Lake Dunstan Bike Hire & Boat: 42km Ride & Return Cruise

Pedal 42km Along a Cliff-Carved Trail, Then Float Back Down the Lake

You cycle 42km from Cromwell to Clyde on a trail carved into the rockface, with e-bike assistance available to keep your group together. After reaching Clyde, a shuttle takes you to the Dunstan Explorer boat, which returns you to Cromwell along the same route you just rode, showing you sections of the trail invisible from the water. The day includes all bike gear, a safety briefing, shuttles, and the boat return. You just show up and ride at your own pace.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cycle Lake Dunstan trail and boat return

• Pick up bike in Cromwell
• Cycle 42km trail to Clyde
• Stop at Carrick Winery
• Visit Burger Afloat for lunch
• Have a drink in historic Clyde
• Take Dunstan Explorer Boat back
• Use luxury shuttle to return

The experience

There's something about the moment you realize you're riding on a trail bolted to the rockface (450 meters of it, suspended above the water) that makes you understand why you came. The Lake Dunstan trail runs the long way around, away from the road between Cromwell and Clyde, and what you get is the lake from a perspective most people never see. The engineering alone is worth the ride: the Hugo Suspension Bridge, the clip-ons anchored into stone, the surface smooth enough that you stop thinking about your tires and start thinking about the view. It's 42km end to end, and yeah, that's a distance, but the e-bike option means you're not fighting gravity the whole way. You choose your assistance level, which is how groups actually stay together instead of splintering into the fit ones and the struggling ones.

You start in Cromwell with a safety briefing and a bike that comes ready: helmet with MIPs protection, lock, repair kit, pump, and an 8-liter trunk bag so you're not hauling a rucksack. The ride is self-guided, which means you move at your own pace and stop when something catches your eye, and things will. Information boards along the trail tell the story of the area, from the gold rush through to the building of New Zealand's largest dam, so you're not just pedaling through scenery, you're reading it. There are places built in to stop: Carrick Winery if you want to taste, Burger Afloat for lunch on the water, and Clyde at the end, a small historic town where riders often grab a celebratory drink before the next part happens.

And that's where the boat comes in. After you've ridden the length of the lake, a luxury shuttle picks you up in Clyde and takes you to the Dunstan Explorer, which carries you back up the water to Cromwell. The same journey you just made on two wheels, but from the water looking back at the trail you rode. You see sections from the boat that disappear when you're on the bike, and the whole thing clicks into place. The company works directly with the Dunstan Explorer to make sure the timing works, so the boat isn't a separate thing you have to figure out. It's part of the day. Riders need to be at least 15, reasonably fit, and confident on a bike (the oldest person they've had so far was nearly 80), but the e-bike takes a lot of the strain out of it if you're not a regular cyclist.

Qualmark Gold accreditation means the operation is audited and meets real standards, which matters when you're on a cliff. Book the e-bike unless you're riding regularly and want the mechanical challenge. It's the difference between a day you enjoy and a day you survive. Single riders get waitlisted and contacted as soon as a group slot opens up.

What’s included

Your day includes bike hire (regular or e-bike), Specialized Camber helmet with MIPs protection, bike lock, puncture repair kit and pump, 8-liter trunk bag, safety briefing, luxury shuttle to the start in Cromwell, the 42km self-guided ride to Clyde, luxury shuttle from Clyde to the boat dock, and your return journey on the Dunstan Explorer boat back to Cromwell.

Options for this experience

2 options

Bike and boat return, standard optionGuide in English · Available from 26 Nov · 09:10Standard bike riders need to be very active, cyclists who ride often and feel confident, and able to keep pace with their group on e-bikes.

E-bike hire with boat returnGuide in English · Available from 24 Dec · 09:10E-bike hire with boat return: nzbiketrails advises an e-bike for every rider on this trail, as there is no road access for 25 km and the route involves 580 m of climbing.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 09:10

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by nzbiketrails

Is this one for you?Right for groups or families who want a full-day adventure without navigating logistics themselves: the shuttle timing, boat coordination, and bike setup are all arranged, leaving you to focus on the ride and the view. The e-bike option makes it accessible to mixed fitness levels, which is why it works for ages 15 to nearly 80.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the whole day take?

The 42km bike ride typically takes 4–6 hours depending on pace and stops. Add 1–2 hours for the shuttle and boat return, so plan for a full day.

Do I need to be a strong cyclist?

Regular riders should be fit and confident. The e-bike option lets you adjust assistance, so less experienced riders can keep up with a group. Riders should be at least 15 years old and in moderate fitness.

What's included in the price?

Bike hire, helmet, lock, repair kit, pump, trunk bag, safety briefing, luxury shuttles to the start and to the boat, and the Dunstan Explorer boat return to Cromwell.

Can I ride a regular bike instead of an e-bike?

Yes, regular bikes are available, but e-bikes are strongly recommended because they let you control your effort and keep your group together on the 42km ride.

What if I'm traveling alone?

Single riders are waitlisted. The company will contact you as soon as a group slot opens up.

Is there food or water along the trail?

Yes. Carrick Winery and Burger Afloat are on or near the route, and Clyde has cafes and bars. Bring water. The trail is exposed in places.

How difficult is the Hugo Suspension Bridge?

It's part of the trail but not a technical challenge. You ride across it like any other section. The engineering is impressive, but the ride itself is steady.

What if the weather is bad?

The trail is rideable in most conditions, but check with the operator about closures. The boat may be affected by high wind or rough water.