Spring is Making Us Loopy – Time to Cycle the Otago Harbour Loop!

Is it just us, or does spring make people a little bit loopy?

Suddenly we're opening the curtains at 6am, planning weekends around the weather, getting excited about sunshine and thinking, “You know what? I should probably get on my bike.”

Well, if you're going to go a little loopy this spring, join the other 'loopies' Cycle the Loop! 🚲

The Otago Harbour Cycle Loop is one of the best ways to get out and enjoy Dunedin as the days get longer and the harbour starts showing off again.

And the best bit? You don't have to treat it like a serious bike ride.

This is a ride you can take at your own pace — with plenty of excellent excuses to stop along the way.

🚲 Cycle. Eat. Drink. Explore.

The Otago Harbour Loop is around 32 km and mostly flat, but you don't need to smash out the kilometres.

In fact, we'd recommend doing quite the opposite.

Take your time.

Stop for a coffee in Port Chalmers. See cycle map for the best places to refresh yourself.
Have lunch overlooking the harbour.
Pop into a local shop.
Stop for a drink.
Join a wildlife tour.
Visit an attraction.
Take photos

And then keep cycling.

That's what makes the loop such a great day out — the journey is only part of the fun.

⛴️ And then… take the ferry!

At some point you'll reach the part where you need to cross the harbour.

You could turn around and cycle all the way back.

Or you could put your bike on the boat.

We obviously recommend the boat.

The Official Port To Port Cycle Ferry connects Port Chalmers and Portobello, allowing you and your bike to cross the Otago Harbour and complete the loop.

It's a short, scenic ferry ride and a very pleasant way to give your legs a break.

You can sit back, enjoy the harbour views and let someone else do the pedalling for a few minutes.

That's our kind of cycling.

Check the Port To Port ferry timetable and book your crossing before you set off, especially on sunny spring days when everyone else suddenly gets the same idea.

☕ Make your legs happy. Make local businesses happy.

One of the best things about cycling the harbour is that you're not just passing through — you're supporting the local businesses that make the area such a great place to visit.

There are cafés, restaurants, pubs, shops, attractions and tour operators dotted around the harbour and peninsula.

So don't pack your day with nothing but kilometres.

Pack it with experiences.

Rent a bike.

Have a coffee.

Stay for lunch.

Enjoy a drink.

Book a tour.

Visit an attraction.

Buy something from a local business.

Then get back on your bike and carry on.

Your legs get a workout, your taste buds get a holiday and local businesses get a little boost too.

Everyone wins.

🐦 Add a little wildlife to your ride

The Otago Harbour and Peninsula are home to some pretty impressive wildlife, so why not make a tour part of your cycling adventure?

You can combine your ride with wildlife experiences, visit the Royal Albatross Centre, explore Larnach Castle and Gardens, discover local history or simply stop along the way to watch what's happening on the harbour.

You don't have to do everything.

Although, if you do manage to fit it all in, we'll be impressed.

🌞 Spring means longer days

After winter, those extra hours of daylight feel pretty special.

There's more time to get out on the bike after work, more time to stop for lunch, more time for a tour and — importantly — more time to sit somewhere beautiful with a drink and decide whether you really need to keep cycling.

Probably yes.

Eventually.

The longer days of spring and summer make the Otago Harbour Cycle Loop perfect for a relaxed half-day adventure or a full day of exploring.

🌿 So, are you ready to get loopy?

Grab your bike, bring a friend and head for the harbour.

Cycle the Loop. Take the ferry. Eat something delicious. Have a drink. Discover a local business. See some wildlife. Explore somewhere new.

And remember:

You don't have to be loopy to Cycle the Loop.

But it certainly helps. 😉

🚲 Plan your Otago Harbour Cycle Loop

Check out the Cycle the Loop map, discover what's worth stopping for along the way and plan your ferry crossing before you head off.

Spring is here. The days are getting longer. The harbour is waiting.

Time to get loopy.