Queenstown Airport (ZQN)

Queenstown Airport is the gateway to Queenstown and the lower South Island. With daily flights from New Zealand’s main centres and services from four east coast Australia ports, Queenstown Airport provides convenient access to the region, is close to the trails, and one of New Zealand's most bike friendly airports.

Whether you’re flying in for an epic ride or heading off after exploring the region on two wheels, travelling with a bike through Queenstown Airport is straightforward with a little planning.

Arriving with your bike:

Check your airline's requirements for travelling with a bicycle well before you fly. Pay particular attention if you have an electric bike, as there are strict regulations regarding batteries.

New Zealand takes biosecurity seriously, so if you're flying in from overseas, make sure your bike is clean, with no muddy tyres.

Both international and domestic arrivals will find their bikes at the oversized items collection areas beside the baggage reclaim belts.

By now, you're probably impatient to get started on your cycling adventure. Outside the terminal, just through the Arrivals door, you will find two bike assembly stands, fully equipped with tools.

If you no longer want your bike box, the Queenstown Airport staff at the Information Desk will be happy to take it and pass it on to another cyclist.

Lockers are available if you want to store a soft bike bag or other gear.

Get Pedalling:

The Queenstown Trail  is a great place to start. You can ride directly on to the trails from Queenstown Airport and the 130-kilometre network of cycleways passes through beautiful countryside, skirting around lakes and along rivers, connecting the communities of this area. It has been designed for everybody to enjoy and it's free! It can be ridden in short sections or in more demanding full-day forays.

Further afield, the trail network extends throughout Otago and links into Canterbury and Southland too. Once the Kawarau Gorge Trail opens you will be able to hop on your bike at the terminal in Queenstown and ride all the way to Dunedin.

Departures:

Bikes must be correctly disassembled and packed in a bike box or bike bag.

If you want to break your bike down at the airport, you will find tools and bike assembly stands beside the bike racks in front of the terminal.

Air New Zealand has bike boxes for passengers to purchase, subject to availability, or the Queenstown Airport staff at the information desk might be able to give you a recycled box.

Check the weight of your packed bike and accompanying gear to avoid surprises at the check-in counter. Depending on your airline's rules, you might be charged for extra weight.

Once you're checked in, take your bike to the oversized items and cargo counter at the far left of the check-in area and send it on its way.