Cycling Tours in Queenstown

Cycling tours, wine rides and bike hire in Queenstown
Queenstown's cycling runs from vineyard-hopping in Gibbston Valley to an alpine e-bike climb above Lake Wakatipu, with the Wakatipu Basin's river trails linking Arrowtown, Frankton, and the town centre in between. Book a wine tour by bike, join a guided e-bike ride, or hire your own set of wheels from Queenstown Gardens and build the day yourself.

Bike the wineries of Gibbston Valley at your own pace
Three self-guided routes get you into Gibbston Valley's wine country on two wheels. The full-day ride to Gibbston Valley crosses the Kawarau Suspension Bridge before easy riding through the valley on the Gibbston River Trail, with time to work through cellar doors such as Gibbston Valley, Chard Farm, and Peregrine between tastings and a long lunch. Shorter on time, the half-day version starts right at The Church Cellar Door and takes in two or three wineries over undulating trail. The Valley of the Vines route begins in Arrowtown instead, crossing the Kawarau Bungy Bridge on gravel trail before reaching Mt Rosa, Waitiri Creek, and Cargo Brewery, better suited to riders already comfortable on a mountain bike.

Guided e-bike wine tour to Gibbston Valley
Ride to the Vines swaps the map for a Moustache e-bike and a local guide, tracing the Arrow and Kawarau Rivers over four suspension bridges, including the Kawarau Bungy Bridge, before stopping for personalised tastings at hand-picked cellar doors in Gibbston. Any wine you buy along the way gets collected and held until the tour ends, so there's nothing to carry on the ride back into town.

Alpine e-bike tour to Grant Peak
Ride to the Sky leaves from Frankton and climbs through farmland and old glacial terrain to the top of Grant Peak, where The Remarkables, Ben Lomond, Coronet Peak, Arrowtown, and Gibbston Valley all come into view at once. The trail is private and exclusive to the tour, and the e-bike's turbo assist keeps the climb manageable even if the Grade 2-3 terrain is new to you.

Self-guided rides and bike hire around Arrowtown and the Basin
The Arrowtown to Gibbston ride follows the Wakatipu Basin's river trails and two suspension bridges before the Kawarau River crossing, site of the world's first commercial bungy jump, finishing at a Gibbston winery for tastings or a platter. Prefer to end back in town? The Arrowtown to Queenstown route follows the Twin Rivers Trail past Lower Shotover and Frankton, taking in old gold-mining sites and a run of film locations before finishing at the bike racks on Shotover Street. Riding solo, Going Blue delivers bikes, e-bikes, helmets, and repair kits straight to your accommodation, with staff on call if you'd rather plan your own day through the vineyards, lakefront, or hills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cycling tour in Queenstown for wine lovers?
For most visitors, the guided Ride to the Vines e-bike tour is the easiest way to combine cycling with wine tasting in Gibbston Valley, since a guide handles the route and the tastings. To explore at your own pace instead, the full-day self-guided ride to Gibbston Valley covers the same wine region.

Do I need cycling experience for the Queenstown wine tours?
Most wine-tour routes, including the full-day and half-day Gibbston rides and the guided e-bike wine tour, run on flat to gently undulating trail suited to casual riders. The Valley of the Vines route and the climb on Ride to the Sky involve gravel and steeper sections better suited to riders with some mountain biking experience.

Can I hire a bike in Queenstown without booking a tour?
Yes. Going Blue delivers bikes and e-bikes to your Queenstown accommodation with helmets, maps, and repair kits included, so you can ride the lakefront, Gibbston Valley, or the Wakatipu Basin trails on your own schedule.

What's the difference between the self-guided and guided cycling tours?
A self-guided tour like Arrowtown to Gibbston gives you a bike, a map and a route, then leaves the pace and stops up to you. A guided tour such as Ride to the Sky or Ride to the Vines includes a guide who handles navigation and safety, plus the tasting bookings on the wine tour.

Are e-bikes available for the Queenstown cycling tours?
Most operators here offer e-bikes, including Going Blue's hire fleet and the guided Gibbston wine e-bike tour and Grant Peak e-bike tour, both running top-of-the-range Moustache e-bikes, with turbo assist on the Grant Peak climb.