Bike the Wanaka and Hawea Trails
5
Bike the Wanaka and Hawea Trails
By nzbiketrails Wanaka
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About
A brilliant way to explore the area and see the beauty all around. You will ride across plateaus, surrounded by mountains on relatively easy grade 1-2 family friendly trails.
The recommended route follows trails all the way from Hawea, alongside the Hawea river, through Albert Town and then follows the Clutha river to Wanaka.
On your way there are lots of interesting places to visit including Lake Hawea, Pembroke Patisserie, Wanaka, the Wanaka Tree and the Edgewater Hotel garden bar.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 8-80, max of 11 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
- Hire of bike - e-bike or regular bike
- Helmet - Specialized Camber Helmets with MIPs protection
- 8L Topeak Rear Trunk Bag (replaces need for a rucksack)
- Bike Lock, Puncture Repair Kit and Pump
- Safety Briefing
- Executive Return Shuttle
What's not included- Rider Insurance
- Start:
- 103 Ardmore Street, Wānaka 9305, New ZealandPlease meet outside the Wanaka i-Site. If you require a parking space there is normally parking available (without time limits) on each side of Pembroke Park, parallel to the Lakeside
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 388576P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 388576P3
From
$100.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 86julietf0 contributionsSuper customer service.Truly exceptional support and customer service. Helped us work through a tricky booking problem with great care and attention.Written 8 July 2024
- denhamania0 contributionsReally enjoyed our ride Hawea to WanakaMy wife & I did the one way Hawea to Wanaka trail and it was a really enjoyable ride. In total about 33km on gravel tracks few rocky uphill sections which will have you reaching for the gears. Well maintained tracks alongside beautiful river scenery. We took our time and completed the trail in about 4 hours which included a very tasty stop at Pembroke patisserie around the midway point. We were staying in Wanaka and James drove us out to start the trail in Hawea flats area providing lots of local information and pointing out the trail on the way. See mapmyride image attached. Highly recommended.Written 3 February 2024
- candace g0 contributionsGreat day on mountain bikesDavid was wonderful. Our 1st time on mountain bikes. These bikes were the most comfortable bikes we have ever been on. 38 km, we took a few side trips, and the bikes were just great. The scenery was amazing. I loved the spot where we started our trip, it had tremendous personality. We left at 1030 and got back at 430. David, thanks for a great day.Written 20 December 2023
- Meryl C0 contributionsGreat ride with a great company. David was amazing & super helpful.So super happy with our self guided cycle tour today. David was amazing. Great bikes, great knowledge & just so super helpful. At no stage did we get lost. 😀😀😀Written 3 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
118 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Richard M
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Couples
This was an amazing experience, seeing the views of Lake Wanaka and surrounding towns!
James our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and told us the bike tracks that we needed to go on to reach the destination. The bike tracks were easy to follow with no issues and the e-bikes were so easy to use!
We stopped at Pembroke Patisserie, which was on the way back and had some pies and cakes. This was really nice and is a great pit stop for a break. We also stopped at That Wanaka Tree and experienced breathtaking views!
I am definitely doing this experience again and recommend it to everyone (even for people who do not ride bikes as much). The bike tracks are designed to suit everyone’s needs.
Thank you James and NZ Bike Trails for making this an enjoyable experience!
James our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and told us the bike tracks that we needed to go on to reach the destination. The bike tracks were easy to follow with no issues and the e-bikes were so easy to use!
We stopped at Pembroke Patisserie, which was on the way back and had some pies and cakes. This was really nice and is a great pit stop for a break. We also stopped at That Wanaka Tree and experienced breathtaking views!
I am definitely doing this experience again and recommend it to everyone (even for people who do not ride bikes as much). The bike tracks are designed to suit everyone’s needs.
Thank you James and NZ Bike Trails for making this an enjoyable experience!
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Richard
Thank you for the review.
James does a brilliant job for nzbiketrails. As a passionate trail cyclist he really enjoys sharing the trails with our guests.
We look forward to hosting you again on the trails.
Smiles
David
Written 6 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Moira J
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Family
The friendly and professional service we received from James far exceeded our expectations. The information he provided us with on our transfer from Wanaka to the start of the trail was extremely informative and gave us points of interest to look out for. The e-bikes we were provided with were perfect for the terrain. Whilst this ride is relatively easy (we are a group of “old codgers”) it enabled us to soak in the spectacular scenery, stop periodically and enjoy a great days outing. From our first contact with NZ Bike Trails we couldn’t fault them as a company- great dialogue throughout, seamless booking process and always on hand to attend to any issue which may have arisen. Definitely allow time to pop into the Pembroke Patisserie; deliciously fresh and tasty seasonal food. Thank you to all the team at NZ Bike Trails.
Written 1 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review. I love sharing these with the team when they are mentioned with such high regard - James will be chuffed!
At nzbiketrails we work very hard to deliver what we hope will be a highlight of a guests holiday - great trails, great bikes, great experience supported by passionate trail cyclists who share a little history along the way.
The only part of the review that I would disagree with is the ‘old codgers’ comment!!!! You guys skipped along that trail, enjoyed your stops along the way and then got back with big smiles on your faces - I see this as an eternal youth!!!
Until next time - we look forward to hosting you on the trails in the future.
Smiles
David
Written 3 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Danielle P
Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
We got picked up in a comfy van outside the tourism office and David drove us to the start of the ride. He was very welcoming and gave us lots of tips for the ride and wanaka on the drive down. We hired 4 e-bikes and they were fantastic - new top of the line e-bikes. David took the time to go through everything for us on the bike and makes sure we were comfortable and told us what to do. The trail was unbelievable. Scenic, fun and exciting all in one. Mountains, river, lakes and a very well built trail. We absolutely loved it and would recommend anyone to hire a bike and do a trail with David. We’ll be back for sure. Bikes were then picked up when we were ready.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for the review and the kind words.
Great to see a family having so much fun exploring the local trails.
I look forward to our next adventure together
Smiles
David
Written 4 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kathy K
8 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This trip was amazing! Definitely a highlight of our time in NZ! James was friendly and so helpful with his instructions for the route. He gave us a great tip for lunch in Albert Town- the Patisserie. But best of all were the views- Lake Hawea was breathtaking and riding along the clear blue river was so beautiful too. We saw 2 surfers and a few kayakers who were surfing the rapids on the river. The path had minimal inclines but also had some great variety. I can’t say enough how much this bike ride is a must do if you love beautiful off road biking! The 31 km flew by- even with stopping many times to take pictures and just enjoy the fresh air and beauty of the lake, woods and mountains.
Written 21 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review.
These types of reviews really make us smile - it reinforces everything that we set out to try and deliver for our guests. To be classed as a highlight of a holiday is just humbling!
We look forward to hosting you on the trails in the future.
Smiles
David
Written 4 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FarAway27468762650
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Friends
James was amazing! E bikes were a new experience for us and he made us so comfortable, ensured our bikes were a proper fit, safe and provided detailed instructions on the operations of the e-bike. On the way to Hawea, James pointed out places of interest and the bike track along the way.
The e- bikes ( Sinch)were fantastic and made biking up elevation a breeze…
Overall was an awesome experience!
Would highly recommend James and NZ bike trails
Thank you James!!!
The e- bikes ( Sinch)were fantastic and made biking up elevation a breeze…
Overall was an awesome experience!
Would highly recommend James and NZ bike trails
Thank you James!!!
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Well done James - he is a fabulous member of the team! Our entire team are passionate trail cyclists who just love sharing the trails with our guests.
We look forward to hosting you on the trails in the future.
Thank you for riding with nzbiketrails.
Smiles
David
Written 18 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly Z
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
We had a wonderful time and David was the one to make sure of our great time! He dropped off the bikes at our campsite, made sure all our kids were safe and comfortable in their seats, made sure us adults knew how to safely ride the e-bikes, provided us with maps and suggestions of where to stop along the way, the. Picked us up and took us back to our campsite whenever we were ready. He created such a flexible and welcoming environment. Hands down my favorite bike tour I’ve ever done. It was well managed, beautiful, and fun! If you don’t have a good time on this bike tour, then that’s on you!
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review and riding with nzbiketrails.
That was a fun day! Great to see the kids enjoying their seats and the entire family having such a fun time.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday together. Next time let’s go and discover even more trails.
Thank you for using nzbiketrails
Smiles
David
Written 23 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter O
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We had an amazing time mountain biking from Hawea to Wanaka with NZ Biketrails. Dave was very passionate about his business and told us a lot about the area on our drive up to Hawea. He made sure that we understood where to go pointing out many places along the way that we needed to know about. We had little idea what the ride would be like and were blown away by the beauty and fun that we had. This was the best thing that we have done during our stay in NZ and would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants a bit of activity and would like to see the real beauty of this region. Admittedly we were quite tired at the end as it took us over 4 hours to complete with many stops on the way to rest and admire the beauty. Maybe an electric bike next time as we are not getting any younger. Thanks Dave for showing us this part of Wanaka and yes we also took your suggestion to have dinner at Wana Fusion and absolutely loved it.
This ride is a must do if visiting Wanaka!
This ride is a must do if visiting Wanaka!
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words.
We are very humbled when guests give us the ultimate accolade of being 'the best thing that we have done during our stay in New Zealand'.
Thank you for riding with nzbiketrails and we look forward to hosting you again in the future.
Smiles
David
Written 16 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bernardine L
1 contribution
Aug 2023
This is a must-do when in Wanaka and needless to say, the views are absolutely stunning. Our e-bikes were comfortable and easy to use (just remember to wear your padded cycle shorts as the ride time for us was 3hrs). David is a charm, passing on all his local knowledge on the drive out. On our next trip to Wanaka we will make sure to the the Dunstan trail.
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Bernardine,
Thank you for your review and kind words.
As you say the views are stunning on the Wānaka and Hāwea Trails. The Dunstan Trail is just as magnificent!
I look forward to hosting you on your next day on our trails.
Until next time.
Smiles
David
Written 28 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Margaret D
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Family
We had a great afternoon following the bike trail around Lake Hawea and back into Wanaka.
The views were amazing, the ride was not boring, always something to look at.
Our guide was fantastic, picking us up on time, and giving us a great rundown about biking on the way to our ride.
Dave gave great information about the ride and the bikes.
It was a great way to spend my birthday
I would thoroughly recommend this fun thing to do when next your in Wanaka
It took about three and a half hours with a few stops, it was 36 k all up
The views were amazing, the ride was not boring, always something to look at.
Our guide was fantastic, picking us up on time, and giving us a great rundown about biking on the way to our ride.
Dave gave great information about the ride and the bikes.
It was a great way to spend my birthday
I would thoroughly recommend this fun thing to do when next your in Wanaka
It took about three and a half hours with a few stops, it was 36 k all up
Written 13 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran P
Port Macquarie, Australia64 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Loved everything about our experience.
David picked us up and was a great tour guide of the area on our drive to the starting point.
David fitted bikes to our needs and ensured we were comfortable and understood bike before we set out on our ride.
The ride itself was spectacular. Beautiful scenery and adventurous for beginners and intermediate riders.
We could set our own pace and felt safe throughout the ride, knowing David could monitor our ride from afar.
Highly recommend the Lake Hawea to Wanaka ride as a must do Wanaka experience. Will be doing more trips with NZ Bike Trails
David picked us up and was a great tour guide of the area on our drive to the starting point.
David fitted bikes to our needs and ensured we were comfortable and understood bike before we set out on our ride.
The ride itself was spectacular. Beautiful scenery and adventurous for beginners and intermediate riders.
We could set our own pace and felt safe throughout the ride, knowing David could monitor our ride from afar.
Highly recommend the Lake Hawea to Wanaka ride as a must do Wanaka experience. Will be doing more trips with NZ Bike Trails
Written 8 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Fran
Thank you for your review.
I just love this ride - stunning scenery all around you whilst following the trails all the way back to Wānaka.
Safety is our biggest priority - followed by smiles - so anything we can do to deliver reassurance is critically important - This includes everything from the quality & maintenance of the bikes, the route overview, safety briefing, helmets and the equipment on the bikes - including the location readings. The latter helped us to add an extra check on a slower rider the other day to make sure that they were ok which was welcomed.
I look forward to hosting you on the trails again.
Smiles
David
Written 11 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
