Cycle Journeys

17/10/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the many ways cycling helps us connect.

WE BELONG HERE 💚

Cycling can help us feel connected.
- Connected to ourselves.
- Connected to our people.
- Connected to the places we explore.
- Connected to the communities we ride through.
And connected to something bigger than ourselves.

The latest Ngā Haerenga research found that 85% of trail stakeholders believe their local Great Ride is a source of pride for the community, while 87% say it is valued by the community.

That's why we believe cycling matters. Not just because it gets us moving, but because it gives us reasons to get outside, spend time together, meet people, explore places and be part of our communities.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, think about where you belong - because belonging matters.

16/10/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the many ways cycling helps us connect.

BELONGING TO COMMUNITY

A cycle trail is so much more than the track beneath your wheels.
It's the café owner who knows the riders by name.
The accommodation provider who has been welcoming cyclists for years.
The volunteer who gives their time to look after the trail.
The shuttle driver who knows every bend in the road.
The local businesses that have grown alongside the trail.
The people who live there and make the place what it is.

Across Ngā Haerenga, volunteers contributed almost 18,000 hours in the last year. And 85% of trail stakeholders said their Great Ride has become part of their community's identity.

That's belonging - it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.

15/10/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the many ways cycling helps us connect.

BELONGING TO A PLACE

One of the best things about travelling by bike?You slow down enough to notice where you are.
- A river beside the trail.
- A bird in the wetlands.
- A historic building.
- A local story.
- A friendly wave from someone passing by.

The Ngā Haerenga research found that 48% of trail users developed a greater appreciation of the natural environment, while 30% developed a greater appreciation of local culture and heritage through their Great Ride experience.

Maybe that's what cycling does so well - it doesn't just take you somewhere, it helps you feel connected to somewhere.

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the many ways cycling helps us connect.

BELONGING TOGETHER

The best part of a cycling adventure isn't always the riding.
It might be the friend who waits at the top of the hill.
The family riding together for the first time.
The coffee stop that turns into a long chat.
The shared laugh when someone takes a wrong turn.
Or simply having someone beside you when the road gets tough.

The Ngā Haerenga research found that 33% of trail users said they developed a closer relationship with the people they were with as a result of their Great Ride experience.

So this week, don't just go for a ride. Ask someone to come with you.
Because sometimes the best way to feel better is to feel connected.

13/10/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re exploring why belonging matters - and what cycling can do to help us feel connected.

BELONGING TO YOURSELF

There’s something about getting on a bike and heading out into the open air. The rhythm of the pedals. The fresh air. The landscape changing around you. A little time away from the noise of everyday life.

The latest Ngā Haerenga research found that 57% of Great Ride users said their sense of wellbeing or mental health improved as a result of their trail experience.

Sometimes looking after ourselves can be as simple as getting outside and moving.
So this Mental Health Awareness Week, make a little time for yourself. Ride. Breathe. Explore.

Because belonging matters - and that includes feeling at home in yourself.

12/10/2026

Belonging Matters. 💚

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is a simple but powerful reminder: Belonging Matters.

For us at Cycle Journeys, there’s a strong connection between belonging, getting outside and being part of something - whether that’s riding with friends and whānau, connecting with a community, or simply finding your place in the landscape around you.

The latest Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand Evaluation Report backs up what many of us already know: cycling can have a positive impact on how we feel.

✔️ 57% of trail users said their mental health had improved as a result of their Great Ride experience.
✔️ 33% said they had developed a closer relationship with the people they were with.
✔️ 48% said they had developed a greater appreciation of the natural environment.

And the benefits extend beyond the individual. 85% of trail stakeholders said their local Great Ride is a source of pride for the community, while 87% said it is valued by the community.

Over the next few days, we’ll be looking at some of the different ways cycling can help us feel connected - to ourselves, to each other, to the places we explore and to the communities around us.

11/10/2026

What’s your Labour Weekend ride?

Spin the wheel and let fate choose your adventure! 🎡

Whether you fancy Nelson and choose a day ride on the Great Taste Trail, or wild West Coast scenery, the Kawatiri coastline or big Aoraki/Mt Cook views on the Alps 2 Ocean, we’ve got a day ride for you.

No need to commit to a multi-day adventure - just grab your crew, pick your trail and make a day of it.
Where will you land?

10/10/2026

Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail here we come with Cycle Journeys support!

10/10/2026

🌴🚲 Thinking about cycling Samoa? Here’s what to expect…

Samoa is a little different from cycling in New Zealand - and that’s exactly what makes it such a special adventure.

In her latest blog, Lesley shares what it’s really like to explore Samoa by bike, from the roads and riding conditions to the heat, villages, beaches, accommodation and the wonderfully laid-back Samoan way of life.

Whether you’re already planning your island adventure or just curious about what cycling Samoa is like, it’s a great read before you go.

Read Lesley’s guide: Cycling Samoa – What to Expect 🌺

Planning a cycling holiday in Samoa? Lesley shares what it's really like to cycle Upolu, including distances, hills, heat, e-bikes, support, kayaking and more.