Planning your next mountain biking trip to Wanaka? Great choice – Wanaka boasts over 750km of trails, with 40km of that hero dirt situated at Bike Glendhu. If you’re ready to book an epic mountain bike holiday, check out our bike-friendly accommodation recommendations below – from luxury getaways to affordable options and everything in between.
Bike-Friendly Accommodation Facilities
You might be wondering “What do I need to look for in accommodation when booking the ultimate MTB holiday in Wanaka?” Well, it depends on your priorities and preferences more than anything. For facilities, we recommend finding an option with bike storage and a bike wash station that’s ideally close to where you’re planning to ride. Buuuut, Bike Glendhu is only 10 minutes away from Wanaka’s township, so it’s pretty easy to get out here with your bike regardless of where you stay in Wanaka.
Budget-Friendly Accommodation
Cheap and cheerful, budget-friendly accommodation for your mountain biking trip is great because it means you can spend more time down here in Wanaka to ride the plethora of trails you’ll find in the area. Maybe you’re after a campsite to soak in those views or possibly even a hostel to make it cheery with some buddies. Either way, you’re sure to have an epic time.
Hampshire Holiday Parks (Formerly Glendhu Bay Motor Camp)
The camping ground in Glendhu Bay is just a stone’s throw away from Bike Glendhu and is Wanaka’s only lakeside campground. There’s heaps of facilities, including an unreal undercover BBQ area, laundry, WiFi, a playground, hot tub, boat parking, kitchen and even a convenience store on-site that’s open during the busy season. They’ve also got bike washing facilities, a secure bike stand and e-bike charging station on site. Choose from a range of accommodation options, including powered and unpowered camping sites, cabins, a lodge and a holiday house all available to rent. This option is also pet-friendly (outside of peak season), meaning you can even take your pooch on holiday too. Better yet, if you’re staying at here, you’ll get 10% off all food and beverage at Velo (with proof of currently staying at HHP – Glendhu Bay) plus you can nab a Trail Pass + E-Bike deal at any time of the day for $159 (excluding December 10-February 28), come into Ticketing to book in!
YHA Wanaka
The YHA Wanaka backpackers accommodation is a great option for your mountain biking trip if you’re on a budget and want to be close to Wanaka township. You’ll be super close to the bike trails in town, and it’s even got an area for you to store your bike when you get back from riding all those decadent trails around. They offer mixed and gender-specific dorms, as well as private rooms so you can pick what suits you and your group the best.
Motels
Maybe you’re past the hostel and campground days but you’re a small group – motels are perfect for this. There are heaps of motels on offer around Wanaka, meaning it’s perfect to explore the trails and the township.
Archway Motels and Chalets
Archway Motels and Chalets are run by some keen mountain bikers and located by the popular MTB area; Lismore Park in Wanaka. They offer lock-up storage for bikes, as well as a wash station and plenty of good advice for mountain biking around the region.
Bella Vista Motel
Bella Vista Motel is an affordable motel option located right in Wanaka’s township, meaning you can easily explore the local businesses after a day of riding the trails. They offer a lock-up garage for the storage of mountain bikes to keep your gear safe overnight or when you venture around the shops. Better yet, there’s a wash station available to get your bike squeaky clean after every ride.
Bike-Friendly Hotels
Sometimes when you’ve finished a biiiiig ride, nothing sounds better than a bit of cheeky room service and housekeeping tidying things up for you, so you can spend more time exploring all of that hero dirt you’ll find in Wanaka.
Edgewater
Edgewater Wanaka is a super central hotel right on the lakefront and is only 11.7km from Bike Glendhu. They offer 106 rooms and extensive facilities, including a playground, tennis courts, spa pools, a sauna and even a 9-hole putting green. You can use the ski drying room over the summer months to store your bike, or you can request a ground-floor room with a sliding door. During the day, you can also park your bikes on the rack, located on the terrace.
Holiday Homes
Whether it’s a family vacation, a guys’ trip or a gals’ getaway, holiday homes are great for groups. Renting a holiday home can be great for a family MTB trip because you get the whooole place for the little ones to run around (or sleep) undisturbed.
Release Wanaka
Release Wanaka provides a range of accommodation with tailor-made experiences – from holiday homes through to apartments, private villas and lodges. Better yet, Release Wanaka and Bike Glendhu offer epic Stay and Play packages, as well as a range of experiences to make your trip perfect for your needs. They can organise travel plans, a private chef, nannies, rental cars, massages and local guides, to name a few.
Glendhu Station Homestead
There’s nothing better than a wholesome family trip packed with activities to tire out the little ones (and maybe you too). The Glendhu Station Homestead is located 500m away from Bike Glendhu – it doesn’t get much better than that! This holiday home offers four queen bedrooms with a large gathering/drinks lounge, two bathrooms, formal dining and lounge, TV room, large kitchen and informal dining, decks and BBQ area, and mature gardens – it’s a great family spot. There are also glamping tents that can be arranged on the property for up to 75 guests.
Luxury Accommodation
Treat yourself to all the bells and whistles – it won’t disappoint. Whether it’s the uninterrupted views that you’re after, a private chef that really tickles your fancy, or it’s a helicopter ride that sells you, the luxury accommodation in Wanaka is pretty special.
Minaret Station
Minaret Station Alpine Lodge is a working high-country station with secluded, luxury accommodation. There’s no road access to the lodges, meaning that you’ll grab a scenic helicopter flight to your private chalet. Each chalet has a hot tub, unforgettable views and a chef on-site, using local produce and free-range meat from the station. It’s an epic option for a luxurious mountain biking holiday, as they offer heli-biking, as well as helicopter transfers to Bike Glendhu.
Whare Kea Lodge
Whare Kea is a beautiful luxury lodge on your way out to Bike Glendhu with undisturbed views of Lake Wanaka. Situated near Roy’s Peak, services for this luxury bike-friendly lodge include a private chef, wait staff, nanny services and even massage therapy to soothe those muscles after a big day biking around all those epic trails in the area. They also have a mountain bike track specifically built for those wanting to bike from Whare Kea down onto the Millennium Track, making it an ideal option for your MTB getaway.
Mahu Whenua
Silver service anyone? Mahu Whenua Ridgeline Homestead and Eco Sanctuary is a fully hosted lodge and Aotearoa’s largest private conservation project, covering 136,000 acres of land. Located in a remote location near the Motatapu River, it’s 25 minutes from Wanaka township for this unique experience and just down the road from Bike Glendhu. They also offer mountain biking and heli-biking packages with an on-site helipad.
Whether you’re after a full stay and play mountain biking package, just need a safe place to keep your bike post-ride or want somewhere where staff can give you good tips about riding around the area, there’s plenty of accommodation perfect for the ultimate MTB holiday in Wanaka. Don’t forget to check out Lake Wanaka Tourism’s recommendations too – happy riding and we can’t wait to see you here!
