(Image taken by Kate McDonald)
The Best Bike Spots in Wanaka | Racers Edge | Wanaka
Cycling is a wonderful way to see the South Island of New Zealand, from the craggy mountain peaks to twisting valley floors. With some of the word best bike tracks on its doorstep, Wanaka is not a spot you’d want to skip out of your bike trip! As summer almost in full swing, we wanted to share our favorite bike spots in and around town – so here they are! Let us know which ones you’re planning on ticking off before the summer’s out…
Sticky Forest
Where: 104B Kings Drive, Wanaka 9305
Ability level: Intermediate+
Cost: Free
A firm favourite of locals and visitors alike, Sticky Forest is a web of single-track fun found just north of Wanaka town centre. This bike park makes use of a local pine forest, with 20 tracks of varying difficulty to choose from. With town so close by, Sticky is great for those who like to fuel up on cup of coffee and then kick it back with a cold beer after a long day’s ride.
We’d recommend this spot to intermediate+ riders who’d love tackling the tricky switchbacks of “Yumpts” and would froth riding the dizzying berms of “Stumpy”. With over 30km of trails on offer you’ll be kept on the edge of your seat with something to satisfy every riders taste. For the thrill seekers among us, the table tops and gap jumps will keep your adrenaline pumping with safe passage around for those who prefer to leave the jumping to the pros. Keep track of where you’re going and what you’re hitting with a map from our Wanaka store!
Deans Bank
Where: Deans Bank, Albert Town 9382
Ability level: Beginner
Cost: Free
The location of the popular Deans Bank 10 Hour only opened a few years ago and is constantly being upgraded and improved upon. With flowy single track, Deans Bank is a fun day’s ride for all ability levels, especially those trying mountain biking for the first time.
You can find the track a short drive out of Wanaka nearby neighboring Albert Town. The trip between Wanaka and Deans Bank is a beautiful drive, and an even more stunning cycle which we’d highly recommending tagging on to your day out. The 11.5km track is a one-way loop with varying features from open straight to challenging switch back climbs. The terrain is beginner and advanced rider friendly with ride around tracks for all of the manmade obstacles and jumps. Deans Bank also includes some fun, flowy berms at the end of the track which are great for picking up some speed to finish off the day.
Bike Glendhu
Where: 42 Motatapu Road, Glendhu Bay 9382
Ability level: Beginner – Advanced
Cost: $15 – $30 per person
New kids on the block Bike Glendhu have become a local favourite, and fast. Just a short 10-minute drive from Wanaka town center, you can find 30km of trails, and there’s more on the way. This spot is a firm family favourite with cruisy green runs for everyone to enjoy the beautiful view from. For those looking to get more technical, the bike park also hosts some black lines and a multi-feature jump line. If you don’t have your own bike in Wanaka, Bike Glendhu’s rental tech’s can provide one for you and set it up just the way you like. After your day of biking, there’s no need to rush back into town, stay a while at the Base 334 café and enjoy the view of beautiful Glendhu Bay alongside a coffee or a cold beer.
Cardrona
Where: Cardrona Valley Rd, Cardrona 9305
Ability level: Beginner – Advanced
Cost: $50 – $79 per person
Very different from its European counterparts, this alpine bike park doesn’t have any trees, making loads more room for fun times and trails. 25km worth of riding is split into 24 trails of varying difficulty, all with an amazing view of the Cardrona valley leading over to Queenstown.
With so many trails, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. For those starting out, “Sweet As” which merges into “Morning Glory” is a cruisy green run with a roller-coaster feel to it. “Prospector” is fantastic for intermediate riders progressing and looking for a bit of a challenge. This trail will take you through more technical terrain with features and jumps that you can chose to tackle or ride around as you please. For the advanced rider, we highly recommend the rock-drops found down “Arcadia”, or the jump line just off of “Grasshopper” to get the adrenaline pumping. Make sure to finish off your day with the famous “Peak to Pub” trail which will lead you from the resort base to the Cardrona Hotel for some grub and a drink.
If you want to try out these amazing trails but don’t have a bike in Wanaka check out our mountain bike rentals! We stock everything from hard tails to full suspension e-MTBs and even have tow for the kids or adventurous pets.