You Have Cycled in Australia. Cycling in New Zealand Feels Different. A practical guide for Australian women thinking about their first multi-day ride in New Zealand. A lot of the women who ride with us come from Australia. Many have already done a rail trail or two at home - the Mawson, the Murray to Mountains, the Riesling - and they arrive in New Zealand with a reasonable sense of what multi-day cycling feels like. That experience is genuinely useful. But New Zealand ridin

If you’ve been looking at our cycling tours and wondering which one is right for you - you’re not alone. It’s a question we hear all the time. Here we’re comparing two of our cycling tours to help you decide. Both are in the South Island. Both are on Ebikes. Both start in Queenstown. But they’re very different rides.

We know it’s not easy to choose – especially when all four tours offer stunning scenery, small groups, home-style meals, and that special Sidetracks mix of fun, freedom, and feeling looked after. To make it a little easier, we’ve written up a short guide to help you decide.

After a long winter it’s normal to wonder: Will I still cope with hours in the saddle? Maybe you’ve already booked your cycling tour and the big question now is: Am I fit enough? The good news is – yes! You don’t need to be “super fit” to enjoy our cycling tours. With a few gentle steps now, you’ll be ready for spring rides that feel good rather than sore.

Ebikes are taking the cycling world by storm, and it’s easy to see why – they make cycling so much more fun and accessible!

How do you choose the perfect cycling tour?

Find out why this trail is one of our favourites! It's not only the spectacular views...

If this is a question you ask yourself, find out here what we have to say about mixing standard and Ebikes, and the reasons behind it.

We think there is no more beautiful, wild, wonderful and adventurous place in New Zealand than the West Coast of the NZ.

Wondering how challenging your cycle tour will be? Find all info you'll need about our simple grading system here.

Do you wonder if you know enough about the technical side to get the most out of your Ebike? How well do you know your Ebike battery/motor?

Which bike suits me? An important question as cycling is only fun if your bottom is still ok after a few hours in the saddle.

Let us flatten the slopes and overcome headwind for you, and move your joints without the strain! Electric assisted bikes (Ebikes) are easy to understand and easy to ride. You will be able to ride much bigger distances and keep up with the fittest riders. They have a range of 35 – 80 km on one battery charge and you can recharge them anywhere overnight if needed. The main bike trails on the Lakes, Fiords & Mountains tour are the multi-day Around the Mountains Trail near Que

Electric Bikes have made cycle touring possible and pleasurable for a wide range of people. They are simple to operate and eliminate much of the cycling strain from legs and knees. Ebikes are included on all Sidetracks Women cycle tours. On the Explore Otago Cycle Tour you will be on an Electric Bike like this: Perfect for the Otago Trails Our European-designed Ebikes are built with comfort and ease of operation in mind, and feature unisex frames, 29” wheels, front suspension

A bike that fulfills the terrain requirements and is the right size for your frame is a prerequisite for cycling to be a pleasure.

Four easy-to-follow tips to get your chain back onto your Ebike.

How to get fit? Stretch for a few minutes a day!

On most of our cycle tours, you are welcome to bring your own Ebike. If bringing your own Ebike is an option depends on whether we travel with a bicycle trailer all the way from our starting point Christchurch or not. On most cycle tours we do, but it may differ for some tour dates. Please feel free to ask! Our email: women@sidetracks.co.nz Will it be the same tour price? We are happy to reduce the tour price by the rental fee for the bike minus a small processing fee. Pleas

Cycle with us the best Otago cycle trails: the Otago Rail Trail, the Clyde to Alex River Trail, plus the Roxburgh Gorge & Clutha Gold Trails

There is no need for specialised gear. Most of what you need to enjoy your next bike tour is probably already in your wardrobe or garage.