If you’re planning a South Island MTB road trip, the Queenstown → Wanaka route is the holy grail. Two iconic alpine towns, world-class bike parks, endless singletrack, and more scenery than your camera roll can handle.
This guide breaks down every essential MTB stop from Queenstown to Wanaka – including trail picks, travel times, the best local food/beer stops, and why Bike Glendhu should be your final (and favourite) stopover.
Why the route rules
A Queenstown–Wanaka MTB mission packs the perfect combo of:
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World-class bike parks within 60–70 minutes of each other
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Trail diversity (flow, tech, jump lines, DH, backcountry-style riding)
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Easy logistics – (mostly) everything’s on SH6
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Epic MTB culture with cafés, breweries, and rental/repair options everywhere
If you’re heading through on a bigger South Island MTB road trip, this is the stretch where you’ll want to slow down and make the most of every stop.
The stop-by-stop guide
Queenstown: The kick-off
Queenstown is stacked with riding – perfect for a multi-day warm-up before you hit the Crown Range.
Must-ride spots
Ben Lomond Trails (Skyline Queenstown)
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Famous for: Tech, DH, jumps, high-speed laps
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Vibe: “I only ride park”
Coronet Peak
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Famous for: Club trail favourites and more recently, lift-access in the resort
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Trails to hit: Hot Rod, Rude Rock (a bucket-list NZ classic) and new tech go-to Carry On (make sure you grab a shuttle!)
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Famous for: Climby trail network great for warming up your legs and skill-building
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Perfect for: Road trip day 1 or a shorter post-drive spin
Fuel up
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Atlas Beer Café – MTB classic
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Yonder – good coffee + calories
Once the Queenstown stint is done, point the van/car toward the Crown Range.
Option 1: Cardrona Bike Park
Located right smack in the middle of the Crown Range, Cardrona is made for road-trippers. Head up to NZ’s highest bike park, grab a pass, jump on the lift, and get straight into huge terrain.
What it’s known for
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The South Island’s highest bike park
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Chairlift laps = maximum descent
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Tech, jump lines, and high-alpine rock gardens
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Easy to access when transferring between Queenstown and Wanaka
Must-ride trails
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Peak to Pub – Iconic
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Mile High Club – Big gaps, tables, drops, shark fins and more
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Dirtstar DH – Looong, exposed DH track
Get your fill at altitude, then roll down the Crown Range into Wanaka.
Option 2: Alexandra
If you’re keen to add something completely different to your South Island MTB road trip, the 20–25 minute detour to Matangi Station MTB in Alexandra is a no-brainer.
Forget loamy forest and manicured bike-park lines – Matangi delivers raw, rocky, technical Central Otago riding that makes you feel like you’ve dropped into another country entirely.
Why Matangi Station is a must-stop
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Uniquely rocky terrain: Grip for days and a surface you won’t find anywhere else on this route.
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Purpose-built network: A modern, well-marked trail park – no getting lost in the maze like old-school Alex missions.
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Tech playground: Tight turns, rock rolls, punchy climbs, and natural features everywhere.
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Scorching Central Otago sun: The dry, desert-like climate means it rides well almost year-round.
Top trails
- Resurrection – Single-track flow with a side of tech. A great intro to Alexandra-style riding. Lemming Rock located at the start is always a good challenge.
- Supercharger – On Carter Face, offering stunning views and iconic rock rolls all the way down.
- Panhead – Also on Carter Face—fast, rocky, with jumps and drops for extra fun.
- Fifth Amendment – A big rock rollercoaster with continuous features to keep riders on their toes.
Good to know
Matangi is best for intermediate–advanced riders. If you love technical singletrack or want a sharp contrast to Queenstown/Wanaka’s terrain, this stop gives your roadie that “only in NZ” dimension.
Final (and essential stop): Bike Glendhu MTB Park
If Queenstown is for adrenaline, Cardrona is for altitude and Alexandra feels like riding on the moon, Bike Glendhu is for pure flow, views, and good vibes.
Located just 10 minutes from central Wanaka, Bike Glendhu is the road trip stop most riders say ends up being their favourite – and it’s no mystery why.
Why Bike Glendhu belongs on every MTB road trip
40km of epic trails for all abilities
From green family loops to black tech and jump lines, plus the iconic Baywatch track down from the Falcon’s Nest Summit.
Ridiculous views
From Jack’s Spot at the Lower Mountain to riding Adze Up looking down the Matukituki Valley to 360 views of the Motatapu Valley, Glendhu Bay, and Mt. Aspiring National Park at the Summit.
Apres at Velo Cafe & Beer Garden
Pizza, beers, nachos, local beers and even cocktails on tap – the perfect place to end a day (or week) of riding.
Perfect for road-trippers
There’s easy parking for vans at our carpark, plus just across the road is Hampshire Holiday Parks – Glendhu Bay campground with both powered and non-powered campsites, hot showers, kitchen, and all the amenities.
Bonus stops around Wanaka
If you’re stretching your stay (you should), here’s what else to ride:
Sticky Forest
Local trail network maintained by Bike Wanaka with singletrack, jump lines + hidden gems.
Lizzy Woods
Progressive jump lines built by Bike Wanaka in the Lismore Woods area
Dean’s Bank
Fast XC loop along the Clutha River.
How many days do you need?
Here’s a quick guide for pacing your trip:
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Queenstown: 2–3 days
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Cardrona: 1 day
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Alexandra: 1 day
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Wanaka + Bike Glendhu: 1–3 days
Total: 5–9 days = a chef’s kiss Otago/South Island MTB roadie.
Travel times
| From/To | Drive time | |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown → Arrowtown | 20 min | |
| Queenstown → Cardrona | 50–60 min | |
| Queenstown → Alexandra | 1 hr | |
| Cardrona → Wanaka | 35 min | |
| Wanaka → Bike Glendhu | 10 min |
Easy, cruisy, scenic AF.
Final word
A South Island MTB road trip from Queenstown to Wanaka is one of the best riding itineraries in the world – and with so many bike parks and local networks packed into such a short stretch, it’s a mission every rider should tick off at least once.
And when you roll into Wanaka, Bike Glendhu is the place to finish it off properly: epic trails, epic views, epic après.
TL;DR – South Island MTB Road Trip (Queenstown – Wanaka)
Planning a South Island MTB road trip? The Queenstown-to-Wanaka route is packed with world-class riding. Start with big-bike laps at Skyline and Coronet Peak, then either hit Cardrona for high-alpine chairlift laps or detour to Matangi Station MTB Park in Alexandra for raw, rocky tech. Finish strong in Wanaka at Bike Glendhu with 40km of epic trails, unbeatable views, and après at Velo Café & Beer Garden. It’s the ultimate MTB stopover guide for riders chasing flow, scenery, and variety.