Biking the Queen Charlotte Track in Marlborough
Mountain Biking in Marlborough, NZ
Biking the Queen Charlotte Track in Marlborough
Cycling through vineyards in Marlborough
  • Mountain Biking

    1 of NZ's Great Rides

  • Rides for everyone

    Grades 1 to 5

  • Cycling the vines

    30+ cellar doors

  • NZ Cycle Trails

    3 of the best

Guide

Biking

Mountain bike Marlborough’s epic high country trails and coastal ridges, road bike undulating routes at the edge of the sea, tour on long flat runs through vine-clad valleys or take the whole family biking along one of the region’s many rivers.

Marlborough boasts brilliant weather, stunning scenery and an abundance of acclaimed mountain and road trails, including a Great Ride and three Trails along the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Nga Haerenga.

This pedaller’s paradise has thrilling adventure, low key rides, and everything in-between.

D'Urville Island/Rangitoto ki te Tonga

At the top of the Marlborough Sounds, the rugged, isolated roads of Rangitoto ki te Tonga/D'Urville Island are an increasingly popular mountain biking destination for a day or for longer.

The unsealed, largely 4WD-only roads make for great mountain biking trails suitable for standard mountain bikes and E-bikes. While not technical, the routes are steep and windy in areas and the mountain biking is considered at an advanced level, grade 3-5.

Much of the road is located within almost 6,000 hectares of public conservation land that was once a farm and now form the D'Urville Island Scenic Reserve. You'll pass through lush native forest and onto exposed ridges with sweeping views which, on a clear day, stretch across the sea to the Outer Marlborough Sounds and as far as Mt Taranaki.

There is no bike hire on the island, so bring your own on the water taxi or barge from Anaru/French Pass settlement. You can choose to be dropped off and picked up at Kapowai Bay or Catherine Cove. Ride one way or return, or stay at the Wilderness Resort in the cove. From the road near the highest point on the island, it's an exhilerating descent to your accommodation – or a grunty climb to start your day.

Another popular ride is across to the island's western side, to Moawhitu at Greville Harbour. Do it return from Catherine Cove or Kapowai Bay in a day, stay at the Department of Conservation's Moawhitu Campsite or pre-book the community hall at Kupe Bay.

Grade

Advanced

Length

Variable times and distances

Shared Pathway Etiquette

1. Keep left.
2. Cyclists should let pedestrians know when they are approaching by politely calling out or ringing a bell when approaching from behind.
3. Cyclists should pass on the right, when possible – unless the pedestrians are on the right in which case pass them in the safest way possible.
4. Cyclists should ride defensively and cycle at a speed that does not put others at risk.

Search & book

View My Trip