If you prefer a smaller saddle, you'll find a stack of places renting out mountain bikes . For a quality machine, you might be paying over $40 a day, but for that you get a bike, a helmet and a headful of advice about local routes. The main trail-biking areas around Rotorua, Queenstown, Mount Cook and Hanmer Springs will often have a couple of companies willing to take you out on guided rides (the going rate is about $100 a half-day), usually dropping you at the top of the hill and picking you up at the bottom. For general information about the Kiwi off-road biking scene consult www.mountainbike.co.nz .

Mountain bikes aren't allowed off-road in national parks and reserves, and elsewhere you must respect the enjoyment of others by letting walkers know of your presence, avoiding skid damage to tracks and keeping your speed down. For more information, consult the specific biking guides available in New Zealand