Around The Basin

Around The Basin is a bike tour and hire company that helps visitors explore the Queenstown Trail, the network of off-road cycle trails linking Queenstown, Arrowtown and the Gibbston Valley. Its Queenstown base is at 3 Searle Lane in the town centre, and it also has bike hubs at 2323 Gibbston Highway in the Gibbston Valley and at 3 Melmore Terrace in Cromwell.

The company's speciality is self-guided riding with shuttle support, which means you ride at your own pace and are dropped off and collected at the right points. Popular options include Arrowtown to Queenstown, either on the 24.2-kilometre Wharehuanui route or the longer 34.5-kilometre Twin Rivers route, and Arrowtown to Gibbston, a 14.3-kilometre half-day ride, or Gibbston to Arrowtown at 21 kilometres. For a challenge, The Big Day Out covers 37.1 kilometres in a full day, and the Kawarau Trail from Gibbston to Cromwell is 33.6 kilometres.

The Bike the Wineries rides are the most sociable choice. A half-day version covers 5.8 kilometres, a three-quarter-day version 14.6 kilometres and a full day 20.5 kilometres, with shuttles from Queenstown to the start, such as The Church Cellar Door in Gibbston or Arrow Junction, and return shuttles from Arrowtown, the Gibbston Valley or the final winery. Because you are not driving, you can enjoy the tastings along the way.

Bikes include electric bikes and hard-tail mountain bikes, which makes the longer routes accessible to riders of mixed fitness, and there are family-friendly rides and multi-day itineraries for those who want to spend longer on the trails. The company also publishes route information, frequently asked questions and riding tips on its website.

Check trail conditions before you ride. A section of about four kilometres of the Frankton Track, the lakeside route towards Frankton Marina and Kelvin Heights, is closed throughout 2026, and riders are diverted onto the sealed footpath beside Frankton Road, which adds about 20 minutes.

The rides suit couples, groups of friends and families, and are one of the best ways to see the Wakatipu Basin at a slower pace than the adventure activities. Book online or contact the bookings team by email or phone to arrange bikes and shuttles.