A stunning self-guided bike ride from Arrowtown to Queenstown.
Head out on a 25 minute shuttle from Around The Basin’s shop to Arrowtown. Once there, you will be provided with all of the tools you need for this self-guided adventure ride: a quality mountain bike or E-bike with a helmet; a detailed briefing to explain the route; and our trail map to help with navigation. There’s the opportunity to explore Arrowtown – once a historic settlement built during the Gold Rush era – or grab a coffee to help fuel your day.
The route starts by following the Arrow River Trail downstream to the Morven Ferry, crossing the river via a few spectacular bridges. From there you’ll join the Twin Rivers Trail, which follows the Kawarau and Shotover rivers to the shores of Lake Whakatipu. Expect to see incredible alpine views throughout this section as you traverse the foothills of The Remarkables mountains. Even the Old Shotover Bridge, which has spanned the river for more than a century, provides outstanding views of two ski areas.
The last stage of the journey is a gentle, flowing trail along the lake’s edge, passing a few cafés and even a brewery, before the finish line back in central Queenstown.
This ride is on wide gravel trails, graded either 2 or 3 (as shown in the images above). The minimum riding distance is 35 km (21 miles) with a few decent hills. It is recommended for those who are confident riders with a good level of fitness.