Gravel bikes NZ offer a whole new world of adventure. They mix the road bike ethos with a relaxed geometry, bigger tires, and intuitive, discreet electric power.
Whether an experienced rider or a beginner, gravel biking offers something for everyone. Discover some of New Zealand’s top gravel trails and start exploring.
Pureora Trail
A mix of old logging tramways and roads, purpose-built single track and a series of thrilling suspension bridges make the Timber Trail one of the most scenic and challenging cycle tracks in New Zealand. Running between the tiny settlements of Pureora and Ongarue with even smaller Piropiro in the middle, it features 35 bridges (the longest being an eye-popping 141m), all designed to thrill the Lycra wearers. The 85km path also passes through impressive native forest, exotic forestry and open vegetation.
Once the domain of hardcore trampers and hunters, this deep wilderness is a world of awe-inspiring beauty with a rich backstory spanning a century of changing forestry practices. The Timber Trail takes you deep into the ancient Pureora forest in central North Island’s King Country, northwest of Lake Taupo.
The trail is graded as a Grade 2 (easy), but some decent climbs and more technical sections push it to a Grade 3 for reasonably fit, experienced cyclists. E-mountain bikes are permitted, and many riders choose to use them.
This is a long ride requiring a good level of fitness, but the scenery and bridges make it worthwhile. Day one starts with a big climb, but the kilometres tick by quickly as the track winds through stunning forests and clearings.
The top section takes you through the Pikiariki Ecological Area before climbing Mount Pureora. The track sidles around the mountain 940m above sea level, crossing two large suspension bridges as you go. From here, it’s downhill to the halfway point and camping ground at Piropiro.
The Timber Trail is best made in a two-day ride, with the option of staying at an off-grid eco-lodge at the halfway mark. That means you don’t have to lug your food and camping gear on the bike, which can make the difference between an enjoyable ride and a joyless slog. Alternatively, a shuttle service operates between the trail and various accommodation providers. Click on the “Shuttles” tab for details.
Remutaka Trail
For a gravel bikes NZ ride that feels both epic and accessible, take to the Remutaka Trail. It flits between urban townships and untamed wilderness, with easy detours to attractions like the Dowse Art Museum(open in a new window) and craft beer hub Brewtown. The 115-kilometre trail is a joy for all levels of cyclists, with day rides as feasible as the whole two to three-day shebang.
Starting in Petone, a 15-minute road or train journey from downtown Wellington, you’ll pedal along the Hutt River Trail into the leafy suburbs of Lower and Upper Hutt before escaping to the bushy hills on the Remutaka Rail Trail. This well-loved local bike ride and walk include peaceful picnic spots, fascinating railway relics (including eerie tunnels) and scenic bridges.
Built-in 1878, this former rail route between the Hutt Valley and Featherston is a popular hike and mountain bike track with swimming, fishing and camping opportunities. Climb gently over the Remutaka Ranges and enjoy views over Pakuratahi Forest, where the historic ‘Fella locomotive’ used the famous ‘Fell system’ to climb the steeper-than-normal Incline of the Rimutaka Incline (see photo). Plunge into a restored railway tunnel, cross the historic ‘Howe truss bridge’ spanning the Pakuratahi River and discover information boards detailing the enormous task it took to construct the old fell railway system.
The track continues northwards to Maymorn Station and crosses under State Highway 2 before linking up with the Remutaka Cycle Trail, which traces the old railway line’s original alignment over the Remutaka Range between Kaitoke and Cross Creek in Wairarapa. Here you’ll find the historic Fell locomotive Incline, which uses a ‘Fella system’ to negotiate a more steep incline than the rest of the track, and the impressive Summit Tunnel (1877).
From here, you ride through the farmland of the Wairarapa region to Lake Onoke and the sands of Ocean Beach, a wild stretch of rugged coastline popular with surfers and bird watchers alike. It’s home to indigenous and migratory waterbirds and provides a welcome respite from the hustle of the city streets.
Roxburgh Gorge Trail
The Roxburgh Gorge Trail is one of Central Otago’s recent additions to New Zealand’s extensive network of gravel bikes NZ trails. It features a series of jaw-dropping landscapes and an equally fascinating gold mining heritage revealed in a way that’s easy on the eyes and the legs. This 94km ride can be completed in two days or broken into shorter day rides and easily linked to the world-famous Otago Central Rail Trail, the brand-new Lake Dunstan Track, and the even more recent Clutha Gold Trail.