New Zealand's Great Rides have proven to be a strong and highly profitable asset to the national tourism economy.
The Government has welcomed new data showing New Zealand’s 23 Great Rides are pumping NZD 1.28 billion a year into our local economies, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said.
The 2025 evaluation report for the Great Rides of New Zealand - Ngā Haerenga has shown visitor spending attributed to the Great Rides jumped 35 percent for the year ending June 2025, compared to the same period in 2021.
“This is a significant boost for our local tourism market. Riders are spending more on accommodation, food and hospitality, which is great news for local businesses and jobs,” Louise Upston said.
Visitor nights in nearby accommodation tallied 4.5 million in the year ending June 2025, up 25 percent from 2021 statistics.
“Since being set up by Sir John Key’s National-led Government in 2009, these figures show the appeal of our cycle trails continuing to grow and the real economic benefits they bring to regional communities.
“Higher spending on accommodation and hospitality goes hand in hand with more people using the trails. We’ve seen over 2.5 million trips recorded for the year ending June 2025, up 18 percent on 2021 figures.”
The Government puts NZD 8 million a year from the International Visitor Levy towards the 23 Great Rides, which showcase New Zealand’s landscapes, history and culture.
In addition to this funding, the Government has also made a number of recent investments in cycle trail infrastructure in both Ruapehu and Dunedin, with more to come.
“This data shows our Great Rides are growing in popularity with both international visitors and Kiwis, and we’re committed to ensuring they continue to attract visitors and deliver significant economic benefits,” Minister Upston said.
The report was carried out by Angus and Associates and draws on survey data gathered from trail users, stakeholders and trail managers, and data collected using counters on the trails. The last evaluation report was done in 2021. The evaluation was jointly funded by MBIE and Cycle Journeys.
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