NZ's Favourite Places to Ride 2017

New Zealand has some of the best places to bike in the world. From breath taking off road trails to purpose built urban routes, we are becoming spoilt for choice.

NZ's Favourite Places to Ride Announced for 2017

Read the official announcement  (external link)

Top Town Award

Winner: Christchurch

Second place: Rotorua

Third place: Wellington

Category winners for NZ’s Favourite Places to Ride 2017:

Urban Ride: 

1. Taupo’s Great Lake Walkway
2. Wellington 'Around the Bays'
3. New Plymouth Coastal Pathway
4. Port Hills Christchurch
5. Harbour Circuit Dunedin

Nga Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trail: 

1. Otago Central Rail Trail
   
2. Old Ghost Rd
3. Great Lake Trail
4. Timber Trail
5. Hawke's Bay Trails
   

Off road or adventure ride: 

1. Whakarewarewa - The Redwoods (Rotorua)
2. Christchurch Adventure Park
3. Craters Mountain Bike Park (Taupo)
4. Makara Mountain Bike Park (Wellington)
5. Port Hills (Christchurch)

Community facility: 

1. Avanti Velodrome
2. Kids Bike Taupo
3. Taranaki Velodrome and Bike Park
4. Alexandra Bike Park
5. Southland Velodrome

 Category information:

There are 4 categories to nominate in:

• Urban ride (rides around your town or city; whether it’s your commute, a new pathway or a scenic city loop - eg. Nelson Street cycleway, North Western Cycleway, Wellington ‘Round the Bays’, Port Hills Christchurch, Auckland ‘Round the Bays’, Uni-Cycle, Timaru Centennial Park, etc.)
• Nga Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trail (eg. Otago Central Rail Trail, Rimutaka Cycle Trail, Great Lake Trail, etc)
• Off-road or adventure ride (eg. Te Awa River Ride, Polhill Reserve, 42nd Traverse, Makara, Port Hills, Wither Hills, Redwoods Rotorua, Onepu, Woodhill, etc.)
• Community facility (eg. velodrome, Bikes in Schools tracks, Cromwell Bike Park, learn to ride tracks, pump tracks and BMX parks )

Favourite Places to Ride is part of the government’s commitment to making cycling a safer and more attractive transport option for New Zealanders. By sharing your favourite routes it helps to encourage more New Zealanders to ride their bikes for every day trips.

Nominations are now closed, the winners will be announced in June. By nominating you go in the draw to win a share of $1000 worth of vouchers from your favourite bike shop.

Available downloads

A4 Poster - Favourite Places to Ride 2017 - with crop marks for offset printing  [PDF, 1.4 MB]
A4 Poster - Favourite Places to Ride 2017 - for home & office printing [PDF, 1.4 MB] 

A4 Poster - Favourite Places to Ride 2017 - with space for a logo and ride name [JPG, 1.6 MB]