Awesome Quad Bike (ATV) Tours in New Zealand
Quad bikes are a staple of New Zealand culture. They are the transport method of choice when Kiwis are working on their farming stations. What’s more, quad biking just happens to be an awesome way to experience the great outdoors! Quad biking in New Zealand means you can get to all those hard-to-reach places over a vast variety of gnarly terrain. It helps that it’s ridiculously fun too! So where can you go quad biking in New Zealand? Find out in this list of excellent quad bike tours in New Zealand!
You’ll find a real mix of quad-biking tours in New Zealand. Some a perfect for the whole family, taking you through fun twists and turns on safe terrain and bikes, while others are specially designed for adult drivers to blast through some extreme landscapes. Mud, streams, forest, mountains, beaches and glacier valleys: it can all be experienced on New Zealand quad biking tours!
1. Franz Josef
Quad biking is best done on extreme landscapes and it doesn’t get more extreme than Franz Josef! In the region dubbed the “Wild West Coast”, Franz Josef is famous for its glacier activities. Ride a quad or a buggy through a glacier-carved valley, ancient rainforest and over plenty of water in this wild ride with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours. With the option to self-drive solo, with a buddy or in a family-friendly buggy, there’s something for everyone on this exciting off-road excursion. And that’s not all there is to do in Franz Josef; check out the 30 Best Things to Do in Franz Josef!
Location: Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast, South Island.
© Franz Josef Wilderness Tours2. Greymouth
On Yer Bike arguably makes Greymouth the off-roading capital of New Zealand! In the off-roading complex just outside of the West Coast city, choose from self-driven 4×4 buggies or quad bikes. Then take on over 16 km (10 mi) of purpose-built tracks taking you through dense native forest, through more mud than you can imagine and even large streams! Book your quad bike tour with On Yer Bike. Additionally, see more experiences in Greymouth in our 15 Best Things to Do in Greymouth.
Location: Greymouth, West Coast, South Island.
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Queenstown
Being the “Adventure Capital”, Queenstown spoils you for choice with quad bike tours. Choose from an adventure up Queenstown Hill with Nomad Safaris for outstanding views to go with your adventure (more info on Viator and Klook) or join Off-Road Adventures for their huge off-roading offering over 4,450 ha (11,000 acres) of land! Quad bike, dirt bike, purpose-built tracks, mud and water: it can all be found in Queenstown. Add it to your bucket list alongside the 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
Location: Queenstown, Otago, South Island.
© Nomads Safaris4. Hanmer Springs
Explore the stunning sights and epic terrain of the Hanmer Basin on a Hanmer Springs quad-biking tour! After training from your guide, you’ll go on a journey through a high country station through a mix of terrain: bush, mountain, paddocks and lots and lots of water! Book your quad bike tour with the Hanmer Springs Adventure Centre, Amuri Jet or Hanmer Springs Attractions (more info on Viator and Klook). Plus, check out more of the 20 Best Things to Do in Hanmer Springs while you’re there.
Location: Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, South Island.
© NZPocketGuide.com5. Nelson
Adventure can be found in Nelson on a quad bike tour at the Cable Bay Adventure Park! No experience is required, as you’ll get full instruction before you set off on an exciting journey through approximately 14 km (8.5 mi) of native forest and farmland and plenty of stops to soak in the scenery and learn about the area along the way. The tour takes approximately 2 hrs 30 mins, giving you plenty of time to do some of the 20 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
Location: Cable Bay, Nelson Tasman, South Island.
© Cable Bay Adventure Park - Viator6. Kaikoura
Just 20 minutes out of Kaikoura is the Glenstrae Farm tucked between the mind-blowing Kaikoura mountain ranges and the rugged coastline. Explore this hillside sheep farm on a journey through native bush, open hilltops with picture-perfect views and along the coast where you’ll even get the opportunity to see seals. Quad bike tours are available with Glenstrae Farm Quad Bike & UTV Tours or on helicopter combos with Kaikoura Helicopters. Check out more experiences in Kaikoura in our 25 Best Things to Do in Kaikoura.
Location: Kaikoura, Canterbury, South Island.
© Glenstae Quad Biking7. Taupo
A great option for children over 9 years old and adults alike, Taupo is an awesome destination to experience quad biking in New Zealand. Quad biking in Taupo is all about blasting through the native forest and even heading up to a stunning viewpoint. There are plenty of terrains to cover with twists and turns. More importantly, it can be muddy as hell! Quad and ATV buggy tours are available with Kiwi Outback Adventures. Don’t miss these other awesome activities in the 20 Best Things to Do in Taupo!
Location: Taupo, Waikato, North Island.
© Taupo Quad Adventures8. Auckland
To experience some different off-roading terrain in New Zealand, don’t miss a tour with 4 Track Adventures in Auckland. Ride along long-stretching sandy beaches or on purpose-built forest tracks on the sunny coast of South Head, just one hour north of Auckland city centre. See more adventure experiences nearby in the 10 Best Adrenaline Activities in Auckland.
Location: South Head, Auckland, North Island.
© 4 Track Adventures9. Ruapehu
Experience the true New Zealand countryside with Ruapehu Adventure Rides. Located on the edge of the Tongariro National Park, this hilltop quad biking experience has excellent views of the North Island volcanoes, as well as plenty of gnarly terrains to tackle. Drive through mud, water, hills and forest on this North Island adventure ride!
Location: National Park Village, Manawatu-Wanganui, North Island.
© Ruapehu Adventure Rides10. Rotorua
Blast around the flanks of Mt Ngongotaha, its farmland and forest with the Adventure Playground in Rotorua. Although they no longer offer quad bike tours, their self-drive 4WD buggies are just as adventurous to get you through the vast terrain overlooking Lake Rotorua. Choose from a half-hour or 1-hour tour giving you plenty of time for more of the 25 Best Things to Do in Rotorua in your day!
Location: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, North Island.
© Adventure Playground - ViatorMore About Quad Biking and ATV Tours in New Zealand
That’s it for our list of the best places for quad biking in New Zealand, as well as the best quad bike tours. For more adventure tours, take a look at these similar experiences:
- Mountain Biking in New Zealand: A Complete Guide
- Adrenaline Activities in New Zealand
- 10 Super Unique Things in New Zealand
Finally, complete your NZ bucket list with the 101 Things to Do in New Zealand: The Ultimate List.
