Kawarau Gorge is New Zealand's newest official Great Ride, and it earns the title in the first few kilometres. The trail follows the Kawarau River alongside schist rock walls, turquoise water below and gold-mining relics still visible on the banks — a landscape that's drawn prospectors and travellers through this gorge for over 150 years, now on a purpose-built cycling trail.
The ride runs 38km, from the Gibbston Valley to Bannockburn. You park at the Gibbston Valley start and ride the whole gorge in one direction — new scenery the entire way, no backtracking. At the Bannockburn end, a return shuttle takes you and your bike back to Gibbston Valley to collect your vehicle, so you don't need to ride the distance twice. The trail is purpose-built compacted gravel for point-to-point riding: graded surface, no technical sections, and the river in view for almost the entire distance.
We recommend e-bikes for this ride — 38km with real elevation changes and a few exposed, windy sections can be very challenging on a regular bike. More importantly you are out to enjoy the ride with family and friends so e-bikes help to keep the group together so you have more fun together. Couples riding at different paces on the flats and uphills will stay together on an e-bike and nobody has to push through discomfort to try and keep up.
Along the way, the trail passes the Roaring Meg power station, sections of the Cromwell Gorge, and old gold dredging sites that hint at the region's mining history.
This is a self-guided experience — you set your own pace, stop where you want, and ride the gorge on your own schedule. Every rider gets a well-maintained bike (standard or e-bike), a properly fitted helmet and Guest Experience Manager support for the day with a direct mobile number. The return shuttle at the end means you're not managing logistics halfway through your day — just enjoying the riding.
The Kawarau Gorge suits couples travelling together, solo adventurers, and families with older kids wanting a full day outdoors. The e-bike is the equaliser for anyone unsure about the distance; the standard bike suits confident, active riders who want to earn the view whilst trying to keep up with their friends on the climbs.
nzbiketrails runs self-guided and supported cycling experiences across New Zealand's trails, recommending e-bikes on every trail with well-maintained bikes, clear logistics and local knowledge of the route.
Whether you're ticking off New Zealand's newest Great Ride or wanting a full day in Central Otago on two wheels, the Kawarau Gorge trail delivers a dramatic landscape on a trail built specifically for riding it well.
