New Zealand Road Biking Tour
The Zone

Sunday - Arrive, cycle Springfield to Flockhill

If you're flying in long-haul, you'll leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Friday, arriving in New Zealand early Sunday morning. You’ll lose a day to the dateline but you'll get it back on the way home. You’ll need to arrive in Christchurch by around 10am, where we'll fit your bike and adjust it to your liking. Then it’s time to warm up your legs with a ride from Springfield into the heart of the Southern Alps and over Porters Pass. You’ll cycle past Castle Hill Scenic Reserve, an area once quoted by the Dalai Lama as the ‘Spiritual Centre of the Universe’, and also a popular climbing spot. It’s then a beautiful ride to your accommodation for the night, which is on a working sheep station. Welcome to New Zealand!

ACCOMMODATION: Flockhill Station, Flockhill (L,D)

Monday - Cycle over Arthur’s Pass

You’re sure to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning with fresh mountain air in your lungs and an expansive vista to greet you. We're taking on the Southern Alps today, so it’s a big day! We'll head over the Waimakariri River, through native beech forest and into the small township of Arthur’s Pass, where we'll stop for lunch. Arthur’s Pass is the highest pass through the Southern Alps, taking you from the rivers and beaches of the eastern side, to the ‘great divide’ – snow covered peaks and scree covered mountain slopes – over to the west, where dense rainforests and winding rivers guide you on your way to the coast. We'll finally emerge at the beach at Hokitika and proudly look out over the Tasman Sea. An amazing day, and important, we think, to stress that on any day of our cycling trips, you can sit things out if you like, at any time, and comfortably cruise along with one of the guides in our comfortable and spacious vehicle.

ACCOMMODATION: Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika (B,L,D)

Tuesday - Cycle Hokitika to Franz Josef

You’re now on the isolated West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s an area covered in dense rainforest and raging rivers, and there are spectacular views of the snow-capped Southern Alps. You’ll cycle along the inland road, with plenty of high viz gear for safety. You’ll enjoy sweeping views of deserted West Coast beaches, before heading into the Westland Tai Poutini National Park and glacier country. Once there we'll head up the valley to visit the spectacular river of ice - the Franz Josef Glacier. The glacier drops 7000 feet in about seven miles, from its névé in the Southern Alps, almost to the sea.

ACCOMMODATION: Franz lodgings, Franz Josef (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Cycle Franz Josef to Haast

The scenery today will take your breath away! From our lodgings in the small town of Franz Josef, we'll tackle 3 hills between Franz Josef Glacier and its twin, Fox Glacier. These hills are quite demanding so pace yourself if you want to go the distance, or go as far as you can before jumping in the bus (your guide will no doubt be happy with some company!). Once in Fox, we'll take a break before carrying on south through farmland to finish at the deserted mineral beaches of Bruce Bay. Tonight we stay in the West Coast village of Haast, a long way away from anywhere. If you haven’t already checked out the stars, make sure you get out after dinner to appreciate the southern night sky – it’s incredible!

ACCOMMODATION: World Heritage Heartland Hotel, Haast (B,L,D)

Thursday - Cycle Haast Pass to Makarora

We'll travel inland from the coast today, cycling from our accommodation to the “Gates of Haast”, then up and over Haast Pass. This takes us back to the Southern Alps and into the beautiful Makarora Valley bordering Mount Aspiring National Park. Mount Aspiring is one of the highest peaks in New Zealand, standing at 3,027m, and it’s a striking mountain that you're sure to become familiar with as you make your way round the park. It’s popular with mountaineers all trying their best to reach the summit and add it to their list of achievements! You’re likely to come across outdoor enthusiasts taking on various challenges throughout New Zealand, and it’s always good to swap stories and experiences and learn a little bit about what other people do for fun. Anyhow, once we're over the stunning Haast Pass (another one to tick off the list!) we'll spend the night at the cozy homestead at Makarora.

ACCOMMODATION: The Homestead, Makarora (B,L,D)

Friday - Cycle Makarora to Lake Wanaka

After a sumptuous home cooked breakfast (a well-deserved treat) we'll head off following the Makarora River as it joins the clear waters of Lake Wanaka. We'll then make our way over the mountain roads through stunning scenery to neighbouring Lake Hawea, before returning back to the shores of Lake Wanaka again. These roads make up some of the route of the Challenge Wanaka Ironman triathlon, so you'll be following in the footsteps of some of the best riders in the country. While we can’t promise you cheering crowds and fireworks, we'll make sure your guide is nearby with a motivating comment and a power bar to keep you going!

ACCOMMODATION: Wanaka lodgings, Lake Wanaka (B,L,D)

Saturday - Cycle Crown Range road, Wanaka to Queenstown

Today is as big a challenge as you want it to be! Get your winner’s attitude in place and we'll depart from Lake Wanaka and follow the road through the historic gold-mining area of the Cardrona Valley, surrounded by ski fields as we ride. Don’t forget to stop for a picture in front of the historic pub on the way! After a tough climb, we'll eventually reach the source of the Cardrona River and the top of the Crown Range road. Give yourself a pat on the back and then we'll head on down – fast! This road is a Category One class from the other direction, so going down the far side is a real hoot! Once at the base, we'll head through the Wakatipu basin and bike into Queenstown, a stunning town nestled in the mountains at the edge of a lake, our home and your final destination. It’s a time to celebrate the good times and achievements of the last week, and swap photos and stories with your fellow cyclists. Congratulations on a job well done!

ACCOMMODATION: Heartland Hotel, Queenstown (B,L,D)

Sunday - Depart for home

This is the last day of your 8 day trip around the South Island. After breakfast, we can drop you off at Queenstown airport for late-morning flights back to Christchurch or Auckland. Or if you’d prefer to stay a couple of extra days, there’s heaps to do in Queenstown and we can help you arrange extra accommodation if you need. Either way you'll be refreshed and invigorated from the good food, exercise, rest, and great times you'll have had with us cycle touring in New Zealand, and ready to take on the world again! (B)