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NZ MTB Dreamer Tour
Duration
16 days
Site savings
$104
From
$3,140 USD
Take in the lush forests and epic, adventurous trails of the North Island, and complement it with the high country tracks and purpose built parks of the South Island. Sample the cream of the crop of Aotearoa’s mountain biking, exploring the full length of the country to experience some of the best rides in the world.
- CategoryAdvanced
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration16 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level4 - Advanced
- Activity Level4 - Challenging
- Elevation4 - Challenging
- TerrainRugged
Quick Stats
- Duration16 days
- Main DestinationNew Zealand
- Elevation4 - Challenging
- TerrainRugged
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Auckland to Rotorua
Kia ora! Welcome to New Zealand, home to some of the best mountain biking anywhere in the world!
Kick things off early, meeting at 7am for a continental breakfast.
Over breakfast your guide will introduce everyone and run through everything you need to know to maximize your time in New Zealand.
Around 9am, leave the hustle and bustle of Auckland behind and head to Rotorua for some top quality riding in the Whakarewarewa Forest. With over 160 km (99 mi) of trails you will get a taste of what is to come for the rest of your time here.
Afterwards, head into town for the feed of your choice before settling down for the first of two nights in Rotorua.
TRAIL INFO
Redwoods Forest
Trails available from Beginner to Extreme 130 km (80 mi) of trails
Grades: 1–5
Total Ride Time: 2 - 3 hours- 2.5 miles
- 173.9 ft
- YHA Rotorua
- Breakfast
- Day 2Rotorua
This is it, the Big Kahuna, El Grande de Nueva Zelanda; the place dreams are made of!
With master crafted trails, unbeatable riding surfaces, well draining volcanic soils, varying topography and fantastic scenery, it’s no wonder Rotorua is renowned among mountain bikers as one of the world’s premier riding destinations.
Your playground today, the Redwoods Forest, is a number one drawcard.
On a recent visit, Australia Mountain Bike Magazine declared these to be the world’s best mountain bike trails. Locals can tell you they aren’t wrong.
With continually evolving trails, there is something to cater for all levels, from beginners wanting to dial in the corners, through to experts looking for extreme action.
Using South Star Shuttles is a great leg-saver and is included in the tour today; the tour operator also highly recommends adding on one of the famous MTB Skills Clinics, run by top guides.
After a massive day of trails enjoy a Maori Cultural Experience and fill your “puku” (belly) with a traditional “Hangi” meal.
TRAIL INFO
Redwoods Forest Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
130 km (80 mi) of trails
Grades: 1–5
Total Ride Time: 4 - 5 hours- 45.2 miles
- 9,215.9 ft
- YHA Rotorua
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 3Rotorua to Taupo
Waking up bright and early you get to our first gondola-accessed bike park, Skyline Rotorua. This park is used for the legendary Crankworx Slopestyle World Tour every year. There’s a fantastic range of trails here – some of the most well made you’ve ever seen.
Later, drive for one hour to Taupo, grab some lunch and take a peek at the impressive Huka Falls or Awatea Dam. There's some free time in Taupo for you to explore the place, the only problem you'll encounter is deciding which activity you'll do.
When you return from your fun packed day, tuck into a Kiwi style BBQ before you hit the hay with a full stomach ready for tomorrow's trails.TRAIL INFO
Skyline Rotorua Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
10.5 km (7 mi) of trails
Grades: 2–5
Total Ride Time: 4 - 5 hours- 10.9 miles
- 4,235.6 ft
- Haka Lodge Taupo
- Breakfast
- Day 4Taupo to Ohakune
After resting your legs, you will be pumped and eager to ride the beautiful, scenic and undulating terrain of the W2W and Headland Loop – part of the Great Lake Trail around Lake Taupo.
The Great Lake Trail is an epic journey to invigourate your senses. It follows the shores of beautiful Lake Taupō, and takes in the stunning views across the water to the majestic volcanic mountains beyond.
Enjoy extensive native bush, dramatic scenery, serene lake views, powerful waterfalls, lyrical bird song, some sweet, purpose built MTB tracks, and much more.
Before leaving Taupō we’ll grab some lunch in the township and take a look at the impressive Huka Falls - New Zealand’s most visited tourist attraction.
From here it’s a drive to Ohakune, our final stop for the evening. Ready your cameras - en route we’ll be passing through New Zealand's only desert and some stunning volcanic ranges.TRAIL INFO
Great Lake Trail
Intermediate trail
22.5-km (14 mi) ride
Grade: 3
Total Ride Time: 4 hours- 13.3 miles
- 1,217.2 ft
- Station Lodge Ohakune
- Breakfast
- Day 5Ohakune
The mountains greet you this morning when you wake up in Ohakune.
Grab a bite to eat before retracing your steps slightly north to what seems like the middle of the wilderness. Here, one of New Zealand’s most iconic and incredible one-day adventure rides awaits.
Taking in the Mangapurua Track, the ride along the Bridge to Nowhere is nothing short of amazing. It boasts all the characteristics of a first-class adventure: amazing native bush, rivers, suspension bridges, intriguing history and a variety of tracks once used by pioneers.
At approximately 34 km (21 mi) in length, this breathtaking trail showcases the Bridge To Nowhere, an iconic symbol of the failed pioneering settlement of the Mangapurua Valley in the 1930s.
The remoteness is outstanding – this is classic New Zealand backcountry at its finest.
The ride includes 4WD roads and a long downward sloping singletrack, which will have you deciding whether to put your hands on your camera or your brake levers.
After riding through the bush for 4 - 5 hours to the Bridge to Nowhere you will arrive at the bubbling Whanganui River. Rather than make you ride all the way back up the hills, you can sit back and relax (or not) as a jet-boat pickup is at your service.
The thrilling jet-boat trip will take you and your bike down the Whanganui river all the way to Pipiriki, where you will no doubt be nodding off in the bus on the return to Ohakune.
TRAIL INFO
Bridge to Nowhere
Intermediate trail
34 km (21 mi) of trail
Grade: 3
Total Ride Time: 4 - 5 hours- 44.3 miles
- 5,561 ft
- Station Lodge Ohakune
- Breakfast
- Day 6Ohakune to Wellington
This morning your guide has some scheduled rest time, and you’re more than welcome to take a break too! For those keen on another trail why not head along to the Old Coach Road for an early morning spin? Your guide can point you in the right direction and pick you up at the end.
Mid-morning make a beeline south towards the capital – Wellington. But the fun doesn’t stop just because the bikes are in the trailer! En route to Wellington there are classic Kiwi-style stops and activities to get your competitive spirit up. Look out for the wild Kaimanawa horses… and maybe even a few hobbits searching for Mordor!
This evening there are lots of awesome places to grab dinner in wonderful and windy Wellington, known for its funky bars and eateries. If you have enough energy and are looking for a great night out, head to Courtenay Place and its array of bars for a night of fun.Trail Info
The Old Coach Road
Intermediate Trail
14.2 Kilometers of trail
Grade 2- YHA Wellington
- Breakfast
- Day 7Wellington to Nelson
Beat the sun up this morning for a trip to the local MTB park at Makara, where a steady climb takes you over 40 km ( 25 mi)of perfectly-made flowing trails with a backdrop of the country's coolest city.
After the morning on the trails, set sail in the afternoon across the iconic Cook Strait, between the North and South Islands. From the decks of the ferry the city lights of Wellington fade, but before long you’ll be greeted with views of the vast blue water with the occasional dolphin leaping alongside the boat.
As if the views couldn’t be more perfect, the Marlborough Sounds await you as you glide into Picton harbour. A few hours later head along the vineyard-scattered road to Nelson.
A bikers’ paradise on the outskirts of Abel Tasman National Park, famed for its golden beaches and lush rainforests, you are truly spoilt for choice of cycling options tomorrow.
TRAIL INFO
Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park
Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
Over 40 kilometres of trail
Grades: 1–5
Total Ride Time: 2 - 3 hours- 10.3 miles
- 2,017.7 ft
- INNBetween Lodge & Backpackers
- Breakfast
- Day 8Nelson
Today is a scheduled day of rest for your tour manager, but there are plenty of tracks and trails on your doorstep to choose.
From high alpine environments to lush native forests and rooty forestry blocks, the luxury of choice has resulted in a wide variety of trails in and around Nelson, each with a unique flavour.
Within a 10km (6.2 mi) radius of Nelson City, we'll find over 30 trails ranging from grade 2 to grade 5. You'll find multiple DH tracks, flow tracks, root-infested technical challenges, fun bermed loops and classic back country epics.
You'll also hit up the Coppermine Loop and the Dun Mountain Trail. It's not hard to see why this spectacular ride is one of the most epic in the country. This alpine route winds its way through the Codgers Mountain Bike Park, along the route of New Zealand’s first railway, before emerging into the alpine mineral belt near the summit of Dun Mountain (878 m/2880 ft ).
From the top, you are faced with a professionally built singletrack descent that drops for over 10km (6.2mi), emerging at the Maitai Dam. The last stretch of the ride follows the Maitai river right back into the heart of Nelson.
When you''re off wheels, take a walk up to the ‘Centre of New Zealand’ for some stunning views and photo opportunities.
TRAIL INFO
Codgers MTB Park
Trails available from Beginner to Double Black
27 kilometres of trail
Grades: 2–5
Coppermine Loop 39 kilometres
Grades: 3–4- INNBetween Lodge & Backpackers
- Breakfast
- Day 9Nelson to Christchurch
After breakfast leave sunny Nelson to head back over to the coast for a scenic trip down to Christchurch, experiencing some interesting sights on the way.
Pass through the heart of the South Island over the Southern Alps Mountain Range via the native bush covered Lewis Pass and onto the eastern side toward Christchurch.
Nearing the beautiful garden-filled city with lazy rivers and some very recent history, your guide will point out a couple of trails to get you fizzing for tomorrow.
- Haka Lodge Christchurch
- Breakfast
- Day 10Christchurch to Castle Hill
Today is the start of the main South Island leg of the trip.
As you will be meeting a couple more tour members this morning, you will have another brief chat over breakfast before heading out to the cream of the crop: Christchurch trails. These are seriously fun rides.
From the superb winding singletrack around Godley Heads, to tracks with names such as Flying Nun and Anaconda, you know you will be in for a good time on the perfectly built XC and DH trails in Christchurch that only the locals know.
Panoramic views of the looming Southern Alps, right out over Banks Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean will wow you; on a clear day it doesn’t get much better than this.
In the afternoon, we head to the Christchurch Adventure Park for some lunch and fun laps. After riding a fair share of Christchurch's best, the troops will be rallied to head for the next destination: Castle Hill!Accommodations for the night will be at the rustic Porters Lodge where dinner will be served.
Please note: Private accommodation upgrades are not available for this night of the tour due to the limited availability of accommodation in the area.
TRAIL INFO
Port Hills Trails
Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
Grades: 3–6
Christchurch Adventure Park
Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
Grades: 1–6- 29.7 miles
- 9,635.8 ft
- Porters Lodge
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 11Castle Hill
Today is the day for your next adventure ride. A white knuckle classic: the Craigieburn Edge Track.
A short 30 minute journey takes you up and over Porters Pass, to enter the Castle Hill Basin, home to mystical limestone rocks scattered among golden tussocklands.
Then drive deeper into the mountains with their grey scree faces, oozing gnar! The chosen trails are true alpine tracks, crossing 37 degree scree slopes, dipping in and out of the bush.
Pioneered for ski touring over 70 years ago, these were ridden by cyclists before mountain biking was even a thing.
If you want something a little cruisier there is the newly constructed Hogs Back Track. A perfect blend of natural trails tickled up with berms just in the right spots to create flow.
Tonight is your second and final night at Porters Lodge. There's enough time to swap trail stories with your new mates over dinner (included) and prepare for more activities tomorrow.
*Please note that private accommodation upgrades are not available for this night of the tour due to the limited availability in the area.TRAIL INFO
Craigieburn Trails
Trails available from Intermediate to Advanced
24 kilometres of trails
Grades: 3–6- Porters Lodge
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 12Castle Hill to Wanaka
Even though it’s difficult to leave the views of Castle Hill behind, press on to another vividly picturesque South Island haven: Wanaka.
En route we stop off at Mt Hutt for some fun laps on their beautiful network of flowing trails then head towards Geraldine for some lunch.
After lunch we drive along one of New Zealand’s most scenic roads, taking in views of Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mt Cook before winding our way down to Wanaka.
Wanaka is a stunning lakeside town with some incredible bars and restaurants where you can kick back and scroll through the best pictures from your drive to upload to your social media.TRAIL INFO
Mt Hutt Bike Park
Intermediate to Advanced
36 trails
Grades: 2-6
It truly doesn’t get much better than this. You are in MTB paradise.
TRAIL INFOAlexandra Trails Trails available from Intermediate to Hard
17.5 kilometres of trails
Grades: 3–4
Sticky Forest Trails available from Beginner to Extreme
30 kilometres of trails
Grades: 1–6
Total Ride: 3 - 4 hours- 6.4 miles
- 941.6 ft
- YHA Wanaka
- Breakfast
- Day 13Wanaka to Queenstown
You'll start today by riding from the hostel to the local Sticky Forest for some fresh morning laps through the pine trees. Once you’ve had your fill of fun we head back to the town for a bite to eat before loading the bikes onto the trailer and heading to Alexandra.
Alexandra is a one of a kind of out-of-this-world terrain. This is a mountain biker’s dream playground, with multi-line trails allowing riders to take it easy or take on gnarlier drops and rock lines, all within whooping distance of your fellow companions.
After Alexandra, make the short drive to Queenstown to check into the accommodation - your new home for the remainder of the tour. Your guide will show you around the town and point out the bars and eateries not to be missed.TRAIL INFO
Sticky Forest
Beginner to Advanced
30+ kilometres
Grades: 1–6
Alexandra Trails
Trails available from Intermediate to Hard
17.5 kilometres of trails
Grades: 3–4
Total Ride Time: 3 - 4 hours- 13.7 miles
- 1,624 ft
- Haka Lodge Queenstown
- Breakfast
- Day 14Queenstown
Waking up in the adventure capital of New Zealand is a fantastic experience in itself! Your morning will be filled with impressive scenery and majestic peaks which overlook the energetic lakeside town. This MTB Mecca has a whole lot to offer.
Look to the skies for New Zealand's first-ever gondola-assisted bike lift which provides direct access to Queenstown Bike Park. Get your suspension ready as there will be no granny gears here! Queenstown Bike Park boasts over 30km (19mi) of tracks with the longest run of 6km (3.7mi). That includes over 26 world class mountain biking trails and varying terrain for all abilities amongst the pine trees of Ben Lemond Reserve!
The 450m (1476ft) vertical ascent through the Skyline Gondola is a godsend as it gives you easy access to New Zealand's best mountain bike parks. Attach your mountain bike to the Gondola cabin at the Skyline Queenstown base and enjoy the leisurely uphill Gondola ride before detaching your bike and taking the legendary challenges of the Queenstown Bike Park.
TRAIL INFO
Queenstown Bike Park
Trails available from Beginner to Extreme
30 kilometres of trails
Grades: 2–6Total Ride Time: 4 - 5 hours
- 6.5 miles
- 1,184.4 ft
- Haka Lodge Queenstown
- Breakfast
- Day 15Queenstown
Today, you'll be shown some of the local favourites. The trails descending from New Zealand’s first commercial ski resort, Coronet Peak, are world class.
Rude Rock and the Zoot Track have been voted some of the top tracks in Queenstown by locals and visitors alike and, once you blast around and down them, we are sure you will agree! We might even save you from the uphill sections and cart you to the top so you can fly through the downhill without delay.
If you still want more gravity trails we can continue on to areas such as Remarkables DH and Gold Digger. Or for more chilled trails we can loop a few lakeside laps at 7 Mile. There are so many options it is endless, but it's guarantee you will have a superb day.
This afternoon is also a great time to get some additional activities under your belt! Want to go up higher into the surrounding mountains? We totally recommend a heli-bike trip. If there’s one extra activity you are going to splash out on this trip, heli-biking is one of the most jaw-dropping and exhilarating activities you can do. Take to the skies to ride otherwise inaccessible trails and get all of downhill but none of the uphill. 100% awesome!TRAIL INFO
Cardrona Mountain Bike Park (December 1st to March 31st only)
Trails available from Beginner to Advanced
25+ kilometres of trails
Grades 1–5Coronet Peak (Rude Rock & Zoot Track)
Intermediate to Hard
7+ kilometres
Grades 3 -4
7 Mile Bike Park
Trails available from Intermediate to Hard
17.5 kilometres of trails
Grades: 3–5
Total Ride Time: 4 - 5 hour- 4.2 miles
- 85.3 ft
- Haka Lodge Queenstown
- Breakfast
- Day 16Queenstown