Hello,

Just after some advice on New Zealand. Booked a 4 week holiday for the new year with the aim of doing some biking. Any recommendations of good trails , bike hire companies and guides would be very welcome. I'm looking for some lift assisted rides and hele biking but do not mind peddling up as well. I enjoy natural trails and anything very technical that flows well. thank you all.

I bookmarked the following thread from three months ago as I'm going to be in NZ for December. It might give you a starting point;

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mtb-holiday-in-new-zealand

Ill be there in 8 weeks, some useful info in that thread

Try Rotorua and Taupo. The hostels I stayed in all had loads of info on biking. I hired a bike for a few days and just headed off. NZ is a mountain biker's paradise! I was going to move there but somehow haven't got round to it 🙄

Banks Peninsula is 'local' to folk in ChCh. Otherwise just look for a mountain and you wont go far wrong. Post back if you cant find any. Its 15 years since I went there touring and mtbing was banned in National Parks but sure thats changed now, I hope. You will have the time of your life… Enjoy!

I loved Rotorua (North Island) and Wanaka (South Island) for awesome trail centre riding. I could have spent a week riding Rotorua and a good few days in Wanaka.

Wanaka is nice, like the queenstown but not as commercial. I went with fat tyre and did a big day out with 4×4 assist, weather wasn't good enough for heli biking. Good days riding recommended .Queenstown does/did have downhill course next to the cable car…

Rented bikes in Taupo, that was ace nice riding.

Bike rental was variable, some places I got nice new full susses. But I did more than one black run on an 80mm hardtail with v brakes. Entertaining for a little while but not more than a few hours.

I met a guy off here, paul of essence cycles in Wellington. Proper niche (I laughed when I met him as he fitted a fair few stereotypes) singlespeed steel something or other. Lent me a bike and took me fo ride in the pouring rain.

http://www.fat-tyre.co.nz/

and

essence has closed up (in frustration?) http://www.vorb.org.nz/essence-bicycles-closing-down-t101169.html

The Whacka forest by Rotorua is great fun. I did a heli drop trip organised by vertigo bikes in Queenstown which was also excellent.

Queenstown and Wanaka both do good heli biking and uplift service, did both but found Wanaka a bit more chilled for my liking. Will be trying them again in March, giving Nepal a bash first though in 9 weeks time 😆

Have a look at this site:tracks nz

There is lot's of riding here, however we do not have the network of bridleways and public access is limited when land is privately owned.

4 weeks is a short time in NZ, remember land mass wise we are larger than the UK. Use your time wisely. Public transport here is cr@p compared with the UK. A Vehicle is an advantage.

Some Highlights
-Rotorua (well established "trail centre")
-Wellington (a mixed bag of trails)
-Queenstown (our version of a "alpine style biking")
-Christchurch (coastal trails near town)
-Hawkes Bay (mixed bag of trails)
-Queen Charlotte walkway is a great multi day ride (restrictions apply)

Have fun!