Cyclorama, New Zealand’s first e-bike festival is set to debut this Labour Weekend (22nd and 23rd October) in Arrowtown offering the ultimate weekend destination for the growing numbers of e-bike riders.
The brainchild of Film and TV producer Dave Gibson, and curated after research from festivals around the world, Cyclorama offers riders from New Zealand and abroad the chance to ride spectacular trails while experiencing aspects of the Whakatipu that make it such a renowned destination. Whether you are into wine, beer, gin, food or bird watching - there is a ride and stunning views for you to lap up.
Cyclorama offers six carefully designed and curated rides suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Riders are welcome to bring their own e-bike to the festival or secure a bike from one of the local rental suppliers. E-Bike experience is not specifically required and there’s no need for a high level of fitness to enjoy many of the rides.
All rides start and finish in Arrowtown at the Cyclorama Festival Village which will house various e-bike retailers and accessory providers. In addition there will be e-bike activities set up to complement Arrowtown’s great cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.
“It’s fantastic to be welcoming a new bike-focused event to the region,” says Destination Queenstown Marketing & Communications Director, Sarah O’Donnell. “We are very excited to be hosting the inaugural Cyclorama e-bike festival in our region, showcasing both the amazing biking in our region but also the huge range of world-class experiences that Queenstown is renowned for. It’s shaping up to be an outstanding programme of activities and we look forward to welcoming visitors here.”
Tickets are limited and are on sale now from the website www.cyclorama.co.nz
THE RIDES
TOUR DE GOURMET
Tour de Gourmet offers riders a spectacular ride through the Central Otago countryside with featured degustation style foodie stops along the way.
Largely based around Arrowtown, Lake Hayes and Dalefield, riders will be treated to delicious locally sourced food with matched beverages at four very special locations.
This ride has sessions across both the Saturday and Sunday and includes food and beverages at each stop.
GINOLOGY
This ride gives riders the unique opportunity to blend your own craft gin under the expert guidance of renowned Fenton Street distiller Stuart Green. After riding to a colourful taxidermist’s studio on the Arrow River Bridges trail, Stuart will guide riders nose and palate through a gin tasting session, while he regales the group with the tales that made Fenton Street an award-winning distillery. Following that, riders will have the chance to make their own gin by selecting from a range of botanicals, then blending them into their very own exclusive gin to take home.
THE HOP TRAIL
This ride is an adventurous 50 km ride highlighted with tastings at some of the best craft breweries in the Wakatipu basin.
Travelling across a rarely accessed track riders will head to Arthur’s Point where riders have craft beer tastings at both Cargo Brewing and Canyon Brewing, choosing one location for their late lunch. Lager, IPA, Pilsner, Wheat, Porter, Hazy…maybe even a seltzer, a radler or a cider will be available at each of the two breweries offering different tastings.
Then it’s back to Arrowtown via the occasionally challenging Lower Shotover/Kimi Ākau Trail (and a diversion around the slip). In Arrowtown, riders will choose to try a Lake & Wood brew at Slow Cuts from local brewer Jay Sherwood or choose from a wide selection of craft beers at The Fork and Tap where there will be live music.
RIDE TO THE SKY
Local e-MTB guide, Shay Muddle normally guides riders up Grant Peak. For Cyclorama he will guide riders up one of his favourite and hard to access rides – Mt Rosa.
Shay will transport the bikes out to Gibbston Valley to save batteries for the breath-taking one hour ride up the hill. Although moderate experience is required, this is a chance for riders to take themselves to the next level and do something a bit different with a guide.
PEDDLING PINOT
Riders will head along the Arrow and Kawarau Rivers taking in all the sights en route to Gibbston Valley and to Valli vineyard where they will meet Grant Taylor amongst his vines.
Grant will share the reasons why he grows pinot grapes here and what’s special about the land and the varietal. Together they will ride through the vines to Kinross for a tasting showcase which will demonstrate the different nature of terroir by comparing pinot noir from his Gibbston and Waitaki vineyards.
A delicious lunch with Grant in the Kinross Wine Garden will be served with an accompanying glass of wine.
AWAKE WITH THE BIRDS
Riders will enjoy a gentle early morning e-bike ride around Lake Hayes with the chance to spot pukeko, crested grebes, black shag, New Zealand scaup, white-faced herons, black swans, kingfishers, waterfowl and coot.
October is a great month for bird watching and riders will be guided by zoology graduate, eBirder and experienced nature guide Petrina Duncan alongside bike pro Tony Moore. Binoculars are supplied or you may bring your own.
The ride includes brunch at The Dishery on return to Arrowtown, where riders can relax, debrief on what they have seen and watch the Festival Village come alive from their own special table.