New visa regulations allow you to work remotely from New Zealand for your overseas employer or client. To apply, visit Immigration New Zealand(opens in new window).

5-6 Hours 27 KM

Highlights

  • High Country scenery
  • Historic and modern huts
  • Easy gradients

Proximity

Grade

Intermediate

Atop a Southland high-country station is a wonderful handcrafted and historic single-track circuit with a fabulous mountain and valley vistas.

The mix of alpine scenery and grand views is inspiring.
Queenstown
The Slate Hut, Queenstown

Riding the trail

Welcome Rock Trails started off as one of New Zealand’s longest gold-mining water races and has been reinvented and extended into a dazzling single-track circuit - a stunning biking adventure near Queenstown. The popular hiking and mountain biking trail is named after the prominent rock that served as a meeting point for early settlers.

The trail owes its existence to the O’Brien family who have farmed this high country station for four generations. Hand-hewing the mountain biking track in much the same fashion as the nineteenth century track builders, the new section sensitively follows the folds of the high country so that it looks like it’s been here for years.

Mostly smooth, flowing and gently undulating, this 27-kilometre biking adventure in Southland, just over an hour from Queenstown, can be completed by moderately fit riders in one day or upgraded into an overnight adventure by staying in charming back-country huts or glamping.

Plan your mountain biking holiday

tnz-tours

Key Mountain Biking Tours Operators

Enjoy the freedom of riding without the hassle of logistics by taking a guided or self-guided mountain bike tour.

tnz-articles

New Zealand Mountain Biking Tips & FAQs

Few countries in the world serve up such diverse riding – from urban forest trails to rugged, remote mountaintop tracks. Plan to stay safe and savour them.

tnz-information

New Zealand Travel Guide

Planning a biking holiday to New Zealand? Read our practical travel advice before you depart.

Explore what’s near Welcome Rock Trails

Find things to do

Find places to stay

Find transport

Other mountain biking rides nearby

Calculate the driving distances between two places in New Zealand

You may also be interested in