The Ultimate New Zealand MTB Holiday with EVO & Mons Royale.

We teamed up with our American Friends EVO Travel and Local Legends Mons Royale to offer the ultimate 8 days Queenstown holiday. The riding will cover every type of terrain you can imagine, from bike parks, epic single track, back country heli drops, shuttles and even riding in the desert, you'll be staying in unique stylish and eco friendly accommodation at Sherwood Queenstown and have an all time crew to head riding with! 

Check out what they had to say in a recent interview below and find more info on the trip here: https://www.evo.com/adventure-travel/oceania/new-zealand/new-zealand-mountain-biking

Queenstown, New Zealand. The name alone stirs the heart of any mountain biker who’s ever dreamed of riding down epic alpine terrain with sweeping views and perfectly sculpted singletrack. But while this corner of the Southern Hemisphere is world-famous for its biking scene, it turns out that the real gems are the ones you won’t find on Trailforks or Instagram. They require more than just a plane ticket and a rental bike.

That’s why we partnered with the crew at Mons Royale and Bike Queenstown to help design our New Zealand Mountain Bike Trip. These legends don’t just ride here, they live and breathe the culture. And when you’re rolling with locals, the experience shifts from a great trip, to a core memory. We interviewed Tom Brownlee from Mons Royale and Russ Paver from Bike Queenstown to give us the inside scoop on the scene in Queenstown.  

Built by Riders, For Riders

“Our roots run deep in snow and bike,” says Brownlee. “It made perfect sense to partner with evo and share our incredible mountain home at the bottom of the world.”

For the Mons crew, it’s about more than just ticking off trails, it’s about showcasing the full spectrum of what makes Queenstown’s riding so special. Sure, the big-name parks are a blast. But as Brownlee puts it, “It’s easy to get stuck in the usual spots... But there’s so much more here than meets the eye.” It’s best to have someone to show you the way.

The Secret Sauce: Variety  

Ask anyone who’s ridden in Queenstown and they’ll talk about epic landscapes. What they might not mention is how wildly diverse the terrain is. "Down here in the Southern Lakes a good chunk of the riding is in the open, tussock-laden alpine with the quintessential NZ backdrop,"  Brownlee explains, "The native NZ Beech forest has a 'corn flake' style of loam... it has got to be one of NZ's most unique features.”

Russ Paver from Bike Queenstown agrees, “We've got the epic bike parks you've always dreamed of riding, locals favourite enduro loops and even heli-drops into iconic NZ backcountry descents. Pine trees, beech forest, native NZ tussock and even wild thyme desert, the Southern Lakes is so bio-diverse and each day brings a new environment, new terrain and with it, a new style of riding.”

It’s that blend of variety and local insight that makes this trip different. While tourists stick to the guidebook trails, you’ll ride like a Queenstown native. Flowing through perfectly timed descents, choosing the right trails for the weather, and even know which cafe or pub is worth the pedal.

Locals know best

Locals don’t just know where to go. They know when to go, why to go, and what to do when you get there. That kind of knowledge can’t be downloaded.

“Local knowledge goes a long way,” says Paver. If it has rained, they know where the dirt turns hero. If it’s dry, they know which trails to avoid.  “Riding with the local crew always ensures you have the best time possible.”

The same goes for Queenstown’s thriving food and après scene. From under-the-radar local bakeries to secret swimming spots, a good guide makes all the difference.

“The amazing thing about Queenstown is that the World class biking is only one aspect of the town.” Says Paver. “There's so many passionate outdoors people here doing their thing, there's endless adventures and experiences, world class restaurants, thriving nightlife and an awesome culture of people enjoying doing what they love.”

More than a Ride, it’s the People

One of the best things about Queenstown is the scene itself. “Just like the terrain, the riding culture around Queenstown is super varied and welcoming,” exclaims Paver. “Whilst seemingly lots of different styles of riders... everyone gets on and respects each other over their love of 2 wheels”

That sense of community comes through in the trails as well. Most of the work is maintained by passionate volunteers and local bike clubs. "Thanks to the epic bike clubs people are super involved in the community and with trail building, with lots of locals getting behind a shovel and showing the trails the respect they deserve.”  

Paver, who moved to Queenstown from the UK as a teenage dirtbag rider, still remembers being embraced by the scene: “Within one lap of the hill I had been offered a place to live, some work, a bike rack and a car, it really shows how welcoming the people are around here.”

The Full Experience

The best experiences have to be lived, and that’s what this trip is all about: Showing you the Queenstown you can’t see on your own. The post-ride swims, the treats with a view, the unexpected descents that link together just right because your guide knew to take that left turn instead of the right.  

“With so much incredible riding and adventure to experience in and around Queenstown it was tough to fit it all in over just one week,” says Paver. “The bike parks in central Queenstown are amazing and absolutely worth riding but there's so much more to explore, so we've curated a trip that shows off the incredible variety we're lucky to have here in the Southern Lakes.”

Want In?

Come ride with us and the local crew who make this trip what it is. We’ve curated the best trails, hidden gems, and post-ride rituals into a one-week adventure that will leave you dusty, grinning, and already planning your return.

Queenstown isn’t just another stop on your mountain biking bucket list. With the right crew, it becomes the trip of a lifetime with new friends that become family.


More info and book online here: https://www.evo.com/adventure-travel/oceania/new-zealand/new-zealand-mountain-biking

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