Transfer from Wanaka Bus Station at 0830 to Kinross Winery and ride the Kawarau Gorge Trail with Official Trail Partner nzbiketrails
Ride New Zealand's spectacular new Kawarau Gorge Trail with nzbiketrails from our base at Kinross Winery in the heart of the Gibbston Valley, riding through to Te Kano Winery, Bannockburn.
nzbiketrails will start this ride at the Kinross Winery. It is a great place to start because we genuinely love it. Like nzbiketrails, it's Qualmark Gold accredited, has an outstanding team, excellent food and wine and a relaxed atmosphere that perfectly complements a day on the bike. On your return from your ride there is no better place to relax, enjoy great food and have a celebratory drink after enjoying New Zealand's newest NZ Great Ride.
The Kawarau Gorge ride will be nearly 38km in length. It is graded Grade 1-3 (Easy to Intermediate) and includes a long remote section with approximately 30km between access points. This ride is for confident riders. If you have grown up with a bike and are confident on a bike, able to use gears and remain in full control of your bike you will love this ride. We will get you comfortable on our bikes before you start. If you enjoyed the lake Dunstan Trail you will love the Kawarau Gorge.
What makes the Kawarau Gorge Trail different?
Even if you've already ridden the Lake Dunstan Trail or Roxburgh Gorge, the Kawarau Gorge Trail offers a completely different experience. The trail follows the dramatic Kawarau River through steep schist cliffs and remote gorge scenery. The trail surface is similar to Lake Dunstan and Roxburgh Gorge, while the impressive cliff-mounted boardwalks are generally wider than those on Lake Dunstan to accommodate maintenance vehicles.
Because the gorge is deeper and narrower, you'll often experience cooler temperatures and stronger prevailing winds than on nearby trails. Mobile phone coverage is limited throughout much of the ride, and there is very little vehicle access, so we recommend riding with a friend or as part of a group rather than riding alone.
Photo credits: Southern Lakes Trail Trust (2025-2026) - images captured during construction of the Kawarau Gorge Trail.
nzbiketrails recommends e-bikes on all trails. nzbiketrails uses Sinch EZ 2.0 Trail Bikes which are great for all riders. These have a 630Wh battery and 85Nm of Torque. These bikes are designed to be great on these trails. Sinch is a New Zealand brand recommended by Consumer NZ. If you are a frequent rider and ride a full suspension bike at home, or are thinking of purchasing one, you may want to upgrade to one of our Trek Rail 8+ Full Suspension Trail Bikes (+$75pp). This is one of the best full suspension bikes that you can hire on the trails.
Who is this ride suitable for?
The minimum age for riders is 10 years old (140cm+ tall), riding e-bike only, and must be active riders at home who are comfortable changing gears and remaining in full control of their bike. We will get every rider comfortable on the e-bike before they start riding. nzbiketrails offers premium children's e-bikes including Specialized Turbo Levo SL 24-inch models and Sinch 26-inch e-bikes, allowing families to ride together comfortably.
Make it a cycling holiday
If you're travelling from further afield, we highly recommend staying at the Kinross Cottages. Just 25 minutes from Queenstown Airport, they are surrounded by vineyards and native landscapes, providing an ideal base for exploring Central Otago by bike.
Day 1 - Best of the Queenstown Trails - Staying at Kinross Winery
Day 2 - Kawarau Gorge Trail - Staying in Cromwell or Clyde (dependent on if you are riding the Roxburgh Gorge on Day 4)
Day 3 - Ultimate Lake Dunstan Trail Experience, including the scenic boat return
Day 4 - Roxburgh Gorge staying in Wanaka
Day 5 - Wanaka & Hawea Trails with a shuttle over to Queenstown at the end of the day
If you'd like us to organise your accommodation, bike hire, transport/shuttles, bag transfers and riding itinerary simply contact us at smiles@nzbiketrails.co.nz and we'll tailor a multi-day experience for you. Alternatively, you can book each ride individually and arrange the rest yourself.
What's included?
Your 'self-guided' experience includes:
- Premium Sinch e-bike hire or an upgrade to a Trek Rail 8+ Full Suspension E-bike
- Helmet - with MIPs or equivalent
- Direct phone access to your Guest Experience Manager throughout the day if assistance is required
- Safety briefing
- Bike lock, repair kit and pump
- One-way return shuttle from Te Kano Winery, Bannockburn back to the Meeting Point at Kinross Winery
- 8-12L pannier bag (no backpack required)
- Bottle cage (suitable for bottles up to 700ml)
- Free 24hr cancellation Policy - also able to change the date of the ride at any point before the 24 hours at no cost (subject to availability).
What to bring
- Water
- Sunscreen
- A fully charged mobile phone
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