The Best Mountain Bike Trails in New Zealand

2,020 trails

(6)

Photo of Overseeing Cromwell and Lake Dunstan

Photo of Pencarrow Lighthouses - East Harbour Regional Park

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Overseeing Cromwell and Lake Dunstan

Mountain Bike

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near Cromwell, Otago (New Zealand)

jalfer

Distance

12.81mi

Elevation +

2710f

TrailRank

53

The route goes from Cromwell to Northburn to start climbing the mountains east of Lake Dunstan, running completely on loose gravel and rocky trails except for the road bit. The last part of the descend before returning t...

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Middlemarch explorer

Mountain Bike

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near Middlemarch, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

20.70mi

Elevation +

446f

TrailRank

36

This takes some of Middlemarch's back roads (Murrays Road, Gladbrook) to showcase some of the local points of interest: the dry tussock landscape, a salt lake, a bridge over the Taieri. On a calm day this is very easy. T...

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Pencarrow Lighthouses - East Harbour Regional Park

Mountain Bike

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near Muritai, Wellington (New Zealand)

LM Aventures

Distance

13.85mi

Elevation +

833f

TrailRank

35

CATALÀ: Nosaltres vam aparcar a Eastbourne, però es pot anar fins on comença el parc i aparcar allà, on també es poden llogar bicicletes. Volta molt agradable amb algunes pujades bastant pronunciades, però valen la pena!...

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Hyde to Daisybank return

Mountain Bike

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near Hyde, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

14.07mi

Elevation +

666f

TrailRank

35

One of the best sections of the Central Otago Railtrack done as a return trip. It's easy, good for kids and families; the only challenge is the 100s of rabbits you'll see on the trail as they will cross your path... One ...

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Lower Shotover to Gibbston Valley Winery Loop

Mountain Bike

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near Lower Shotover, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

22.76mi

Elevation +

1929f

TrailRank

34

We cycled the Twin Rivers Trail beginning in Lower Shotover. We turned right at the Arrow River Bridges trail, crossed the Edgar suspension bridge, crossed the historic Kawarau Bridge. We stopped to watch a couple of Bun...

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Pigeon Bay to Little Pigeon Bay Return (Banks Peninsula)

Mountain Bike

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near Pigeon Bay, Canterbury (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

15.36mi

Elevation +

2776f

TrailRank

34

A scenic ride along Pigeon Bay and some of Banks Peninsula tops. This is all shingle (dirt) road with little traffic. There is no technical difficulty except for the layers of gravel in corners and in the middle of the r...

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Carrick to Clyde

Mountain Bike

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near Bannockburn, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

20.40mi

Elevation +

4662f

TrailRank

33

We started at the Carrick winery and headed to the Lake Dunstan Trail. We were warned of brutal winds on this route so we set off early. Winds got crazy strong by early afternoon but they were, luckily, coming from behin...

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The Rock and Pillar Loop: a Great Ride

Mountain Bike

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near Ngapuna, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

38.81mi

Elevation +

5243f

TrailRank

33

This a great ride and is worth the trip to Middlemarch and the time to do it; it's a day ride. Be well prepared and do not go on your own as there is no cell phone coverage for most of it. We shortened this by being drop...

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Hartfield-Hyde-Rail Trail back to Middlemarch

Mountain Bike

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near Middlemarch, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

37.35mi

Elevation +

961f

TrailRank

33

An alternative to simply riding the Central Otago Rail Trail which allows to complete a loop from and back to Middlemarch. It can be done in either sense of course: Middlemarch to Hyde via Hartfield road is 33 kms and vi...

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Clyde to roxburgh dam

Mountain Bike

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near Clyde, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

28.80mi

Elevation +

2001f

TrailRank

32

We took the 12 km River Track from Clyde to Alexandra to start the Roxburgh Gorge trail. This track runs along the west side of the Clutha and is an alternate to cycling through Clyde streets. It is a mostly narrow undul...

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Pisa to Carrick loop

Mountain Bike

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near Lowburn Ferry, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

27.09mi

Elevation +

584f

TrailRank

32

Taking the beautiful bike trail beside Lake Dunstan beginning in Pisa Moorings all the way to Carrick winery passing through Cromwell Heritage District along the way. Carrick is a great place to stop for a pizza from the...

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Rock and Pillar Ascent and return

Mountain Bike

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near Ngapuna, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

12.34mi

Elevation +

3474f

TrailRank

32

The best way to climb to the top of the Rock and Pillar from the Strath Taieri valley close to Middlemarch but it's quite a grunt! The challenge is the length of the climb. It takes me close to 2 hours to climb. The trac...

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Naseby

Mountain Bike

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near Naseby, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

12.08mi

Elevation +

984f

TrailRank

32

Trails built in forestry land in an old gold mining area. The network of tracks is extensive and it takes several times to find your way around confidently. However, there are obvious (and easy) main tracks (along the wa...

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Bald Hill

Mountain Bike

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near Gummies Bush (New Zealand)

mackt

Distance

56.96mi

Elevation +

5512f

TrailRank

31

Mountain bike ride to the top of Bald Hill in Southland - elevation 804m! Drove from home to the truck waypoint, then biked from there.

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Kyeburn Diggings to Dansey's Pass return

Mountain Bike

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near Kyeburn Diggings, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

12.23mi

Elevation +

1253f

TrailRank

30

Easy uphill ride on unsealed road from idyllic Dansey's Pass Inn to the top of the pass (about 1000 metres; a 425-meter vertical climb). Look out for stock on the road, and for infrequent oncoming vehicles. The Inn is wo...

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Dun Mountain Trail

Mountain Bike

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near Nelson East, Nelson (New Zealand)

richardatbelair

Distance

22.67mi

Elevation +

2785f

TrailRank

29

Famous trail in New Zealand. I did it clockwise which was a big mistake. Either way, it’s a hard slog up to the top but then some great downhill, which ever way you go.

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Clyde to Lauder

Mountain Bike

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near Clyde, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

27.37mi

Elevation +

1125f

TrailRank

27

This is a fairly simple section of the Central Otago Rail Trail. Lovely scenery. A wide and excellent trail surface. The climb is a very steady one that is more difficult than it seems. Most of the cyclists are on ebikes...

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Waiuta - Big River Track

Mountain Bike

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near Ikamatua, West Coast (New Zealand)

Willi Felix

Distance

33.99mi

Elevation +

3940f

TrailRank

27

Ikamatua - Waiuta - Big River Track - Reefton New-Zealand >> From Ikamatua: 18 km on Road and Gravel-Road to the Beginning of the Trail. Than 10 to 12 km perfect Single-Trails, Than about 12 km very hard and rocky 4WD...

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Lauder to Ranfurly

Mountain Bike

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near Lauder, Otago (New Zealand)

hansonstudiosinc

Distance

31.06mi

Elevation +

1503f

TrailRank

27

Lauder to Rainfurly on the Central Otago Rail Trail. Very scenic and more remote section of the trail with the highlight being the Poolburn Gorge. There are 2 tunnels about 200m long where a flashlight is almost a must. ...

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Motueka River Westbank Road - Mt Campbell summit

Mountain Bike

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near Pangatotara (New Zealand)

Kotare

Distance

8.53mi

Elevation +

4377f

TrailRank

27

This ride starts at the Rocky River Road intersection with the Motueka Valley West Bank Road. Ride the first 8.16km on forestry roads (Rocky River Road)to a locked gate at the start of the Mt Campbell Road. Note it is Pr...

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Woodhaugh-Switchback Track to Swampy Summit-Return (Dunedin)

Mountain Bike

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near Dalmore, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

10.53mi

Elevation +

5643f

TrailRank

26

This starts from Woodhaugh gardens from the north end of Dunedin. There are other places to start including from the bottom of switchback track. Go up Malvern Street for about 2.5kms. On the way up I took a track along t...

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Reefton - Big River - Waiuta

Mountain Bike

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near Reefton, West Coast (New Zealand)

peejaynz

Distance

47.15mi

Elevation +

6175f

TrailRank

26

An mtb circuit from Reefton town up a rough 4wd trail to the old Big River gold mining town, then down single track to another gold ghost town called Waiuta, then return on the highway to Reefton. Un circuito de BTT des...

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Picton Queen Charlotte Lookout

Mountain Bike

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near Picton, Marlborough (New Zealand)

mamajen21

Distance

6.41mi

Elevation +

892f

TrailRank

24

Took a route to bobs bay and then joined this walk along Snouts track - beautiful views - this was a good way to go

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Leatham valley

Mountain Bike

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near Birch Hill, Marlborough (New Zealand)

Francois Rawlinson 1

Distance

31.17mi

Elevation +

1804f

TrailRank

23

4wd road into the Leatham Conservation area. Passed Caves, Barbers & Bottom Gordon’s hut in the process. It is an in and out trip

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Arrowtown to Queenstown via Kawarau Downs

Mountain Bike

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near Arrowtown, Otago (New Zealand)

thierrynz

Distance

19.25mi

Elevation +

633f

TrailRank

22

A 30km course through Queenstown's new MTB trails a network of many other trails (http://www.queenstowntrail.co.nz). This is technically easy but watch out for loose gravels on the descent from Millbrook.

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