New Zealand Bike Tour

Touch down in Queenstown—New Zealand’s adventure capital—where your guides will greet you at the airport or downtown. A short transfer brings us to the peaceful village of Arrowtown and the luxurious Millbrook Resort, set against snow-capped peaks in the heart of Central Otago’s wine country. After a bike fitting and safety briefing, ease into the week with a warm-up ride through Coronet Peak Valley and along Speargrass Flat Road, a favorite among local cyclists. We’ll stop for lunch at a charming little café, then roll into Arrowtown for a casual coffee and time to wander its historic streets and artisan shops. This evening, we’ll gather for cocktails as the sun sets on our first day together. A welcome dinner follows at Amisfield—the perfect introduction to local ingredients and wines at New Zealand’s best restaurant, just a stone’s throw from our hotel.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Queenstown, Arrowtown, Gibbston Valley
Accomplished: 20 miles / 32 km, elevation gain: 1,260 feet / 384 meters
Longer Option: 26 miles / 41 km, elevation gain: 1,638 feet / 499 meters
Accommodations: Millbrook Resort

This morning we ride straight out of Millbrook for a loop through the Queenstown Basin, a region rich in glacial lakes, rushing rivers, and alpine valleys. Our route begins on remote and traffic-free roads, then connects to smooth and scenic trails alongside Lake Wakatipu, Lake Hayes, and the confluence of the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers. Midway through our ride, we pause for a picnic lunch at one of our favorite spots. After, pedal back toward the hotel: take an afternoon nap, a dip in the pool, or a visit to the spa—or, head into Arrowtown for a glass of wine before dinner. Tonight we’re treated to a traditional hot stone barbecue and haka dance performance, both a celebration of Māori culture.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Queenstown, Arrowtown, Lake Wakatipu
Accomplished: 37 miles / 59 km, elevation gain: 2,250 feet / 685 meters
Longer Option: 46 miles / 74 km, elevation gain: 2,898 feet / 883 meters
Accommodations: Millbrook Resort

If you’re hungry for more miles, begin the day with an extra ride to Lake Dunstan—otherwise, take a 30-minute transfer directly to the lakefront after breakfast. Here, we’ll regroup for some of Otago’s most famous cycling on the Lake Dunstan Trail. This bucket-list ride follows a car-free, single-track path that hugs the lake’s edge for peaceful and pristine riding with uninterrupted views. Take a break for coffee served out of a tiny speedboat that meets us on our route, then continue spinning to Clyde, a historic gold-rush town on the banks of the Clutha River. A wine-lover’s lunch is served at an estate founded by a French winemaker in the 1860s—taste to your heart’s content, since we’ll transfer from lunch right to our hotel for the next three nights in Wanaka. This evening, gather for a private dinner prepared by our in-house chef and inspired by the season’s best produce.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner
Destinations: Pisa Moorings, Cromwell, Clyde
Accomplished: 35 miles / 56 km, elevation gain: 1,981 feet / 603 meters
Longer Option: 50 miles / 80 km, elevation gain: 4,268 feet / 1,300 meters
Accommodations: Whare Kea Lodge

Today we’re early to rise for a hike up Mount Iron—well worth it for the sunrise view over Lake Wānaka and New Zealand’s Southern Alps, a spectacular moment of pure peace you’ll recall for years to come. Hike down and head back to our villa, where lunch is ready and waiting on our arrival. If you’re up for it, venture out once more for a relaxed afternoon ride along the shores of Lake Wānaka; the setting may be the same, but from the seat of a bicycle, the perspective is entirely new. If you wish, take it up another notch with an eight-mile climb to the Treble Cone ski area. The average gradient is an eye-watering 12.5%, but the views from the top will reward your efforts tenfold. Tonight’s the perfect evening to go your own pace and dine where you wish in Wānaka. Your guides are happy to recommend local restaurants in this lovely little resort town.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Mount Iron, Glendhu Bay, Lake Wānaka
Accomplished: 27 miles / 43 km, elevation gain: 1,495 feet / 455 meters; 3 miles hiking
Longer Option: 40 miles / 64 km, elevation gain: 7,462 feet / 2,274 meters; 3 miles hiking
Accommodations: Whare Kea Lodge

Set off directly from the villa this morning and pedal north through Wānaka on a network of tracks that lead to Lake Hāwea. Our route consists of country roads and well-paved bike paths, with every mile more beautiful than the last: think glassy alpine basins, gently swaying grass, and glacier-sculpted valleys. Upon reaching Lake Hāwea, we’ll have a coffee while watching the kite surfers, then start our return ride to Wānaka. En route, we visit a regenerative farm focused on biodiversity—they also happen to produce some of New Zealand’s most sublime wools. Learn more about the farm’s conservation efforts over lunch, then finish riding back to Lake Wānaka. A boat is waiting to take us across the lake, offering one more perspective to round out the week. Back at the villa, we’ll toast with celebratory cocktails and share our favorite moments of the trip while our private chef prepares dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Albert Town, Lake Hāwea, Wānaka
Accomplished: 35 miles / 56 km, elevation gain: 1,766 feet / 538 meters
Longer Option: 63 miles / 101 km, elevation gain: 3,095 feet / 943 meters
Accommodations: Whare Kea Lodge

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast or head out for a quick final spin along the shores of Lake Wanaka. Your guides will take you back to Queenstown to continue your time in New Zealand or head onto your next adventure.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Lake Wanaka, Queenstown