“Which track should we ride?” is one of the questions we are often asked – there’s so much on offer it’s hard to know where to start. If you’re hiring a bike from us at 22 Ardmore Street, you don’t need a car. Some of Wānaka’s best riding starts right here by the lakefront so you can roll out the door, down the hill, and straight onto the trail. The Wānaka lakefront is ideal on an e-bike, too, which stretches how far you can explore. Here's our Gear Guides’ pick of the rides you can reach with a half-day or whole-day hire.
Rent at 22 Ardmore and ride straight from the door – here are the trails to aim for.
Easy lakefront cruises (great for families and e-bikes)
Flat, scenic and no car required. These are the rides to point the whole family at, and they’re perfect on an e-bike. Both sit comfortably within a 4-hour hire.
• The lakefront to Waterfall Creek – ride from our store and follow the lakefront path west alongside the ever-so-scenic Roys Bay. It’s a gentle, mostly flat cruise of around 4km (about 20 minutes’ easy riding, or a touch more at family pace) to Waterfall Creek. Allow around an hour return with photo stops – a lovely out-and-back with the kids, or the warm-up for something longer (below).
• The Outlet Track – bike in the opposite direction uphill from Racers Edge and you’ll reach the outlet in 15–20 minutes, where this easy, flat riverside track follows the Clutha River toward Albert Town. It’s graded easy and stroller-friendly, so it’s a gentle cruise on a bike or e-bike. Ride out as far as you fancy and turn back whenever, or follow it the whole way to Albert Town and back – a 20–25km round trip that fills a half-day. Easily done within a 4-hour hire.
Deans Bank Track. Credit: Lake Wanaka Tourism, Finlay Woods.
Ready to stretch the legs
Once you’ve warmed up on the flat, these go further and add a bit more to get your teeth into – an e-bike really comes into its own here. If you’re planning to link a few or ride all the way out to Glendhu Bay, go for the 8-hour hire.
• The Glendhu Bay (Millennium) Track – carry on past Waterfall Creek and the lakeside track keeps going all the way to Glendhu Bay, roughly 15km one way. It’s a step up from the flat waterfront – an intermediate cross-country ride with fast downhills, short steep climbs and rocky outcrops, and lake views the whole way. A brilliant e-bike mission for confident riders; families and first-timers are better to turn around at Waterfall Creek. Note it’s not always well maintained, so take it steady.
• Sticky Forest – only about a 10-minute ride from the town centre, this free single-track maze is the spot when you want to swap cruising for proper mountain biking. It’s got everything from mellow flow to steep and technical, so you can dip in at your level – just download a trail map from Trailforks before you go.
• Deans Bank – a local staple and a brilliant day out on a full-day hire. Follow the Outlet Track all the way out to Albert Town and this roughly 11km forest loop is waiting at the end – open straights, gentle switchback climbs and flowy berms to finish, with ride-around options for the man-made bits. It suits every level and it’s free, and an e-bike makes the ride out and back an easy day.
Got a car with a bike rack?
If you’ve got wheels and a bike rack, here are a few more rides well worth the short drive out of Wānaka:
• Gladstone Track – out at Lake Hāwea, around 20 minutes from town, an easy 6.5km lakeside trail from the Hāwea Dam along the foreshore, past Lake Hāwea township and out across open farmland towards Johns Creek. Flat, scenic and bike-and-child-friendly with big lake and mountain views the whole way makes it another easy-going e-bike or family option when you fancy a change of scene.
• Bike Glendhu – about 10 minutes from town, a proper bike park with green trails for families through to black runs for the techy riders, plus shuttles so you don’t pedal up, on-site coaching, and the Base 334 café over Glendhu Bay.
• Cardrona Bike Park – an alpine park up the Cardrona Valley (open over summer), with treeless trails from beginner flow to steep, jumpy advanced runs and huge views. Finish with the single-track descent down to the Cardrona Hotel for a well-earned stop.
Not sure where to start?
That’s what we’re here for. Pop into Racers Edge, 22 Ardmore Street, and our Gear Guides will match you to the right ride for your ability and what you’re keen for, then sort you a bike or e-bike hire to suit – everything from hardtails to full-suspension e-MTBs.
Good to know before you book:
• Hire bikes come in 4-hour or 8-hour slots – 4 hours covers the easy lakefront and Outlet cruises; go for 8 if you want to link a few or ride out to Glendhu Bay.
• Every hire includes a helmet, pump and tube.
• Hiring for 3 or more days? You’ll get 15% off. Multi-day rentals can’t be booked online, so contact our friendly Gear Guides to reserve your ride on +64 3 443 7882 or get in touch here.
• $2.50 from every bike hire goes back into building and maintaining Wānaka’s bike trails – so you’re giving back to the trails you’re riding.
Riding your own bike? Bring it in for a once-over at our bike workshop before you head out. For maps and more detail, see our Wānaka bike tracks guide and the official Lake Wānaka mountain biking guide. Now grab a bike – the trails start at our door.
