Pedal Through Paradise: 11-Day South Island Cycling Tour

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Christchurch Airport, a private shuttle driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Christchurch Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

This afternoon you will enjoy a Māori cultural walking tour with Amiki Tours. On this tour on foot we introduce the meaning behind the name Ōtautahi and follow the footsteps of our ancestors, sharing many traditional Māori and Settlers stories and ways of life. We will also introduce our guiding principle of manaakitanga including our whakatauki (proverb) ‘Kia atawhai ki te iwi’, Care for your people. Our guides also teach you a traditional māori greeting. We walk past traditional mahinga kai (food gathering) and historical pā (māori village) sites while bringing to life the stories of the past and present and how they have been woven into our emerging city.

Tonight you will enjoy a dining experience at one of The Road Trip’s favourite Christchurch eateries; 5th Street.

YOUR DAY

248 km, 3 hours 20 minutes driving

Today you will depart Christchurch for your journey through the Southern Alps to Hokitika via Arthurs Pass. Keep a look out for the Bealey River and Lakes Pearson and Lyndon with the towering Alps above. In Arthurs Pass we will mark some of our favourite walking spots and points of interest on the map for you. Be sure to keep a look out overhead for the Kea (New Zealand’s native alpine parrot ). Our favourite secret spot features stunning 150 metre waterfalls and spectacular views of the mountains as you peek through native beech forest. Driving further you will arrive in Hokitika where we recommend a delicious sandwich from the iconic Hokitika Sandwich Company and a wander around locally owned greenstone (pounamu) shops which the town is famous for. Tonight if thee weather is fine, you will have the chance to watch the sunset from the beach before calling it a night.

YOUR DAY

53km cycling (allow 6-7 hours)

Immerse yourself in some of the most spectacular landscapes along the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Starting at the Kawhaka Canal, you will ride amidst majestic native forest, pedal through a stunning mountain-ringed valley, cross crystal-clear rivers and then discover one of New Zealand’s most picturesque lakes, Kaniere.

The trail then plunges back into the bush for a fun cruise along an historic water race and then down the sweeping tree-lined pathway known as the Pipeline. Take a breath while you meander down peaceful Kaniere Road towards Hokitika before the final leg along the historic Kaniere Tramway and the banks of the Hokitika River.

Spend a further night in Hokitika.

YOUR DAY

134 km, 1 hour and 45 minutes driving

Take the journey inland today to the stunning Hokitika Gorge to walk through native rainforest to arrive at a bright blue river flowing from the Southern Alps. Driving South down the coast from Hokitika, you arrive in Franz Josef Glacier early afternoon, where you will spend the next night in the beautiful town surrounded by rainforest. This afternoon or early tomorrow morning you will have the option of a flight over or heli-hike on the majestic Franz Josef Glacier, one of the only glaciers in the world to be flanked by rainforest on both sides (optional – extra cost). This evening you will enjoy a soak at Waiho Hot Tubs. Relax and unwind in the soothing comfort of fresh, warm water and aromatic wood smoke after your exhilarating heli-hike. Enjoy your own private tub, nestled in a lush rainforest setting on New Zealand’s West Coast.

YOUR DAY 

250km, 4 hours driving

This morning you will have the opportunity to enjoy a short scenic helicopter flight with snow landing on Franz Josef Glacier, or a 3 hour guided heli-hike on the ice of glacier itself! (Optional – Not Included in Quote).

One of the most dramatic journeys in the country is what you can experience on your drive over the Haast Pass through to Wānaka. En route you will visit Lake Matheson, otherwise known as ‘Mirror Lakes’ where on a clear day it is possible to see the reflection of New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki/Mt Cook (3754m/12,316ft). The walking possibilities are endless today around Haast and Haast Pass and you can choose from several nature walks, some of which feature spectacular waterfalls and deep blue coloured pools where it is possible to see trout swimming. One of our favourite spots at The Road Trip is Ship Creek, an isolated beach featuring native totara trees hugging rugged coastline. Tonight you stay in Wānaka, one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday spots.

YOUR DAY

30km cycling (approximately 2.5 hours)

The Lake Hawea to Lake Wanaka experience will take you around 2.5-hrs. The day starts with our experienced local driver who will collect you from outside the Wanaka iSite and deliver you directly to the start at the Te Araroa Track alongside the lake at Lake Hawea.

This self-guided tour starts you right at the edge of Lake Hawea where you will follow the signs from Hawea to Wanaka alongside the Hawea River trail, the Upper Clutha Trail and the Te Araroa Trail which leads you back on cycle paths into the Wanaka township. This ride is approximately a 30km ride which on a mountain bike is a relatively flat family friendly ride. Time and energy permitting you can decide if you would like to continue riding further around the lakeside or just park yourself up outside the local cafes and pubs.

Once you get back to Wanaka, the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure.

YOUR DAY

77km (1 hour driving time)

41km cycling 

Today you’ll experience the newest and perhaps most impressive cycle trail in Central Otago – the Lake Dunstan Trail! Cycle along Lake Dunstan and enjoy wine tastings en route at wineries such as Carrick Winery and Mt Difficulty. This e-bike trip is a great way to explore the Cromwell, Bannockburn and Clyde areas. You will start in Clyde (1 hour drive from Wanaka), cycle 41km to Cromwell and then be transferred back to Clyde via shuttle.

YOUR DAY

Auripo to Monte Christo Winery (51km cycling)

Today you will ride the Poolburn Gorge – this is one of the most spectacular sections on the Rail Trail. You will cycle through schist cuttings, over steep-sided man-made embankments, throughtwo long tunnels (remember your torches!) and over the 37m high Poolburn viaduct. Before Lauder the Rail Trail crosses the Manuherikia No 1 Bridge – the longest bridge on the trail.

Between Lauder and Omakau you will cycle through the Matakanui Valley, surrounded bydeer, sheep and cattle farms. To the nor-west you will see the Dunstan Mountain, to the north the distinctive Hawkdun Mountain Range and to the south-east the Raggedy Range.Cross the bridge in the centre of Omakau and follow the road 2km to Ophir. Ophir was originally known as Blacks, when gold was discovered in Central Otago in 1863. Ophir’s population grew to over 1000 as it became the commercial and social centre of the district. The name was changed to the more apt, Ophir in 1875 after the biblical land where the Queen of Sheba obtained gold for King Solomon. At its height, Ophir’s population surged tomore than 1000 people. From the village continue along the main road, 1km out of town you will cross the historic Daniel O’Connell Suspension Bridge. You will then cycle 2.5km to complete the circle back to Omakau via SH85. From Omakau you will have a gradual up hill climb to the top of Tiger Hill. You will then descend the sweeping S bend to Chatto Creek. The S bend was designed to provide trainsgoing up Tiger Hill with as gentle climb of the hill as possible. Luckily you are going downhill!!!

From there You will cycle alongside the Manuherikia River and through typical Central Otago schist rockand wild thyme landscapes. You will cycle through the old Tucker Hill gold diggings – so called because the miners earnt only enough to pay for their food (tucker).

Between Alexandra and Clyde, you will pass through a semi rural landscape of orchards,vineyards and lifestyle blocks. You will cycle over the wooden trestle Muttontown Viaduct -109m long and 9 metres high. From there you will enjoy a private wine tasting at Monte Christo Winery

You will begin your tasting at the cellar door where your dedicated host will share some of the winery’s unique history before escorting you to the private tasting room. Once settled, you will be guided through an in-depth tasting of our portfolio, including the most exclusive limited-production subregional Pinot Noirs.

From here you will cycle 4km from Monte Christo Winery to Clyde where you will spend a further night in Clyde.

YOUR DAY 

83 km, 1 hour and 10 minutes driving

Today you return along Lake Dunstan to Cromwell. Here you continue through the winding and iconic Kawarau Gorge through to Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. En route you may wish to stop at the gold mining town of Arrowtown, where you can wander the idyllic main street, hike along the Arrow River, visit the museum, stop by the Chinese mining village and perhaps enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the local eateries. From here you continue on to Queenstown where you’ll enjoy a guided group bike tour. This is an exclusive adventure to the top of the 800m hill in Queenstown. An access to the private trail gives you an opportunity to climb the hill and enjoy the spectacular scenery showcasing the very best of Queenstown’s natural landscape.This is only Guided eBike Tour in Queenstown where you can reach one of the best places to view great mountain ranges such as Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Crown Range and Ben Lomond.

Tonight you will enjoy a dining experience at Rātā. Rātā creates genuine dining experiences featuring well balanced and inspired New Zealand cuisine, coupled with generous service delivered by our skillful team. Rātā is delicious, inventive, generous & adventurous, so good our guests make it their go to when in Queenstown.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy a ride up to the top of the Queenstown Gondola to enjoy expansive views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. You’ll also enjoy the thrill of the luge!

This afternoon you will enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ buffet meal and a farm demonstration in a stunning lakeside setting, after cruising across Lake Wakatipu in a 110 year old steam ship – The T.S.S Earnslaw. Return to Queenstown late afternoon where you are free to enjoy this beautiful lakeside town.

The rest of the day is free to explore Queenstown at leisure.

YOUR DAY

Today you will transfer to Queenstown Airport for your further travel arrangements. We trust you’ve had a wonderful time here in New Zealand!