New Zealand has gone and done it again. As if the South Island didn’t already have enough scenery to make your phone storage cry actual tears, Central Otago is rolling out the Kawarau Gorge Trail, a 32km stretch of pure wow that’s shaping up to be the newest crown jewel in cycle tourism.

Due to open in early 2026, the track will link Bannockburn to the Gibbston Valley, which basically means you can pedal straight from world-class Pinot Noir to jaw-dropping river gorges without feeling guilty about that second tasting flight.

It’s not just another bike path slapped onto some gravel, either. This one comes with cliff-hugging bluff bridges, swooping suspension bridges over the raging Kawarau River, and sections of terrain that until now have been off-limits unless you were a goat (or an extremely confident hiker).

And the best part is that the Kawarau Gorge Trail will connect into a 530km network of rides that stretches all the way from Queenstown to Waihola. That’s five of New Zealand’s Great Rides stitched together, so whether you’re a Lycra-clad speed demon or someone who considers biking between wineries an Olympic sport, you’re covered.

For now, you can sneak a preview on Felton Road, where the trail links into the Lake Dunstan track (handily, it’s also one of the finest wine roads in the country).