Whether you are staying in Wānaka, Glendhu or Albert Town, the most popular camping areas, we make it entirely practical for you to place your own bikes onto our shuttle trailer where we will transport you and the bikes to the starting point of our popular local rides. We also offer return transport options when needed.

MORNING SCHEDULE

09:30AM - PICK UP FROM HAMPSHIRE HOLIDAY PARKS GLENDHU

09:45AM - PICK UP FROM MT ASPIRING HOLIDAY PARKS, WANAKA

10:00AM - PICK UP FROM WANAKA TOP 10 HOLIDAY PARK

10:20AM - PICK UP FROM WANAKA iSITE

10:45AM - PICK UP FROM ALBERT TOWN CAMPGROUND

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

2:30PM - PICK UP FROM WANAKA iSITE RETURN TOWARDS GLENDHU

3:30PM - PICK UP FROM WANAKA iSITE RETURN TOWARDS ALBERT TOWN

Times above are estimates only and may vary depending on traffic conditions

We pick you up from your campground, then after a few quick stops along the way we head to Lake Hāwea to start the ride. 

From Lake Hāwea we set you off on your self-guided with our pre-printed map which has a number a suggested places to discover along the way. You’ll love how easy we make it for you to relax and enjoy the ride!

The unguided Lake Hāwea to Wānaka ride is the most popular bike trip in Wānaka which starts at the lakeside town of Hāwea and heads off on the Hāwea River Track, an easy riverside amble set in mountainous surroundings. You’ll pass by Albert Town, where refreshments can be picked up before continuing along the mighty Clutha River towards its source at Lake Wānaka. A picturesque lakeside trail that will lead you back to Wānaka township, where ice cream and #thatwanakatree awaits.

If you decide to book the return shuttle to one of the campgrounds, please click the return journey option when booking and we will pick up point is from outside the Wānaka iSite, 103 Ardmore Street at 2:00pm if you are heading back towards Glendhu or 3:00pm is you are heading back to Albert Town.

This activity runs in conjunction with our main Lake Hāwea & Lake Wānaka Cycle Trail ride. Availability for online booking is generally activated 48 hours before the ride, so if a date you had in mind it’s not currently showing as available then just send us email (hello@wanakabiketours.co.nz) and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

UPGRADE OPTION – GLADSTONE TRACK

With the recent completion of the Gladstone Track, we are the only local cycle tour company to offer this 6.5km extension to the Lake Hāwea River Trail for those wishing to ride a little further. After dropping off our guests for the start of their Lake Hawea ride, we will drive your group further on to Johns Creek, where you will start the Gladstone Track. This 6.5km extension will lead you into the Lake Hāwea River Trail meaning your overall ride will be around 36.5km. The Gladstone Track is a fairly new flat graded track which follows the foreshore of Lake Hāwea as well as open farmland. This extension can be booked under optional extra’s when you book your ride.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

• Shuttle to Hawea, trips leave daily at 10.30am
• Option to rent the latest-model mountain bikes, helmet & bike lock
• Thorough trial briefing with guide route map
• 30km ride / Grade 1-2 trail (Grade system 0 – 6)
• Visit local cafes and patisserie as well as ‘The Hook’ (note: The Hook is open Sun-Wed)
• Ride across the swing bridge!
• See #thatwanakatree



WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

• Day bag/back pack
• Plastic water bottle (fits inside bike bottle cage)
• Exercise wear I.e. Shorts, T-shirt
• Sturdy footwear (closed-toe)
• Windbreaker jacket, waterproof jacket if rain is forecasted
• Sunglasses/sunscreen
• Phone with Camera 

RIDING WITH SMALL CHILDREN

Small children using kids bikes or being towed with the bike trailer will find a small section of the trail hard to navigate.  We strongly suggest this small section is either bypassed (our driver will show you how to do this) or the kids dismount and walk through this bumpy section.  The local council are working on upgrading this section, however, we can not guarantee this section is upgraded before your ride.  The rest of the ride is perfectly suited to families with young children...