Queenstown Trail

A flexible, choose-your-own-adventure trail network around Queenstown with plenty of short loops and a few standout point-to-point rides.

Time to Ride: Most riders sample it over 2-4 days by linking the main spines between Queenstown, Arrowtown and Gibbston. You can also ride individual sections as half-day outings.

Best Time to Go: Apr-Oct is the broad shoulder-to-winter window, with cooler temperatures and shorter days. Conditions can change quickly around Lake Wakatipu and the river gorges.

Getting there: Base yourself in Queenstown and start from town, Frankton, or Arrowtown depending on which section you want first. The network is designed to be ridden in either direction.

Costs: There is no mention of trail fees in the official description; expect your main costs to be accommodation, food, and any bike hire or shuttles you choose.

Difficulty: Moderate - the riding is mostly off-road and non-technical, but there are exposed drop-offs in places, blind corners with mixed users, and short road or driveway crossings that demand attention.

The Queenstown Trail is a purpose-built network of cycle and walking trails in Otago, funded initially as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail system. It links Queenstown, Arrowtown, Jack’s Point and the Gibbston area, with routes that often track close to rivers and lakes.

The appeal is variety: lakeside cruising around the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu, broad-open views from the Kelvin Peninsula toward mountains such as Cecil Peak, and river riding alongside the Arrow River and Kawarau River through vineyards in the Gibbston Valley. Several signature structures punctuate the ride, including the Edgar Bridge (an 80 metre suspension bridge over the Arrow Gorge) and the under-highway Barfoot Tunnel.

Historically, the network was first known as the Wakatipu Trails before being renamed the Queenstown Trail. The Wakatipu Trails Trust was set up in 2002, the Wakatipu Trails strategy was developed in 2004, and the trail was officially opened on 18 October 2012 by Prime Minister John Key and cyclist Sarah Ulmer near Arrowtown.

• Stage 1: Queenstown Gardens to Frankton (Frankton Track) - A lakeside run around the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu, largely off-road but close to roads in places.
• Stage 2: Frankton to Kelvin Heights (via Kawarau Falls Bridge) - Cross the now pedestrian-only Kawarau Falls Bridge and continue onto the Kelvin Peninsula side.
• Stage 3: Kelvin Heights to Jack’s Point (Jack’s Point Trail) - Open, big-sky riding with wide views across Lake Wakatipu toward Cecil Peak.
• Stage 4: Queenstown to Arrowtown (Countryside Trail via Frankton) - A key link between towns, including the historic Lower Shotover Bridge above the Shotover River.
• Stage 5: Lake Hayes circuit (Lake Hayes Trail) - A classic loop around Lake Hayes with multiple access points, good for an easy half day or rest-day spin.
• Stage 6: Frankton to Lake Hayes (Twin Rivers Trail) - A connector route that runs by both the Kawarau River and Shotover River and ties together several other rides.
• Stage 7: Arrowtown to Gibbston (Arrow River Bridges Trail) - Follow the Arrow River past multiple bridges and the under-road Barfoot Tunnel; this is one of the most memorable point-to-point sections.
• Stage 8: Gibbston Valley out-and-back loops (Gibbston River Trail) - Easy river-grade riding beside the Kawarau River with vineyard scenery and several loop options; upgraded in 2014 to become bike friendly and officially part of the trail.
• Stage 9: Arthurs Point to Tucker Beach (Shotover Gorge Trail) - A short but striking add-on (5.5 km one way) opened in 2025, with switchbacks near the Hugo Tunnel and the long Kimi-ākau bridge.

Apr-Oct covers cooler and quieter riding, but expect shorter daylight hours and fast-moving weather around Lake Wakatipu and in the river valleys. Bad weather can cause slips which may temporarily close parts of the track.

Year-round, the main on-trail hazards noted are exposed drop-offs (sometimes near rivers), a small number of road or driveway crossings, and the potential for collisions on blind corners due to mixed users travelling at different speeds and in both directions.

Most riders use Queenstown as the hub, since the network directly links from town to Frankton, Arrowtown and out toward Gibbston. Starting points are flexible: you can begin from Queenstown Gardens, from lakeside access near Frankton, or in Arrowtown for a river-first itinerary.

Because the routes can be started and finished in either direction, there is no single standard traverse. Many people ride outward to Gibbston via Arrowtown and return by the same network or by arranging a pickup, depending on how much they want to repeat sections.

No permit requirement is mentioned for riding the Queenstown Trail. In places the trail crosses private land such as working farms, and riders are encouraged to stay on the marked trail.

The surface is described as being nearly entirely off-road, with only a small number of sections crossing roads or driveways. Signage on the trail simply calls it Queenstown Trail. Bike hire, e-bikes and luggage transfer are not described in the provided sources, so plan to confirm services locally in Queenstown if you want a supported trip.

The most straightforward plan is to base yourself in Queenstown and do the network as day rides, which avoids moving accommodation and suits riders who want flexibility with weather and energy levels.

If you prefer a point-to-point feel, consider splitting nights between Queenstown and Arrowtown, and add an overnight near the Gibbston Valley if you want more time on the river and vineyard sections. Accommodation types and prices are not specified in the provided information, so book based on season demand and your preferred comfort level.