Around the Mountains Cycle Trail

A multi-day Great Ride through Southland’s lakes, rivers and high-country stations, with an optional historic steamship start.

Time to Ride: Three to five days at a relaxed pace for the full 186 km, depending on how often you stop and how you handle the hillier road sections.

Best Time to Go: Most people aim for the warmer months. Shoulder-season trips are possible, but expect faster-changing weather and shorter daylight.

Getting there: The most common start is from Walter Peak Station after a boat trip across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown. You can also start at Kingston on the lake’s southern shore.

Costs: Costs are mainly accommodation, food, and any bike transport or logistics. If you choose the TSS Earnslaw crossing, budget separately for the boat ticket.

Difficulty: Moderate overall (Grade 2-3). It suits novices and families on the easier trail sections, but the 2.5 km Von Hill climb can be a sting and is sometimes walked.

The Around the Mountains Cycle Trail loops through a remote corner of southern New Zealand, delivering a mix of lakeside riding, wide valley roads, and purpose-built trail alongside clear rivers. The headline scenery includes alpine vistas and the pristine waters of the Mavora Lakes.

A classic highlight is starting with the century-old coal-fired steamship TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station, then riding out through high-country farm landscapes. From Centre Hill, the purpose-built trail tracks the south bank of the Ōreti River towards Mossburn, before the route works through small Southland townships and returns to the lakeshore at Kingston.

The ride is one of New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides and was developed through the New Zealand Cycle Trail programme, with major construction beginning in 2013 and the full trail completed in 2017. Interpretation panels and shelter upgrades were added in 2019, and flood repairs began in 2020 to help maintain the Grade 2 standard on key sections.

• Stage 1: Walter Peak Station to Mount Nicholas Road (part of 186 km) - Many riders begin with the TSS Earnslaw crossing of Lake Wakatipu, then roll into open high-country terrain on the first road stretches.
• Stage 2: Mount Nicholas Road to Mavora Lakes Road (part of 186 km) - Remote gravel and rural road riding with expanding alpine vistas; services are limited, so plan food and water conservatively.
• Stage 3: Mavora Lakes Road to Centre Hill (part of 186 km) - A transitional section linking the backcountry roads to the purpose-built trail network; expect exposed riding in changeable conditions.
• Stage 4: Centre Hill to Mossburn via the Ōreti River (part of 186 km) - One of the signature stretches: a constructed trail following the river’s south bank through tussock lands and farmland.
• Stage 5: Mossburn to Lumsden (part of 186 km) - Easier rolling terrain between Southland settlements, with a mix of trail and low-volume roads depending on the exact alignment.
• Stage 6: Lumsden to Five Rivers and Athol (part of 186 km) - Quiet countryside riding through small townships, good for steady mileage days with straightforward navigation.
• Stage 7: Athol to Garston including Von Hill (part of 186 km) - The toughest named pinch: the 2.5 km hill can be walked if needed, then the route opens back into broad valley riding.
• Stage 8: Garston to Kingston on Lake Wakatipu (part of 186 km) - A satisfying run back to the lakeshore finish, with big skies and a strong sense of returning to the mountains’ edge.

The trail is typically ridden in the warmer part of the year, when long daylight hours make it easier to handle the route’s remoter stretches and to ride at a relaxed touring pace.

Because this is an alpine-fringed, open landscape, be ready for fast-changing weather, wind, and colder snaps even when conditions look settled. After heavy rain, some sections may be affected by flooding or soft surfaces.

Most international riders route through Queenstown (the closest major hub to Lake Wakatipu). A popular start is to take the TSS Earnslaw from Queenstown to Walter Peak Station, then begin riding from the lakeside.

You can also start in Kingston at the southern end of the lake. The trail can be ridden in either direction, but the “steamer start” from Walter Peak Station is a well-known way to do it.

Permit requirements are not specified in the available sources; check with Southland District Council or local land managers before your trip. The route is a mix of approximately 90 km of predominantly Grade 2 constructed trail and additional sections on existing roads that are considered Grade 3.

Bike hire, e-bikes, and supported options (such as shuttles) are available through local operators in the wider Lake Wakatipu and Southland area, but availability varies by season. The route is signed as part of a Great Ride, and the hardest single climb noted is the 2.5 km Von Hill section, which can be walked.

Most riders base overnight stops around the settled points on the route, particularly Mossburn and Lumsden, with additional options as you pass through smaller townships like Five Rivers, Athol, and Garston. Expect a mix of motels, holiday parks, and local guesthouse-style stays rather than large hotels.

In peak months and around weekends, it is worth booking ahead, especially if you are building your itinerary around a specific TSS Earnslaw sailing or a fixed start date from Walter Peak Station.