--- type: "Article" title: "E-biking the Clutha River, Wanaka, Otago" description: "Justine Tyerman discovers e-biking, and her husband performs a heroic deed..." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/new-zealand/ebiking-clutha-river-wanaka" author: "Justine Tyerman" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 9 tags: ["Landscape", "Nature", "New Zealand"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/new-zealand" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lake" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/winter-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T13:49:18+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: ebiking-clutha-river-wanaka.md#photos title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj" last_modified: 2016-09-05 timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:49:18+00:00 --- # E-biking the Clutha River, Wanaka, Otago > A 50km e-bike loop along the Clutha River from Wanaka to Luggate and back, combining technical riverside trail with sweeping glacial-terrace views — a beginner-friendly adventure that lets riders dial the effort up or down via electric assist. ## Destination Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand — the route follows the Clutha River from its Lake Wanaka outlet to the small township of Luggate and back. ## Getting there The article notes that hiring bikes locally in Wanaka (from Solar Cycles) avoids a one-hour drive to Queenstown, where rentals cost more than twice the price. ## When to go The ride described took place on a clear winter day; snow was visible on the surrounding mountains, and the authors enjoyed warm sunshine for a riverside picnic lunch. ## Why visit The e-bike format makes otherwise demanding hill terrain accessible to riders of mixed fitness levels, opening up a spectacular river and mountain landscape that would be tough on conventional bikes. ## What to see - **Clutha River outlet** — Where the aqua-turquoise Clutha begins its 338km journey to the sea, with Lake Wanaka as a backdrop. - **Riverside trail to Luggate** — A narrow, rocky, undulating path along the water's edge for roughly 25km, crossing a bridge near Luggate township. - **Glacial terraces on the return track** — The homeward route runs high above the river with views of ancient glacial terraces enclosed by a ring of mountains. ## What to do - **E-bike the Wanaka–Luggate loop** — A 50km circuit using SmartMotion e-bikes hired from Solar Cycles in Wanaka; the outward leg hugs the riverbank and the return runs high above it. - **Riverside picnic** — The authors stopped in warm sunshine alongside the Clutha for lunch en route. ## Good to know SmartMotion e-bikes, designed by New Zealander Anthony Clyde, are described as simple to operate and are New Zealand's top-selling brand, exported worldwide. Battery management matters on the full loop — an exhausted battery on an unpowered e-bike is harder going than a conventional bicycle due to the extra weight of the battery pack. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-4.jpg" caption: "Justine taking a break on the track high above the river" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6726, longitude: 169.1834} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-2.jpg" caption: "Justine on the cycle track from Wanaka to Luggate" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6726, longitude: 169.1834} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-12.jpg" caption: "The river near the outlet from Lake Wanaka" keywords: ["New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6642, longitude: 169.1533} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-11.jpg" caption: "The mighty Clutha River near the Wanaka outlet" keywords: ["New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6685, longitude: 169.1621} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-6.jpg" caption: "The Clutha River outlet with Lake Wanaka in the background" keywords: ["New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6726, longitude: 169.1834} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-9.jpg" caption: "The cycle track to Luggate alongside the Clutha River viewed from the opposite side of the river on the way back to Wanaka" keywords: ["New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6857, longitude: 169.2043} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-8.jpg" caption: "Chris taking a break on the way back to Wanaka" keywords: ["New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.6943, longitude: 169.2177} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-7.jpg" caption: "Justine high above the Clutha River on the track from Wanaka to Luggate. The return track can be seen on the other side of the river" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Wanaka"] captured: 2016-09-05 geo: {latitude: -44.689, longitude: 169.2046} - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ebike-wanaka-justine-tyerman-13.jpg" caption: "Justine gives her SmartMotion e-bike the thumbs-up" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Wanaka"] geo: {latitude: -44.6726, longitude: 169.1834} ```