EXPLORE HĀWEA & WĀNAKA SHUTTLE SERVICE

Our Explore Hāwea & Wānaka Shuttle Service (operating from November to March) allows travellers with their own bikes (or you can rent from us) to explore the area without riding 60-70km ride from Wānaka to Hāwea and back!

if you are staying at the popular campgrounds in Wānaka, Glendhu or Albert Town, we make it entirely practical for you to place your own bikes onto our shuttle trailer and we will transport you and the bikes to the starting point of our popular local ride the Lake Hawea & Wānaka Trail ride which winds itself from Lake Hāwea all the way back to Wānaka – a wonderful and very manageable 30km. We also offer return transport options from Wānaka when needed.

Here are the options we have put together to make your stay in the area more accessible for riding our extensive number of cycle trails.


EXPLORE HĀWEA & WĀNAKA – Schedule

Outbound – MORNING
Pick up Location / Time
Inbound – AFTERNOON
Pick up Location / Time
Hampshire Holiday Parks Glendhu
9:30am
Wānaka
2:30pm
Mt Aspiring Holiday Parks Wānaka
9:45am
Wānaka Top 10 Holiday Park
2:50pm
Wānaka Top 10 Holiday Park 
10:00am
Mt Aspiring Holiday Parks Wānaka
3:05pm
Wānaka iSite
10:20am
Hampshire Holiday Parks Glendhu
3:20pm
Albert Town Campground
10:45am
Wānaka iSite
3:50pm
Lake Hāwea
11:00am
Albert Town Campground
4:15pm
Times above are estimates only and may vary depending on traffic conditions and how many stops we have to make on the day.

We pick you up from your campground, then after a few quick stops along the way we head to Lake Hāwea to start the ride. 

From Lake Hāwea you will set you off on your self-guided ride armed with our pre-printed map which has a number a suggested places to discover along the way. You’ll love how easy we make it for you to relax and enjoy the ride!

The self-guided Lake Hāwea to Wānaka ride is the most popular bike trip in Wānaka which starts at the lakeside town of Hāwea and heads off on the Hāwea River Track, an easy riverside amble set in mountainous surroundings. You’ll pass by Albert Town, where refreshments can be picked up before continuing along the mighty Clutha River towards its source at Lake Wānaka. A picturesque lakeside trail that will lead you back to Wānaka township, where ice cream and #thatwanakatree awaits.

If you decide to book the return shuttle to one of the campgrounds, we will pick you up from outside the Wānaka iSite, 103 Ardmore Street.

This activity runs in conjunction with our main Lake Hāwea & Lake Wānaka Cycle Trail ride. Availability for online booking is generally activated 48 hours before the ride, so if a date you had in mind it’s not currently showing as available, then just send us email (hello@wanakabiketours.co.nz) and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

UPGRADE OPTION – GLADSTONE TRACK

With the recent completion of the Gladstone Track, we now offer this 6.5km extension to the Lake Hāwea River Trail for those wishing to ride a little further. After dropping off our guests for the start of their Lake Hāwea ride, we will drive your group further on to Johns Creek, where you will start the Gladstone Track. This 6.5km extension will lead you into the Lake Hāwea River Trail meaning your overall ride will be around 36.5km. The Gladstone Track is a fairly new flat graded track which follows the foreshore of Lake Hāwea as well as open farmland. This extension can be booked under optional extra’s when you book your ride.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

  • Shuttle to Hāwea, trips leave daily at 10.30am
  • Option to rent the latest-model mountain bikes, helmet & bike lock
  • Thorough trial briefing with guide route map
  • 30km ride / Grade 1-2 trail (Grade system 0 – 6)
  • Visit local cafes and patisserie as well as ‘The Hook’ (note: The Hook is open Sun-Wed)
  • Ride across the swing bridge!
  • See #thatwanakatree

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

  • Day bag/back pack
  • Plastic water bottle (fits inside bike bottle cage)
  • Exercise wear I.e. Shorts, T-shirt
  • Sturdy footwear (closed-toe)
  • Windbreaker jacket, waterproof jacket if rain is forecasted
  • Sunglasses/sunscreen
  • Phone with Camera