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| Start From Queenstown | 28 km Ride | Hilly and Challenging Terrain | Return Shuttle Only |
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Ride Description
Begin your self-guided adventure from our central Queenstown shop at 9:20 am, with bike setup, helmet, map, and safety briefing included. Ride 28 km along the stunning Queenstown Trail to Arthur’s Point via the Shotover Gorge Trail. Highlights include the Lake Whakatipu shoreline, the historic Hugo Tunnel, and the dramatic Kimi-ākau Swing Bridge. Finish with lunch and a local brew before your return shuttle.
Important Note:
The second half of this route is a challenging bike ride. You can expect sharp switchbacks, steep drop-offs, and obstacles on the trail. This ride is only suitable for riders with previous experience of Grade 4 (Advanced) trails.
Please read the ‘Additional information’ section below for more details.
Additional Information
More Details on the Shotover Gorge Trail:
Highlights include the scenic Queenstown Gardens, a café stop at Frankton Marina, riverside riding along the Kawarau River, the historic Old Shotover Bridge, the peaceful Tucker Beach Trail, and the dramatic Shotover Gorge.
Must-see features along the way are the 90 m Kimi-ākau suspension bridge, jet boats zipping through the gorge, the panoramic viewpoint at Buck’s Balcony, the 108 m historic Hugo Tunnel, and the riverside expanse of Big Beach.
This ride suits those with moderate fitness, and E-bikes are highly recommended for an easier climb through the gorge.
The ride finishes at Arthur’s Point, where you can enjoy a well-earned lunch and drink at Gantley’s Tavern or Canyon Brewing before your return transfer to Queenstown.
Trail Difficulty:
While we’d love all bikers to come and enjoy this new ride, the reality is this trail is not suitable for less experienced riders. Most of this route is on Grade 2 (Easy) or Grade 3 (Intermediate) trail, but some sections are on Grade 4 (Advanced).
What do the NZ Cycle Trail Grades look like?
On this ride you will encounter sharp switchbacks, steep drop-offs, obstacles, and sections of ‘Hike-A-Bike’, all of which are not to be underestimated.
Before booking this ride, ask yourself:
- Do you have experience riding on narrow bike trails with many switchbacks?
- Are you confident riding on an exposed trail with steep drop-offs?
- Are you comfortable riding over obstacles such as large rocks and tree-roots?
If you answered ‘No’ to any of these questions, this is not the ride for you. It’s worth checking out one of the easier rides, such as Arrowtown To Gibbston. However, if you ride regularly, are fit, and can be reasonably self-sufficient, this ride might be a great option.
Our goal is for riders to enjoy this experience and to be safe doing so. Choosing a ride within your capability is a key part of making your experience with us a success.
Some of our other winter rides can be found by following this link.
Pricing:
* Please note, due to the difficulty of the trail this ride is not available for children 14 years or younger.
Ride Schedule:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the new Hugo Tunnel on this ride?
Yes!
How difficult is this ride?
The second half of this 28 km bike ride is challenging. There are sharp switchbacks, steep drop-offs, up-hill climbs, and obstacles such as tree roots. This ride is only suitable for riders with previous experience of Grade 4 (Advanced) mountain bike trails.
Most customers have a better experience riding with an E-bike for this ride.
What happens if there is bad weather?
We usually make a weather call on-the-day as it often turns out not as bad as the forecast suggests. If you are uncertain in the morning of your ride, give us a call 45 mins – 1 hr before the shuttle departs and we will discuss options. If we deem the weather is unsuitable for riding, we first try to re-schedule to another time or another day but if that isn’t possible we would refund your ride (less a 3% merchant fee).
More FAQs can be found by following this link.
Kids Options
We do not recommend taking young children on this ride unless they are experienced riders, as there are grade 4 sections of trail with challenging terrain and significant hills. Additionally, child trailers and tag-along (half) bikes cannot be used due to tight corners and narrow sections along the trail. For safety, this ride is best suited for independent riders who are confident on uneven terrain.
A paper copy of this map will be provided before your ride.
