson. New Zealand is one of the world's great MTB destinations — and it's worth every hour of the flight.
New Zealand produced the sport's greatest riders — Sam Hill, Greg Minnaar, and a dozen others who learned to ride in landscapes that combined volcanic terrain, ancient forest, and Southern Alps scenery into something genuinely unique. The trail building culture here is extraordinary — Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest has trails shaped by passionate hands over decades. Queenstown has built a world-class bike park while retaining the raw adventure character that makes New Zealand different.
From Northland to Queenstown, the best mountain biking on two islands.
The Redwoods of Rotorua are one of the most magical places on earth to ride a mountain bike. Ancient California redwood trees tower above trails that weave through steam vents, volcanic soil, and thermal ground with the smell of sulphur adding to the alien atmosphere. The trail quality is exceptional — from flowy blue trails to technically demanding black lines with rock features built from the volcanic stone. The Tree To Sea, and the newer elevated boardwalk trails add a unique architectural dimension. Rotorua's mountain bike culture is world-class and the facilities match it.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world and its bike park is entirely in keeping with that reputation. The gondola to 450m on Bob's Peak gives access to trails that descend through alpine scenery with Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables range as constant backdrop. The Skyline Bike Park trails are well-built and varied, and the surrounding Queen Charlotte and Coronet Peak terrain adds days more riding. The infrastructure of Queenstown — restaurants, accommodation, activities — makes it the most complete NZ adventure destination.
The Cardrona Alpine Resort is 30 minutes from Queenstown and delivers a distinctly different character — open, tussock-covered alpine terrain with longer, faster trails than the forested Queenstown park. The views across the Cardrona Valley to the Mount Aspiring National Park are extraordinary. Wanaka below offers additional riding on Roy's Peak and the Clutha River trails. Combine Queenstown and Cardrona/Wanaka for a complete Central Otago MTB week.
Nelson is New Zealand's sunniest city and its Dun Mountain Trail is a classic — an old mineral tramway converted to world-class singletrack that descends through native forest with views across the Nelson Bays to the South Island mountain ranges. The wider Nelson trail network covers the Brook Valley, the Richmond Range, and the award-winning Codgers and Sharlands tracks. Nelson's combination of sunshine, excellent trails, and beautiful coastal-to-mountain scenery makes it arguably New Zealand's best overall MTB destination.
5 minutes from Wellington's CBD and 400 volunteer-built trail kilometres deliver one of the best urban mountain bike parks in the world. Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park is maintained entirely by Makara Peak Supporters Trust and the quality reflects the pride — immaculately built trails through native bush with city and harbour views. The Ridgeline, Zig Zag, and Vertigo trails are classics. Wellington weather is notoriously Wellington, but the trails drain remarkably well. The city's food, culture, and Te Papa museum make non-riding days rewarding.
The Port Hills above Christchurch deliver excellent riding with the Canterbury Plains stretching to the Southern Alps on one side and Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula on the other. The trails here range from the Christchurch Adventure Park (DH and gravity) to the natural ridgeline tracks on the Crater Rim. The 2019 fires affected some areas but recovery and reconstruction have been impressive. A good Christchurch base also gives access to the Craigieburn alpine trails 90 minutes inland.
The trails around Arrowtown and the Coronet Peak ski area deliver exceptional riding in a gold-rush historic setting. The Tobins Track, Arrow River Bridges Trail, and the Coronet Peak DH terrain all contribute to a riding experience that is both technically excellent and historically atmospheric. The autumn (March–April) gold leaf colour in Arrowtown's historic streetscape makes it one of New Zealand's most photographed scenes — and the trails are rideable right through this period.
The thermal spa town of Hamner Springs in the Lewis Pass mountains has trail riding through the Hanmer Forest with good variety and reliable dry conditions compared to the West Coast. The combination of trail riding in the morning and relaxing in the hot thermal pools in the afternoon is one of New Zealand's best multi-activity experiences. Not the most extreme riding in NZ, but a genuinely pleasant and well-rounded destination, especially for mixed groups.
The Timber Trail near Taupo is one of New Zealand's Great Rides — 85km of purpose-built trail through the Pureora Forest Park with spectacular swing bridges and dense native bush. For more aggressive riding, the Craters of the Moon MTB Park just north of Taupo delivers purpose-built singletrack on volcanic terrain. The lake setting, the Tongariro National Park nearby, and the natural thermal area give Taupo an incredible complement of non-riding experiences.
Craigieburn Forest Park in the Southern Alps offers some of the most demanding and remote mountain bike riding in New Zealand. The old gold mining tracks and natural alpine trails here are not groomed or signposted in the way that Queenstown or Rotorua trails are — this is genuine high-country adventure riding on beech forest trails with the Craigieburn Range towering above. For experienced riders who want to experience New Zealand's raw alpine character, this is essential.