Cycling

Hanmer Springs – 90 minutes north of Christchurch airport – is New Zealand’s premier alpine spa and a holiday destination that’s popular with locals and international visitors.

Imagine cycling through New Zealand bush, surrounded by light dappled foliage and the tuneful sounds of unique native songbirds.

New Zealand’s North Island offers a full range of cycling experiences for cyclists of all abilities – from vineyard doddles to high speed downhills for top of the game mountain bikers.

New Zealand’s South Island has some of the world’s most spectacular and varied mountain biking tracks and trails.

New Zealand’s outdoor lifestyle, spectacular landscapes and varied terrain set the scene for some of the world’s best on and off-road cycling experiences.

The Otago Central Railway line was once the link that opened up the rural highland of Central Otago.

Environmentally-aware tourists interested in off-the-beaten-track travel are monitoring progress on New Zealand’s national cycleway project, an ambitious project that’s due to begin development in November 2009.

Kiwi grit and determination, and a hefty chunk of local pride are behind New Zealand’s newest outdoor experience – a new walking network in the Kahurangi National Park, in the northwest South Island.

New Zealanders are passionate about a wide variety of sports; from the more relaxed pursuits of golf to the extreme adventure activities of whitewater rafting and mountain biking.

When competing around the globe, world mountain bike champion Vanessa Quinn often thinks of the stunning trails back home in New Zealand.