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Central Otago is genuinely one of the best cycling regions in the country, and having a shuttle sorted so you don't have to double back on yourself makes a real difference. NZ Bike Trails covers a lot of ground here, from the Lake Dunstan Trail through to the Roxburgh Gorge, and the self-guided format means you're not beholden to a group pace. If you're after something a bit more involved, the Lake Dunstan 'Ultimate Experience' with a boat return is my pick of the lot.

They hire out e-bikes too, which opens this up to people who want the scenery without the suffer-fest. The Roxburgh Gorge jet-boat transfer is a nice touch as well, a bit of theatre to go with the pedalling. Use promo code RANKERS to get 10% off, which helps keep us going at Rankers too, so cheers for that.

A few practical things worth knowing: the trails here can be exposed and weather in Central Otago moves fast, so pack a layer even on a blue-sky morning. Early starts are generally better, especially in summer when it gets warm on the gorge sections. The logistics are well sorted by this crew, so you can focus on the riding rather than the admin.