Bikepacking New Zealand

Explore Aotearoa at your own pace on these bikepacking adventures – just a few suggested itineraries from an ever-expanding network of cross-country riding routes.

32 Bluff by Marilyn Northcote IMG 0533 higher res shadows20 HDR20

Tour Aotearoa

Location Black Cape Reinga—Bluff
Clock Black 3000km / 10–100 days

Want to ride the length of New Zealand? You’re not the only one. This 3000km epic is now regarded as one of the greatest bikepacking trips in the world!

right arrow
DSC04715 credit Jonathan Jennett

Kōpiko Aotearoa

Location Black East Cape—Cape Egmont
Clock Black 1071km / 5–12 days

Cutting a track across the central North Island via a series of awesome trails, this technically easy, but physically challenging, route goes super-scenic through hilly and remote country.

right arrow
Old Ghost Road Ghost Lake to Lyell credit HagePhoto

Kahurangi 500

Location Black Tapawera—Takaka—Karamea—Murchison
Clock Black 500km / 5–10 days

Stunning scenery and tough singletrack define this 500-kilometre loop in the northwest corner of the South Island taking in a series of epic trails including the Heaphy Track and The Old Ghost Road.

right arrow
Twin Coast Cycle Trail bridge Ruth Lawton Photography

Twin Coast Mega Loop

Location Black Whangarei—Bay of Islands—Hokianga
Clock Black 390–425km / 4–6 days

Coast to coast and back again, this Northland touring route heads up the Pacific Coast and across the Twin Coast Great Ride before looping back through kauri forest and cross-country back to Whangārei…

right arrow
01 Raglan Harbour 20171221 121154 Jonathan Kennett

Raglan to Te Awa Loop

Location Black Pukekohe—Raglan—Otorohanga—Hamilton
Clock Black 490km / 5–8 days

Just an hour’s train journey from Auckland, this ride passes three beautiful west coast beaches via quiet gravel roads and weaves across the Waikato following the mighty river for some of the way.

right arrow
01 Wild Coast by JK P2085124 Large Jonathan Kennett

Remutaka Ranges Plus

Location Black Wellington—Hutt Valley—Wairarapa
Clock Black 177km / 2–3 days

This short bikepacking mission is super-close to the capital and takes in all sorts of landscapes – harbour, riverside, rural and coastal – with historic landmarks thrown in too.

right arrow
Molesworth Muster credit Jonathan Kennett DSC04846

Rainbow–Molesworth

Location Black Picton—Nelson—Hanmer Springs—Blenheim
Clock Black 556km / 5–8 days

Follow remote roads and cycle trails for an adventure packed with glorious landscapes, local history and satisfying small-town attractions around the north-east corner of the South Island.

right arrow
LachlanGardiner NZNov18 WESTCOAST DAY 08 0897

Wilderness No. 8

Location Black Greymouth—Hokitika—Kumara—Moana
Clock Black 234km / 2–3 days

This figure of eight loop links sections of West Coast Wilderness Trail with back roads to create a journey boasting breathtaking scenery, rich heritage and small-town charms.

right arrow
Alps2Ocean Pukaki Flats Lake Ohau credit Jason Menard

Alps 2 Hakataramea Loop

Location Black Lake Tekapo—Twizel—Omarama—Kurow
Clock Black 323km / 3–5 days

Mighty alps, surreal glacier-fed lakes and tussocky highlands are just some of the scenic splendours you’ll see on this ride combining the A2O with the Hakataramea Pass.

right arrow