Mountain biking trails in Wānaka

Top Mountain Biking Trails in Wānaka

Here are the best trails that you can’t miss when you’re in Wānaka.

Cardrona Bike Park

• Grade: Intermediate to Advanced
• Distance & Time: Variable
• Proximity: 35 minutes from Wānaka

Cardrona has an excellent variety, with approximately 15% of its terrain suited for beginners (Green), 50% for intermediate riders (Blue), and 35% for advanced/expert riders (Black/Double Black).

Cardrona Bike Park is renowned for its lift-accessed alpine terrain, offering some of New Zealand’s highest and most exciting mountain bike tracks. With a range of tracks for all levels, it’s an absolute must for serious bikers looking to push their limits. The park offers jaw-dropping alpine views, adding an extra layer of adventure to your ride. The perfect choice for those wanting to conquer a variety of terrains in one go!

Beginner (Green Grade 1-2)

These trails are smooth, wide, and perfect for getting your downhill confidence.

• A Real Journey: This is one of the park's longest trails (over 3km) and is ideal for beginners and families. It's described as a laidback, sweeping affair with a mellow gradient, custom-made for honing off-road skills.
• Sweet As: A flowing, wide, and forgiving trail, excellent for kids, families, or a fun, easy blast. It serves as an excellent practice run for progressing to the next level.

Intermediate (Blue Grade 3-4)

These trails introduce steeper sections, more technical features, and faster flow, but typically have features that can be rolled over or avoided.

• Arcadia: Considered one of the park's "hero trails," it ups the ante on a winding and speedy descent with great berms and some optional rocky sections and small rock drops/step downs. It's a highly rated, popular blue singletrack.
• Prospector: Afast sweeping intermediate trail that starts at the top of Whitestar. It features great berms, small jumps, and a smooth, twisty path, ensuring your heart is pumping.
• Grasshopper/Morning Glory into Hi ViZ (Jump Line): This combo is Cardrona's main jump line. Morning Glory is a good introduction to blue trail riding with a nice flow and optional jumps. Grasshopper into Hi ViZ features tables and hips, designed to be ridden fast, but with 100% rollable options all the way down.
• Back to Base / Crankshaft: Crankshaft is a super-fun blue trail with optional jumps and drops, leading into the lower Back to Base section, which is a highly rated, popular blue singletrack. The full descent to the valley floor (Peak to Pub) can be up to 10km and 1270m of vertical descent, often using these intermediate trails.

Advanced / Expert (Black Diamond Grade 5-6)

These trails are tight, technical, and feature serious obstacles, drops, and steep sections.

• Infamous Run: Dirtstar Downhill: This is the park's premier nationals-level downhill track. It's fast, steep, and highly technical, featuring a demanding top rock garden, gap jumps, and all the techy trickiness you'd expect. It requires commitment and is designed to test the nerve of all but the gnarliest bikers.
• Infamous Run: DTL (Down the Line): A challenging black trail that is very natural-feeling, tight, and barely wider than your tyres in places. It traverses a technical, rocky ridge, alternating between high-speed threading-the-needle and negotiating steep chutes.
• The Mile High Club: Mentioned as a Double Black Diamond trail, this is the most extreme terrain, tailored for adrenaline seekers with incredibly steep sections, substantial drop-offs, and unavoidable obstacles.

Wānaka Lakeside Tracks

• Grade: Easy to Intermediate
• Distance & Time: Variable
• Proximity: 1 minute from Wānaka

For those who prefer an easier ride with unbeatable scenery, the Wānaka Lakeside Tracks are perfect. These mainly easy tracks wind around the edge of Lake Wānaka, offering stunning lakeside views. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the beauty of the area while cycling through tranquil surroundings. Afterwards, you can relax and enjoy Wānaka's charming cafes and bars just a short ride away.

Deans Bank Track

• Grade: Easy to Intermediate
• Distance & Time: 10km (one-way)
• Proximity: 10 minutes from Wānaka

Deans Bank Track is one of the most popular routes in Wānaka, and it’s easy to see why. This purpose-built, one-way track offers a smooth and fast ride with bermed, flowing curves. Cyclists are rewarded with spectacular views of the Clutha/Mata-Au River and Wānaka Basin, making it an exhilarating and scenic ride. It’s a track suitable for riders of all abilities and connects seamlessly to the Lakeside Tracks for an extended adventure.

Sticky Forest

• Grade: Easy to Extreme
• Distance & Time: 30+ km (variable)
• Proximity: 2 minutes from Wānaka

Infamous for the sheer variety and density of its hand-built trails, from Easy to Extreme (often Black/Double Black). Local favourites include the technical downhill lines and jump trails that are constantly being refined by the community.

Sticky Forest offers over 30 km of trails through an exotic pine forest. With a mix of well-maintained trails for all skill levels, from easy-flowing paths to more technical jumps and drops, Sticky Forest is a great place to challenge yourself. And with the forest just minutes from Wānaka, you can easily grab a coffee before hitting the trails and perhaps reward yourself with a cold beer afterwards in one of Wānaka’s bars.

Rocky Mountain Trail

• Grade: Intermediate
• Distance & Time: 7 km (one-way)
• Proximity: 20 minutes from Wānaka

For stunning views of Lake Wānaka and the surrounding peaks, the Rocky Mountain Trail offers one of the best short hikes with breathtaking vistas. The 7 km trail provides an easy to moderate challenge, making it perfect for a quick ride with rewarding views. This is a great option for those who prefer a less crowded track.

Hawea River Track

• Grade: Easy
• Distance & Time: 11 km (one-way)
• Proximity: 15 minutes from Wānaka

The Hawea River Track offers an easy ride for cyclists of all ages. This family-friendly trail follows an easy gradient and passes through river terraces and Kanuka groves, connecting Lake Hawea to Wānaka via Albert Town. It’s a peaceful ride with beautiful river views, making it perfect for a relaxed cycling experience in a stunning natural setting.

Millennium Track / Glendhu Bay Track

• Grade: Intermediate
• Distance & Time: 15 km (one-way)
• Proximity: 10 minutes from Wānaka

The Millennium Track is a classic Wānaka trail, offering stunning views of Lake Wānaka and Mount Aspiring. This undulating track features some steeper sections in the first part, making it a bit challenging, but the views make it worthwhile. It eventually leads to Glendhu Bay, where you can enjoy a swim or just soak in the views.

Minaret Burn

• Grade: Intermediate
• Distance & Time: 7 km (one-way)
• Proximity: 10 minutes from Wānaka

This trail along the western shore of Lake Wānaka is a gem for those seeking a peaceful ride through native forest. Minaret Burn is a well-formed cycle track that passes through small, sheltered beaches like Colquhouns Beach, perfect for a picnic or a swim. The track offers a relaxed cycling experience with some beautiful lake views and is easily accessible from Wānaka.

Wānaka’s diverse array of mountain biking trails offers everything from relaxing lakeside rides to adrenaline-pumping downhill tracks. Whether you're visiting Tasman Holiday Parks — Wānaka for a weekend or staying longer, these trails are sure to provide you with some unforgettable experiences.

Tip: Remember to bring your helmet, follow the off-road code, and respect other riders and walkers. Ready to ride? Come explore Wānaka's legendary biking trails and see the stunning scenery from a whole new perspective!