15 Mountain Bike Tours in New Zealand to Build a Day Around

1.Half-Day Self-Guided Mountain Bike Journey through Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · from $34Our pick

You’ll collect a Giant mountain bike and helmet near Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest, then choose a route from about 160 km of marked trails. Staff help match your ride to your ability and offer route advice. Plan for roughly four hours, with a café and mechanical support onsite.

“Great experience but the company did a poor job of directions to the place. They dropped the pin in the forest along a private road. They definitely need to fix this problem.”

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2.Remutaka Rail Trail Mountain Bike Explorer Cycle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · from $124

Cycle 28km of the Remutaka Rail Trail from Kaitoke to Cross Creek on a standard mountain bike, with lunch, safety gear, and return shuttles included. Staff such as Isaac provide a clear briefing, then you ride independently through forest, tunnels, bridges, and open country.

“file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/7a/10/3770E91D-2F80-481E-8C88-F364F3025824/IMG_1552.MOV.3gp If the day would not have been as tretchoeus, it would have been great. The rain was pouring sideways when we started. I askRead more”

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3.Arrowtown Mountain Bike Hire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $52

Pick up a bike at 4 Buckingham Street and explore Arrowtown on your own schedule. Choose an easy ride such as the Arrow River Bridges Trail or spend the day on mountain bike paths. Helmets, maps, panniers, drink bottles, snacks, and trail support are available.

“The bike hire was great, the store front was located conveniently near the trails and the team were super helpful! We hired plain old mountain bikes and did the arrow rivers bridges trail which was an easy bike ride with picturesque views. Read more”

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4.Lava Loop- Guided electric mountain bike tour in Akaroa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $192

Join Greville and the Akaroa Ebike Safaris team for a guided ride up the slopes of an extinct volcano. The Lava Loop uses Scott pedal-assist mountain bikes on mostly sealed roads, with harbour views, crater-rim riding, safety gear, and a small group of no more than seven.

“The tour was great. We were met by Greville and he set us up for the ride through the hills. The E-bikes made the ride very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.”

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5.Remutaka Rail Trail Mountain Bike Explorer Cycle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $124

Cycle the Remutaka Rail Trail from Kaitoke through Pakuratahi Forest and over the Remutaka Ranges to Featherston. Wildfinder supplies bikes, helmets, safety gear, lunch, water, transport, and a trail briefing. The usual route is about 18 km, with longer and shorter options available.

“This was a fun cycle. We used the regular bikes (not e-bikes) and found it to be a decent workout on the uphill part! The tunnels, suspension bridge, forest trails, add variety and interest. We paused for a bit of bird watching at times. The packed lunch was quality. A very enjoyable day.”

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6.Guided Electric Mountain Bike & Sea Kayak Tour in Akaroa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $192

You’ll cycle from sea level to Akaroa’s crater summit on a powerful electric mountain bike, then paddle the crater’s marine reserve with a guide such as Joey. Expect steep grades, big views, snacks, photos, and possible penguin, dolphin, and cave sightings in a small group.

“Enjoying the peaceful and beautiful blue waters, kayaking into a cave…very cool! Then biking up and down 10-15%grade with absolute ease with the turbo feature on the e-bikes!”

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7.Akaroa: Guided Electric Mountain Bike Tour-Lava Loop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $104

Join a small guided group for a three-hour Scott or Trek electric mountain-bike ride from Akaroa to the crater rim. Max, Lourn, and other local guides share area stories while you tackle steep sealed roads, then enjoy a flowing descent with harbour and countryside views.

“Exhilarating! High intensity ride that paid big dividends in terms of views and sense of achievement. My guide, Lourn, guide was great. Kept me safe and shared heaps of local knowledge - history, culture, flora and fauna.”

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8.Unlock Your Potential with a Private mountain bike lesson.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $201

Meet your private coach in Queenstown, ride about 10 minutes to 7 Mile Bike Park, and spend four relaxed hours building mountain bike skills. Coaches including Piyush, Paris, and James work with beginners through advanced riders, using a full-suspension bike option and trails beside Lake Wakatipu.

“A great day! Piyush took my 14 yr old nephew out for a private MTB lesson and he had a wonderful time. While my nephew is a pretty confident rider, Piyush challenged him to expand his expertise - sharing advice and experience acrosRead more”

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9.Akaroa Explorer: Guided Electric Mountain Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9 reviews · 2 hours · from $86

Ride a high-powered Scott e-mountain bike around Akaroa with a local guide such as Max or Jack. This two-hour small-group outing combines quiet coastal roads, moderate climbs, lighthouse views, Māori cultural sites, and fresh Pacific air. Basic cycling confidence and comfortable sports shoes are essential.

“Nous avons reçu un accueil formidable de la part de Max mais malheureusement l’équipement n’était pas de qualité avec beaucoup de problèmes mécaniques ce qui a empathie sur notre randonnée. Cela reste du bon matériel, mais il faut l’entretenir. Nous avons quand même passé un agréable moment en famille”

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10.Ride Queenstown’s Stunning Trails on a Mountain Bike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · from $27Best value

Pick up a well-maintained hardtail mountain bike at 3 Searle Lane and ride Queenstown’s gravel trails at your own pace. You’ll get quality gear, a trail map, and local route advice. Family equipment includes children’s bikes, trailers, and tag-alongs.

“Brilliant day with incredible views and some challenging but fun riding. Guides were friendly and knowledgable and bikes were in good condition. Despite a few moments of wishing I had chosen an E-bike on some of the larger hills, overall I am glad I chose to challenge myself as it was very satisfying when I got back to QT.”

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11.Guided Electric Mountain Bike Tour- Akaroa Explorer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $96

Ride a Scott or Trek pedal-assist mountain bike from Akaroa with a local guide. Over 2.5 hours, you’ll follow quiet sealed roads past the lighthouse, coastal viewpoints, the marine reserve, and sites of Maori cultural importance. Choose between two routes for different fitness levels.

“Was offered a self guided ride instead on the crater loop. Navigation very easy and the scenery was awesome. Ebike really helps us to enjoy the ride. My son and I really enjoyed the ride.”

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12.Akaroa: Electric Mountain Bike and Sea Kayak Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 3 reviews · 5h 30m · from $164

Spend about five and a half hours cycling and kayaking around Akaroa with a local guide. Ride an electric mountain bike on quiet sealed roads to crater views, then paddle through a protected marine reserve where Hector dolphins, fur seals, and white-flippered penguins may appear.

“Operator was great and accommodating. We saw multiple marine life and had nice weather. I did a self guided ride as there was not a group to go with the day I wanted to. They told me the ride would be alot of uphill and was it ever! Even hills on the way back when you think you're done! I also hit up the akoroa winery on my ride and staff were very friendly so stick a $10 in your pocket and make a stop!”

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13.Electric Mountain Bike & Sea Kayak Tour in Akaroa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $176

Spend 5.5 hours with local guides Jack and Greville, combining an electric mountain bike ride on the Lava Loop with a sea kayak safari through Akaroa’s marine reserve. Expect striking crater views, birdlife, helpful instruction, and a real workout in a group of no more than seven.

“We absolutely loved our time kayaking with Jack on the water and with Greville on the ebikes! They both did a great job giving us instructions and then guiding us each step of the way. We had a group aged 9 to mid-50s with mixed experienRead more”

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14.Beginner Downhill Mountain Biking Lesson in Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $58

Start with a 90-minute beginner lesson at Christchurch Adventure Park, where an instructor teaches basic downhill technique before guiding you down a beginner trail. Your bike, full-face helmet, protective gear, and one chairlift uplift are included. Riders must be 13 or older.

“We had some great experience at CAP. A group of friend (totally green to downhill) enrolled for the downhill apprentice lesson during Easter Break, we were guided by CJ & Megan, they provided some really good introduce to us total beginnRead more”

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15.Lake Taupo – Maori Rock Carvings Package (Mountain Biking & Kayaking)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $95

Start at Acacia Bay, bike the W2K trail from Kinloch to Whakaipo Bay, then paddle across Lake Taupō to Mine Bay’s Māori Rock Carvings. Your $95 package includes the bike, helmet, kayak gear, lunch, and an intimate group of no more than eight people.

“WARNING! Only for serious Mountain Bikers! When I signed up for this trip with my daughter, the title of this new tour did not include the word Mountain bike.The description makes it seem as if any tourist would enjoy a day on the trail With a mountain bike, but doesn't explRead more”

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