Our Story

We have been a key operator on the spectacular Queenstown Trail since it first opened in 2012. Now into our thirteenth year of business, and with decades of riding around the Whakatipu Basin behind us, we are the most experienced team at getting riders onto the trail.

We pride ourselves on offering a personalised Kiwi-flavour to turn your Queenstown riding experience from good to great.

Learn the story behind our business here.

"At Around The Basin, our aim is to give every type of rider the opportunity to experience the stunning Queenstown Trail network."

Our Values

Community Involvement

 

Being a locally-owned and operated business, we understand the benefits that comes from community engagement and the value of supporting local. Over the years we have partnered with groups and individuals across the Queenstown region.

We are an Official Partner of the Queenstown Trails Trust, the organisation responsible for the development, maintenance, and promotion of the trail network. The Trust does excellent work in creating a world-class trail network, NZ’s most popular Great Ride. By partnering with the Trust, we offer our ongoing support for the wider community. 

For many years Steve, our General Manager, has dedicated much of his spare time to local community groups such as the Queenstown Kayak Club. When not at work or riding on a bike, Steve can often be found coaching on the lake.

In May 2024, we were in a fortunate position to complete an initiative we called ‘Bike Giveaway‘. Simply put, we gave away 40 of our ex-rental bikes as a gift to members of the local community, particularly those who may not have been in a position to afford a new bike. We were happy to do this in the knowledge it would benefit individuals and the wider Queenstown community. Bikes improve people’s physical and mental well-being, keep cars off the road, and help a healthy workforce with their daily commute.

We are also proud to be affiliated with multisport athlete Simone Maier. She is an inspirational role model, particularly in getting young girls interested in an active lifestyle, and a great ambassador of our business.

Queenstown Kayak Club

Queenstown Kayak Club Peak To Peak

Steve is a renowned kayak coach and dedicates much of his spare time to the club, caring for boats and athletes alike.

Here’s a video of one of his kayak mission on the Clutha River: ‘300 in 3’

Simone Maier

5x Coast to Coast Champion

Super strong, humble and passionate about sports, Simone is an inspiration to others.

Staff Wellbeing

 

We have created a work environment with a strong focus on the wellbeing of our staff. If they are happy in their workplace that will reflect onto the business in everything that we do. Staff are encouraged to shape their roles around their interests and skillsets, stimulating an open and inclusive work culture.

 

A big drawcard of the Queenstown region is the active lifestyle that comes with it. Offering flexibility around work schedules enables our staff to make the most of the incredible landscapes we get to call home. And they’re an adventurous bunch! We may be up skiing before breakfast in winter, or doing a few laps of a bike trail on a summer’s evening. Click here to find out more about the team.

Safety Comes First

 

We’ve been nailing things in the safety game since way back!

For us it all starts with the equipment that we hire out. All of our bikes are maintained and serviced in-house at our purpose built bike workshop. Our bike mechanics have years of experience fixing things with two wheels. Before we set any rider onto the trail we always identify potential trail hazards with actions to mitigate them, and advise to ride ‘in-control’ at all times.

But accidents happen. There are inherent risks associated with mountain biking that no amount of preparation can eliminate. If an accident does happen, all of our drivers/guides are First Aid certified and can usually be on the scene to help in a short time.

We have been awarded a Gold Qualmark Award in recognition of our ongoing commitment to business health and safety practices.

At the heart of everything we do is a mindset of safety comes first. Trust us, you’re in safe hands.

Environmental Sustainability

 

We’re proud of what we do in the sustainability space. Queenstown is fortunate to be surrounded on all sides by incredible landscapes: mountain vistas, pristine waterways, and native bush. As a business we operate in ways to keep Queenstown in this state, so future generations can enjoy the landscapes as we do today.

We aim to minimise waste generated wherever practical across our work sites. There are plastic and cardboard recycling schemes at both our bike-workshops and retail shop. In 2025, we signed-up to the CRUNCH metal recycling programme set up by the Lightfoot Initiative. It recovers unwanted aluminum and steel from scrap metal and repurposes it into new products.

We are proud supporters of Bee The Change. It restores bee populations to the Whakatipu Basin, thereby aiding in the pollination of native plant species. Our sponsored beehive plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy local ecosystem.

When we are ready to part with our rental bikes, we sell them on to the local community. This prolongs their usable lifespan, making them available for many more years and avoids them going to landfill.

And, after all, riding a bike is fundamentally a good activity for the planet!

Tiaki Promise

New Zealand is precious. Everyone who lives or travels here has a responsibility to look after it. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for this country, now and into the future.

Across our business, we ask that visitors, Queenstown locals, and our team all follow the principles of the Tiaki Promise.