LOCAL
GUIDES
Ride with the locals who live for these trails
At The Ride Guide – Queenstown, our guides have spent years exploring every climb, descent, and singletrack in New Zealand’s mountain biking capital.
Whether you’re chasing downhill thrills, scenic cross-country adventures, or just want a day that flows, we’ll craft a ride to match your skills & style.
We handle the logistics — transport, trail access, and local know-how so you can focus on what matters.
FINN O'CONNOR
PROFESSIONAL MTB GUIDE & COACH
I'm Finn, the co-owner and operator of The Ride Guide Queenstown. I am passionate about delivering some of the world’s best mountain biking adventures, where safety and enjoyment are always at the forefront.
With a lifetime dedicated to sports and adventure, I proudly represented New Zealand as an Olympic kayaker in the 90s, and I have many years of experience in competitive mountain biking. My career spans over a decade of driving jet boats and leading kayak trips for Ngāi Tahu Tourism. For the past five years, I’ve specialized in guiding mtb tours throughout Queenstown and Central Otago, heli-bike guiding and mountain bike coaching,
Feel free to reach out — I’d love to help you plan your next mountain biking adventure or simply have a chat about biking!
Finn is an NZQA Level 5 Mountain bike guide · PMBI Mountain bike instructor · NZ health & safety certified · Qualified & equipped for Pre Hospital Emergency Care
CHRIS SHAW
PROFESSIONAL MTB GUIDE & INSTRUCTOR
I'm Chris, an English expat who found himself in New Zealand 25 years ago chasing waves and adventure and fell in love with this beautiful, friendly country. After years of snow sports, I got into riding mountain bikes 20 years ago and never looked back. I have always worked in hospitality and tourism and was fortunate enough to have a restaurant in downtown Queenstown for 10 years.
Nowadays, when not riding bikes, you'll find me on the lake or ocean, wingfoiling, kitesurfing or blue water sailing.
Chris is a GSMBC certified Mountain bike instructor · NZ health & safety certified · Qualified & equipped for Pre Hospital Emergency Care
The Ride Guide Ltd is a licenced DOC concessionaire and has a Safety Management System that has been audited and certified with Qualworx against the Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities.