The Kaikōura Trail
A 42 km loop around the Kaikōura plains: river singletrack, quiet back roads and Mt Fyffe watching over you the whole way. Ride the full loop or pick a section.
The ride
It’s easy to drive straight through Kaikōura. The Kaikōura Trail is the reason to stop. It circles the plains on a mix of singletrack and quiet country roads, taking you to corners of the district you’d never see from the highway.
Most of the loop suits most riders. The climbs are gentle (the optional Mt Fyffe carpark section tops out just under 200 m) and plenty of entry points make it easy to ride a section if you’re short on time. It works equally well in either direction.
The Kōwhai and Hāpuku river sections are the highlight: singletrack winding through native bush, including a stand of impressive tōtara on the Hāpuku, often with fantails for company. Parts of these sections are intermediate grade, so ride within your ability.
Mt Fyffe and the Seaward Kaikōura Range keep watch the whole way round, with glimpses of the ocean as you go. The trail keeps getting better, thanks largely to our volunteer Trail Team.
Photos
Gallery
Map & navigation
Route
Explore the route and elevation below, then open it in Ride with GPS for turn-by-turn navigation on your phone or bike computer.
Support the trails
Enjoyed the ride?
Volunteers look after our trails, with help from local businesses and contractors. Donations and memberships go towards maintaining our trails and building new ones.