A luxury group cycle tour of Queenstown and the Southern West
Coast is a great introduction to bicycle touring in New Zealand.
Accompanied by a sag wagon throughout, the tours are suitable
for a wide range of experience levels – from relative newcomers
to hardcore cyclists.
The tours will appeal in particular to those who enjoy group
dynamics and the opportunity to make new friends, to those who
are looking for the greater level of support offered by a guided
tour, and to couples or groups where the level of cycling ability
and/or ambition varies from one individual to another.
The tours are relaxed – with each rider able to decide
just how far they want to pedal each day. Staying at the Lake
Moeraki Wilderness Lodge, there is also the opportunity to take
a half day out of the saddle for other activities.
Accommodation is in quality 3-5 star hotels and breakfasts are
provided as part of the package.
Queenstown and the Southern West Coast have been chosen as the
regions for the tour because, in addition to the magnificent scenery
-
- The region is typically 'Kiwi', and provides a great introduction
to the country for first time visitors.
- The terrain is varied in nature with moderately demanding
hill climbs (and spectacular views) and diverse scenery a feature
of the trip.
- There are plenty of biking options available, allowing each
rider to bike just as much, or as little, as he or she wants
on any given day.
- The region is readily accessible from Christchurch and Queenstown
International Airports.
- There is a well-developed tourism infrastructure in the region.
Tour outline
Your bicycle vacation starts from Christchurch with a gradual
warm-up of mainly flat riding on the first 2 days as you head
through the Southern Alps to the coastal towns of Westport and
Punakaiki, with their remarkable limestone formations, incredible
rainforests and stunning beaches.
From Punakaiki you tackle some of the moderate hills that follow
for the remainder of the trip as you cycle through stunning coastal
vistas and ancient beech forests to the small settlement of Hokitika.
From Hokitika we continue south along the spectacular West Coast
through native forest to the world’s lowest lying Glaciers
at Fox and Franz Josef.
From the Glaciers we spend a night in the Lake
Moeraki Wilderness Lodge before completing our adventure crossing
the Southern Alps to the Lakeside towns of Wanaka and Queenstown,
the outdoor adventure capital of New Zealand.
Places are filling fast on this tour!
BRIEF ITINERARY
| Day 1
|
Meet Christchurch for tour briefing and a
warm-up ride on the spectacular Banks Peninsula [40km/25miles] |
| Day 2 |
Christchurch to Moana on the Tranz Alpine train before
cycling to Reefton [75km/46miles cycling] |
| Day 3
|
Reefton to Westport [80km/49miles cycling] |
| Day 4 |
Westport to Punakaiki [75km/46miles cycling] |
| Day 5
|
Punakaiki to Hokitika [80km/49miles cycling] |
| Day 6 |
Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier [80km/49miles cycling] |
| Day 7
|
Franz Josef Glacier to Lake Moeraki [95km/57miles] |
| Day 8
|
Lake Moeraki to Haast [40km/25miles cycling] |
| Day 9 |
Haast to Wanaka [90km/47miles cycling] |
| Day 10 |
Wanaka to Queenstown [75km/46miles cycling] |
| Day 11
|
Complete tour Queenstown |
|
