Queenstown · Guided Rides · All Levels

Pick your trail.
We handle the rest.

Southern Alps Bike Tours runs guided single-track and gravel rides around Queenstown and Glenorchy, graded so you know exactly what you are signing up for. Every ride includes a bike, helmet, guide and shuttle.

Filter trails by grade ↓

Showing 8 of 8 trails

Find Your Trail

Eight rides, three grades

Easy — gravel, flat to rollingMedium — single-track, some climbingHard — alpine, technical, exposed
  • E
    Frankton Arm LakesideFlat gravel path along the lake edge from Frankton to Queenstown Gardens. Families and first-timers. No shuttle needed.
    12 km · 1.5 hr
    $85 pp
  • E
    Arrow River TrailFollow the old mining track from Arrowtown along the river gorge. Gentle downhill, river crossings in summer. Shuttle to start.
    16 km · 2 hr
    $95 pp
  • E
    Gibbston Valley Wine TrailGravel through vineyards with a tasting stop at Peregrine. No technical sections. Lunch hamper add-on available.
    22 km · 3 hr
    $125 pp
  • M
    Coronet Peak TraverseClimb through beech forest to the ski-field access road, then single-track back down Arthurs Point. One steep pinch.
    18 km · 3 hr
    $145 pp
  • M
    Seven Mile CircuitMixed single-track and gravel through tussock and pine. Rolling climbs, fast descents. Good for confident riders.
    24 km · 3.5 hr
    $155 pp
  • M
    Moke Lake LoopStarts with a gravel climb, rewards with single-track through native bush and a lake-edge section. Mountain views the whole way.
    20 km · 3 hr
    $145 pp
  • H
    Rude Rock to SkippersAlpine single-track above the tree line, exposed ridgeline, 800m vertical descent into Skippers Canyon. Full-suspension bike required.
    14 km · 4 hr
    $195 pp
  • H
    Ben Lomond Summit DescentGondola to the saddle, then a hand-built trail through rock gardens and switchbacks to the lake. Our most technical ride — prior mountain bike experience essential.
    10 km · 3.5 hr
    $215 pp

No trails at that grade. Try a different filter, or email us and we will build a ride to suit.

Gear We Provide

Everything except your shoes

Every booking includes a bike, helmet and guide. Bring closed-toe shoes, weather layers and water. We carry the rest.

  • Hardtail MTBNorco Storm alloy, sizes S–XL. 29" wheels, hydraulic disc brakes. Included on easy and medium trails.
  • Full-suspension MTBNorco Sight carbon, sizes S–XL. 150mm travel. Included on hard trails; $30 upgrade on medium rides.
  • E-bike optionSpecialized Levo alloy. Available on easy and medium trails. $40 upgrade. Limited to 4 per group.
  • HelmetSmith Convoy MIPS. Replacement visor if yours gets muddy. Full-face available for hard grades, no charge.
  • Gloves & eyewearFox Ranger gloves, sizes S–XXL. Clear-lens glasses for bush trails.
  • Repair kitGuide carries a spare tube, pump, multi-tool and chain link for every rider. Tubeless sealant on all bikes.
  • First aid & commsWilderness first-aid kit, PLB and satellite messenger on every ride. Cell coverage is patchy above the valley floor.
  • Shuttle12-seat van with bike trailer. Picks up from Queenstown i-SITE, Frankton or Arrowtown. Included in the price.

Trail Conditions

This week's report

Updated every Monday morning. Last update: .

Open & dry

Frankton Arm Lakeside, Arrow River Trail, Gibbston Valley, Seven Mile Circuit, Moke Lake Loop. Ground is firm after a dry week. River crossings on the Arrow are shin-deep.

Open with caution

Coronet Peak Traverse — upper switchbacks are soft from overnight frost melt. Rideable but slippery in the morning. Afternoon departures recommended.

Closed

Rude Rock to Skippers — snow above 1200m. Skippers Road is DOC-gated until further notice. Ben Lomond Summit Descent — gondola maintenance, reopens 21 September.

Safety Briefing

Every ride starts here

  1. Bike fit & brake check

    Guide sets saddle height, checks tyre pressure and walks you through the brakes and gears. Takes five minutes.

  2. Trail talk

    What grade you are on, what the surface is like, where the steep bits are, where cell coverage drops out. You will know the ride before you start it.

  3. Group protocol

    Guide rides at the back on easy, at the front on hard. We regroup at every intersection. Nobody rides alone.

  4. Mechanical or injury

    Guide carries a full repair kit and wilderness first aid. PLB is activated if someone cannot ride out. Shortest exit route is pre-planned for every trail.

  5. Weather call

    Rides run in light rain. We cancel for heavy rain, high wind, or snow warnings and offer a full refund or date change. The guide makes the call at the trailhead.

What Riders Say

From the trail

We did the Arrow River Trail as a family — kids aged 8 and 11, both beginners. The guide kept it fun, pointed out the old gold-mining spots and made sure nobody fell in the river. Highlight of our Queenstown trip.
Sarah M. · Auckland · Arrow River Trail
Rude Rock to Skippers is legit. 800 metres of vert on proper alpine single-track with a guide who knows every line. I ride Rotorua every weekend and this was another level. Will be back for Ben Lomond when it opens.
Jake T. · Rotorua · Rude Rock to Skippers
I booked the Gibbston Valley ride mostly for the wine stop, but the riding was genuinely good. Rolling gravel through the vines, big mountain views, a tasting at Peregrine, then a shuttle home. Perfect afternoon.
Emma R. · Melbourne · Gibbston Valley Wine Trail
Our guide Tim spotted that my front brake was dragging before I noticed. Fixed it trailside in two minutes. Small thing, but that is the difference between a guided ride and just renting a bike.
Dan H. · Wellington · Coronet Peak Traverse
Did the Moke Lake Loop on an e-bike. I am 62 and have not been on a mountain bike in twenty years. The motor took the sting out of the climbs and I got to enjoy the views without walking. Guide was patient and encouraging.
Kath L. · Christchurch · Moke Lake Loop

FAQ

Before you ride

Do I need mountain bike experience?
Not for easy-grade rides. The Frankton Arm Lakeside and Arrow River Trail are flat gravel paths suitable for anyone who can ride a bicycle. Medium trails assume you can handle gentle climbs, loose gravel and basic single-track. Hard trails require prior mountain bike experience — we will ask when you book.
What is the minimum age?
Eight years old for easy trails, twelve for medium, sixteen for hard. Children under sixteen must ride with a parent or guardian. We have youth-size bikes (24" and 26" wheels) for kids from about 130cm tall.
What should I wear?
Closed-toe shoes with a stiff sole (running shoes are fine for easy, flat-pedal shoes or hiking boots for medium and hard). Shorts or tights you can pedal in. Layers — it can be 10 degrees cooler at the top of Coronet than in town. We provide helmets, gloves and glasses.
Can I bring my own bike?
Yes. Shuttle-only bookings are $45 per person and include the guide. Your bike must have working brakes and gears — the guide checks before we leave. We carry a spare tube and tools for any bike.
What is your cancellation policy?
Full refund if you cancel 48 hours or more before your ride. Inside 48 hours we offer a date change. If we cancel for weather, you get a full refund or a date change — your choice. We never charge for a weather cancellation.
How many riders per group?
Maximum eight for easy and medium, six for hard. Private rides for groups of four or more at the same per-person rate. Solo riders join an existing group or book a private ride at 1.5× the listed price.
Do you run in winter?
Easy and most medium trails run year-round. Hard trails close from late May to early October depending on snow. The Gibbston Valley ride is particularly good in winter — crisp air, no crowds, golden vines.