The best cycle trails in New Zealand for a motorhome holiday

Last reviewed 13 October 2026

With a motorhome you do not have to ride a cycle trail from one end to the other. You can park near the best part, ride it for a few hours, and be back in time to cook dinner in your own kitchen.

That changes which trails are worth your time. A 300 km trail with a great 20 km section is a better stop than a famous ride that needs three days and a luggage transfer.

Here are 13 trails that suit a motorhome trip, north to south. For each one you get the full length and grade, a short ride to try, and the things that catch people out. All but one are among New Zealand's 23 Great Rides. If you want the whole list, see the complete guide to New Zealand cycle trails.

The 13 trails at a glance

Lengths and grades are from Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails, the organisation behind the Great Rides. Trails close for slips, floods and roadworks more often than you would expect, so check the trail's own page at nzcycletrail.com the day before you ride.

What makes a trail work with a motorhome

• A good short section. You want two to four hours of the best riding, not the whole trail.
• A loop, or an out-and-back. A one-way ride means booking a shuttle to get back to the motorhome. That is fine, but you need to know before you set off.
• Somewhere to leave the motorhome. Trailhead car parks vary. Some take a 7-metre vehicle easily, some do not. Check before you drive there.
• Something else nearby. A ride in the morning and a winery, hot pool or beach in the afternoon makes a better day than six hours in the saddle.
• Power, if you have e-bikes. You will need to charge the batteries most nights you ride.

North Island

1. Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail

Northland · 87 km · Easiest to easy

The trail crosses Northland from Ōpua in the Bay of Islands to Hōreke on the Hokianga Harbour, through Kawakawa and Kaikohe. Most of it follows an old railway line, so the gradients are gentle.

Northland suits a slow motorhome trip. You can ride for a morning and spend the afternoon on the water in the Bay of Islands.

Short ride to try: Ōpua to the Whangae Tunnel and back. It is 5.6 km, takes about an hour, and suits children and people who have not ridden for a while.

Good to know: The last stretch from Ōkaihau down to Hōreke is intermediate, with steeper hills. The surface gets sticky after heavy rain. Check the trail website before riding between Ōpua and Kawakawa, because part of that section relies on a connection with the vintage railway.

2. Waipū Cove Trail

Northland · 8.5 km · Easy, mostly flat

This is the one trail on the list that is not a Great Ride. It is a local trail between Waipū township and the beach at Waipū Cove, and it earns its place because it is so easy to do from a motorhome. Whangārei District Council finished the final link in July 2026, so you can now ride the whole way off the road.

Park up, ride to the beach, swim, ride back. There and back is 17 km on a mostly gravel path.

On Campable, Sand Surf and Farm is the place to stay for this one. Book a couple of nights, leave the motorhome where it is and do the whole day by bike.

Good to know: It is a shared path, so expect walkers, dogs and children on scooters.

3. Hauraki Rail Trail

Waikato · 160 km · Easiest

If you have not ridden a bike for years, start here. The trail runs from Kaiaua on the Firth of Thames to Matamata in five sections, nearly all of it flat. Thames, Paeroa, Waihi and Te Aroha are all on the route, so food and coffee are never far away.

Short ride to try: Waihi to Karangahake Gorge and back, 34 km. You ride through the gorge and an 1,100-metre railway tunnel. Bring a light. For something flatter, Te Aroha to Matamata is 37 km of easy riding.

Inside the old railway tunnel on the Hauraki Rail Trail in the Karangahake Gorge. Photo: Pseudopanax, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Good to know: The gorge tunnel has had weekday closures in 2026 for rock work on the highway beside it. Check the trail website before you go. December to March is busy.

4. Waikato River Trails

Waikato · 104 km · Intermediate to advanced

These trails follow the Waikato River past its hydro lakes and dams, from near Lake Karapiro south to Atiamuri. The scenery is excellent. The riding is harder than the name suggests: over half the trail is graded advanced, with steep climbs and narrow track.

It is on this list for one section.

Short ride to try: Arapuni to Lake Karapiro and back. It is 23 km, intermediate, and takes two to three hours. While you are in Arapuni, walk across the suspension bridge. It is 152 metres long and more than 50 metres above the river.

Good to know: Do not plan to ride the whole trail without checking first. The road over Arapuni Dam closed in September 2026 for at least two years, and one section further south is closed by storm damage. Riding from Arapuni to Waipapa Dam now needs a support vehicle.

5. Great Lake Trails

Taupō · 88 km · Intermediate

The trails run through native bush above the north-western shore of Lake Taupō, with Kinloch as the hub. Every section is intermediate, so expect some climbing, loose rock and narrow track. On an e-bike it is very manageable.

Taupō is an easy place to fill the rest of the day: hot pools, Huka Falls, fishing, or a boat on the lake.

Short ride to try: Orakau car park to Kawakawa Bay and back, 20 km. The trail team recommends it for families and less experienced riders.

Good to know: The Waihaha section finishes at a bay with no road, so you need to book a water taxi. Apart from Kinloch, there is nowhere to buy food or water.

6. Whakarewarewa Forest Loop

Rotorua · 36 km · Easy

This one is made for a motorhome day because it is a loop. You finish where you parked and there is no shuttle to book. The trail circles the Whakarewarewa Forest, through the redwoods and past lake views, and takes three to five hours.

Start at Te Pūtake o Tawa car park or the Waipa mountain bike hub. Rotorua's hot pools are a good place to finish the day.

Good to know: About 95% of the loop is easy, with a couple of short intermediate sections.

7. Hawke's Bay Trails

Hawke's Bay · 177 km · Easiest

Hawke's Bay is a network of flat rides, not one long trail, and that suits a motorhome well. Pick a different ride each day and stay put for two or three nights.

The Wineries Ride (36 to 47 km) takes in the Gimblett Gravels vineyards. The Water Ride (35 km) follows the coast and estuary north of Napier. Clive to Clifton (15 km) ends near the Cape Kidnappers gannet colony, where the birds are in residence from October to March.

Short ride to try: The Puketapu Loop. It is 18 km along the Tutaekuri River, with a country pub at the halfway point.

Good to know: E-bikes on these trails must be under 300 watts. Low-lying parts near Awatoto and Ahuriri can flood.

South Island

8. Tasman's Great Taste Trail

Nelson Tasman · 200 km · Easy

The trail makes a big loop from Nelson through Richmond, Wakefield, Tapawera, Motueka and Kaiteriteri. Vineyards, breweries, orchards and cafes are spread along the coastal half, which is where most people ride.

Short ride to try: Nelson to Māpua, 35 km, two to three hours. You ride around the Waimea Estuary, cross Rabbit Island, and take a small ferry over to Māpua Wharf for lunch. Motueka to Kaiteriteri and back (32 km) is a good second day.

Good to know: The Māpua ferry runs to a limited timetable and is cancelled in rough weather, so check it before you leave. The inland section from Tapawera to Riwaka is 63 km of intermediate gravel. Spooners Tunnel is 1,400 metres long and cold, so bring a light and a jacket.

9. West Coast Wilderness Trail

West Coast · 133 km · Easy

The trail runs from Greymouth to Ross through rainforest, past lakes, and along old gold-mining water races and tramlines. Most people take four or five days over the whole thing. Hokitika makes a good base for a shorter visit.

Short ride to try: The Mahinapua ride from Hokitika. It is 15 km, easy, and takes about two hours plus stops. It follows an old logging tramline through the forest near Lake Mahinapua.

The West Coast Wilderness Trail in the forest near Mahinapua Creek, south of Hokitika. Photo: Mike Dickison, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain).

Good to know: There is almost no phone coverage between Kumara and Kaniere, so arrange any pick-up before you set off. A bridge near Ross was closed when this was written. The West Coast gets a lot of rain, and the trail does wash out.

10. Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

Mackenzie and Waitaki · 315 km · Easy to intermediate

New Zealand's longest Great Ride starts under Aoraki/Mount Cook and finishes at the sea in Ōamaru. Nobody expects you to ride all of it. It is split into nine sections, and with a motorhome you can drive to the ones you like the look of.

The first half, around the Mackenzie lakes, has the big mountain views and the easier riding.

Short ride to try: Twizel to Lake Ōhau, 38 km, easy, three to four hours. It is one-way, so book a shuttle back or ride part of it and turn around. Further down the valley, the Elephant Rocks near Duntroon are worth a stop even if you do not ride that section.

Good to know: The official start at Aoraki/Mount Cook includes a short helicopter flight across the Tasman River. You can skip it by starting at Lake Tekapo. Long stretches have no food or water.

11. Queenstown Trail

Queenstown · 138 km · Easy, with some harder sections

This is a network linking Queenstown, Frankton, Lake Hayes, Arrowtown and the Gibbston wine valley. Parking a motorhome in central Queenstown is hard work, so it helps to stay out of town and ride in.

On the trail: the Arrow River Bridges ride.

Watch the video on YouTube

Short ride to try: Arrowtown to Gibbston, 23 km. You follow the Arrow River, cross five bridges, and finish at the Kawarau Bridge bungy and the Gibbston wineries. Allow about five hours with stops. It is one-way, and several operators run shuttles back.

Good to know: Grades vary a lot across the network. The Jack's Point section is advanced. The Frankton Track and the Gibbston River Trail are easy.

12. Lake Dunstan Trail

Central Otago · 41 km · Easy to intermediate

The trail runs between Clyde and the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, along the edge of Lake Dunstan and through the Cromwell Gorge. In places it is bolted to the rock face above the water. It is one of the most photographed rides in the country.

It is also more dangerous than it looks in the photos. There are 580 metres of climbing, the track is narrow in places, and some sections have steep drop-offs with nothing between you and the lake. Riders have been hurt here. Take it slowly, stop if you want to look at the view, and walk any section you are not sure about. You should be comfortable on intermediate trails before you try it.

Start at Clyde, not Cromwell. You keep left on the trail, and riding from Clyde that puts you on the inside, against the hill. Riding from Cromwell puts you on the outside edge, next to the drop.

You can hire bikes in Clyde. If you arrange it in advance, the hire company will pick the bikes up from you in Cromwell at the end, so you do not have to ride back.

Where to stay: the Campable site on the Crown Range. Stay the night before so you can make an early start, and book a second night so there is no driving to do when you get off the bike.

Short ride to try: For an easier day, ride from Smiths Way to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct. It is 16 km, flat and graded easiest. This section is not officially part of the Great Ride, but it is a lovely ride along the lake.

Good to know: Clyde to Cromwell takes five to eight hours. There is no road access for most of the gorge, so once you are in, you ride out. About halfway, at Cairnmuir Gully, a floating cafe called Coffee Afloat sells coffee, scones and burgers. It is there most days from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, but carry water and food anyway. Our Lake Dunstan Trail guide takes you through the ride section by section. An e-bike helps a lot with the hills.

13. Otago Central Rail Trail

Central Otago · 152 km · Easiest

This is New Zealand's oldest cycle trail and the one that inspired the Great Rides network. It follows the old railway line between Clyde and Middlemarch through dry, wide-open country and old gold-mining towns.

The whole trail takes up to five days. With a motorhome you can drive between the small towns along the way and ride a section from each.

A rock cutting on the Otago Central Rail Trail. Photo: Ingolfson, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Short ride to try: Poolburn Gorge, between Lauder and Auripo. It has two tunnels and a viaduct, and it is the part most people remember. Bring a light.

Good to know: There is very little shade. Central Otago is hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter, so carry water and check the forecast.

Taking bikes on a motorhome

If you own your motorhome, you already know how your rack works. If you are hiring, sort the bikes out before pick-up day:

• Ask whether the hire company allows a bike rack, and whether they supply one.
• Ask what weight the rack takes. Two e-bikes can weigh 50 kg or more, which is too much for many racks.
• Ask where the batteries should travel. Most people take them off the bikes and carry them inside.
• Remember the rack adds length. That matters on ferries and in car parks.

You can also leave the bikes at home. The popular trails have hire shops at the trailhead, and most will shuttle you back to your motorhome at the end. Our guide to hiring a motorhome in New Zealand covers what else to ask.

Charging e-bikes

An e-bike battery needs mains power. A full charge usually takes three to six hours. That means a powered site, or a motorhome with an inverter and enough battery of its own.

If you are riding most days, plan for power most nights. When you book a Campable stay, check that the listing has power, and tell the host you want to charge bike batteries. Most will say yes, and some will have a better spot for it than a lead out the window.

Where to stay

Campable hosts are farmers, winegrowers, orchardists and people with lifestyle blocks who have room for a motorhome. Some places have power, water, a toilet and a shower. Others are a quiet paddock with a view. Each listing says what is there.

For a cycling trip, look for three things: power if you have e-bikes, a host near the section you want to ride, and somewhere you are happy to stay two nights. Staying put for a second night means you can ride straight from the gate and leave the motorhome where it is.

Hosts often know the local trail better than any website. Ask them which section they would ride.

Plan your trip

Pick two or three trails from this list that fit the direction you are travelling. Then use Plan a road trip on Campable. Choose where you start and finish and your dates, and it suggests a host for each night along the way.

Plan a road trip

Leave more time than you think you need. The best days on a trip like this are the ones where you did not have to drive anywhere.

Photo at the top: the Twin Coast Cycle Trail beside the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, between Kawakawa and Taumarere. Photo: Johnragla, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain).