Cycling Wine Trails in New Zealand for Campervan Travellers

Quick summary: Cycling between cellar doors is one of the most enjoyable ways to taste wine on a campervan trip. Park the campervan or motorhome at a holiday park, hire a bike or take a guided bike tour, and ride flat roads and trails through the vineyards. New Zealand’s best bike-and-taste routes are in Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Nelson and the Gibbston Valley, with bike hire, e-bikes and luggage-carrying options in each.

At a glance
Best regions	Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Nelson, Gibbston Valley
Terrain	Mostly flat valley roads and purpose-built trails
Bikes	Hire bikes and e-bikes in each region; guided bike tours too
Typical day	15–40 km with stops at several cellar doors
Carrying wine	Panniers, baskets, or wineries that send purchases back to the hire shop
Important	Ride only if you’re fit to ride, and pace your tastings

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Why cycle between wineries?

Because it slows the day down to the right pace. You ride through the vines with the smell of the countryside around you, stop when you like, and arrive at each cellar door ready for a tasting. It’s also a practical way to visit wineries on a campervan trip, since the vehicle stays parked. Remember that alcohol affects your riding too, so spit, tip and pace yourself, and consider a guided bike tour where a support vehicle can carry tired riders.

Which are the best cycling wine trails?

Region	Route	What to expect	Tours
Marlborough	Renwick and the Wairau Valley	Flat roads through dozens of vineyards close together	Marlborough tours
Hawke’s Bay	The Hawke’s Bay Trails network	Purpose-built, mostly flat trails linking wineries around Napier and Hastings	Hawke’s Bay tours
Martinborough	The village and surrounding lanes	A compact cluster of wineries on quiet, flat roads	Martinborough tours
Nelson	The Great Taste Trail	A long trail past wineries, orchards, cafés and the coast	All tours
Gibbston Valley	The Gibbston River Trail and Queenstown Trail	A riverside trail linking the valley’s cellar doors	Queenstown tours

Marlborough

The flat Wairau Valley around Renwick has dozens of cellar doors close together, making it one of the easiest regions to ride. Bike hire shops in Renwick offer route maps and can collect bikes at the end of the day.

Hawke’s Bay

The Hawke’s Bay Trails are an extensive network of mostly flat, off-road cycle paths linking Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and the coast, with many wineries along the way.

Martinborough

Martinborough’s wineries sit close to the village, so you can ride a short loop on quiet lanes and be back at the square for dinner.

Nelson

The Great Taste Trail loops through the Nelson region past wineries, orchards, craft breweries and cafés, with sections along the coast and estuary.

Gibbston Valley

Close to Queenstown, the Gibbston River Trail runs along the Kawarau River, linking several cellar doors in the valley known for Pinot Noir.

Can you carry bikes on an RV?

Some campervans and motorhomes can be fitted with a bike rack, but it’s usually simpler to hire bikes in the wine region. Hire shops are used to campervan travellers, and some will deliver bikes to your holiday park or collect them at the end of the day. If you’d like to bring your own bikes, ask about racks when you book the vehicle.

How do you carry wine on a bike?

Most bike hire shops provide baskets or panniers. On longer rides, many wineries will hold your purchases or send them back to the hire shop or your accommodation, so you don’t need to carry bottles all day.

What safety tips should you follow?

• Wear a helmet, which is required by law when cycling in New Zealand.
• Keep left and ride in single file on roads.
• Carry water, sunscreen and a jacket.
• Pace your tastings, and stop riding if you feel affected.
• Choose an e-bike if hills or distance are a concern.

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Frequently Asked Questions