Arrow River to Gibbston River Trail

Arrowtown – There is ample safe and unlimited free car parking space at our Arrowtown shop. There is also overflow parking for busy days. 

Queenstown – There is limited free parking available by the Hilton with varying time constrictions. There is a paid parking lot or free street parking available in Kelvin Heights or along Frankton Beach. Walk toward Hiltin Kawarau Village and down the stairs toward the jetty. Look out for our Better By Bike banner. For large groups, please contact us to discuss possible alternate options.

We provide top quality bikes, and everything you need to enjoy your day! This includes helmets, maps, waterproof panniers, phone holders, sunscreen, and should you need it, full ‘trail support’ for your ride.

We also take you through a full briefing on how to use your bike, rail trail etiquette and tailored advice on sites and attractions along the way.  We want to make sure all you need to do is enjoy your day!

Should you want it, at an additional cost, we also offer shuttle transport to and from your accommodation, or one way back from Gibbston to Arrowtown if you do not wish to make the ride back!

Absolutely, in fact we encourage you to support these local Queenstown businesses! Each ride will have different options for refreshments on the trail with the Arrow River to Gibbston River trail boasting the most variety. There are also plenty of shops and bakeries in Arrowtown to help you stock up on snacks for the trail! We will recommend our favorites, which are noted on the map we provide!

No sorry, due to damage that has been caused in the past, our E-bikes can only be transported by staff on our purpose-built bike trailers.

Yes, we offer accommodation return shuttles from anywhere in the Queenstown area. These are $185 including the price of your e-bike. We will pick up your group in the morning for a scenic drive into Arrowtown and return you at the end of the day.

Please note our accommodation return shuttles are only available from our Arrowtown shop. Our Gibbston to Arrowtown shuttles are available to transport you from Gibbston back to Arrowtown.

If up to 25km feels like the perfect ride for you or you know you want to be picked up in Gibbston by our shuttle transport, simply book the Gibbston River Trail Package. If you are not sure of your plans, you can always book a return shuttle the day of the bike hire, just give us a call before 3:30pm or at least 20 minutes before you wish to be picked up and returned to Arrowtown.

There is always the option to ride down to Gibbston and back to Arrowtown!

We ask that if you plan on enjoying the wineries with a tasting or a glass or two of you favorite pour, that you book a return shuttle for your safety and the safety of others on the trail.

The trail options available range from 13 to 50 kms and are gravel and dirt trails designed for bikes. Each trail has a difficulty rating from easy to moderate. We are in the mountains so even the easiest trails will involve some inclines! Our e-bikes make taking these inclines a breeze as long as you are using your power settings and gear appropriately (don’t worry, we’ll provide you with a refresher pre-ride). Remember that with Better By Bike you are riding amazing e-bikes, so any hills or headwinds just add to the fun!

As our rides are not guided, we have included ‘trail support’ so if you happen to have any issues out on the trails, for example, a puncture, we are only a phone call away to get you going again. We have our staff and comfortable shuttle vans ready to collect you and your bike if needed.

Please note that bikes are machinery and even with our regular services, things can happen on the trail. If your chain is jammed or jumping or anything is making your ride uncomfortable, give us a call! We will swap out your bike and get you on your way in no time!

Our 24-hour cancellation policy allows for great flexibility when planning your trip. If you contact us at least 24 hours before your booking date and time, we can transfer your E-bike hire to a new date at no cost, or cancel your booking for a full refund.  

In cases of inclement weather (very rare) we will make a call on the day whether it is acceptable riding conditions or not. If the ride cannot go ahead, we will try to reschedule or refund the trip. 

We recommend checking the weather a week beforehand and making sure the conditions are comfortable for you so you can adjust your booking accordingly prior to 24-hours before your ride!

E-bikes are no different than a standard bike, other than the motor assists you making it easier to get from A to B. The motors are pedal assist so you will be pedaling for the duration of the ride but our 4 operating modes allow you to control how much effort you want to put into your ride. 

There are a number of aspects that affect battery life on your bike. Battery life will fluctuate depending on what power settings are being used, the cyclist’s weight, and correctly using the gears as you ride. Rest assured that our e-bikes use the best batteries in the market. Our Bosch batteries will take you through any of our trails and back with plenty of charge left! We will explain everything pre-ride and if you have any questions, just ask one of our staff!

It’s simple – “You’re on holiday, enjoy the ride and see more!”

Our e-bikes are super comfortable with ‘pedal assist’ motors. This means that when you pedal, the motor kicks in and gives you that ‘extra boost’. How much depends on the setting you choose, with 4 settings from “Eco” for a bit of exercise, up to ‘Turbo” for pure enjoyment! 

E-bikes mean no more struggling up hills or into a headwind, just enjoy the day! If you ever want to try an e-bike Queenstown Trails are the perfect place to give it a go. 

Absolutely not, all of our trails are on the Queenstown Trails Network that are designed for bikers and walkers and safely tucked away from any major roads. Depending on the trail you choose, you may ride on low trafficked country roads or will have to cross major roads so please take care in these areas. In fact, if you end up riding on a major road, that’s a good time to call our staff to help get you back on the proper trail!

Yes, New Zealand mandates that riders of all ages must wear helmets while riding a bike. This includes any passengers riding in bike attachments. Helmets are included in your rental and we will make sure they are fitted correctly!

We are fortunate enough to have two master bike mechanics who work on each of our bikes. We have regular full services for each bike and check the bikes every morning and evening for any additional maintenance needs.

Have your own bike? Our mechanics shop is open to the public for servicing and repairs. Head over to the Mech Lab on Bush Creek road or visit our website by clicking “Mechanics Lab” above!