New Zealand South Island Trail Bike Tour

by Bicycle Adventures
Region
South Island
Duration
10 days
Guided Status
Guided
Difficulty
Intermediate
D-Score™
D1 - Beginner Friendly

Overview

Discover and explore what we ultimately strive for in a cycling vacation–which is to simply “Pedal Happy”. This is an Intermediate to Advanced-level gravel / off-road cycling tour, so you should have prior experience with this type of riding. The routes on this tour cover a diverse range of terrain-types, including single-track trails, gravel roads, and paved paths. Finish your tour with a spectacular train journey over Arthur’s Pass via the TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch.

Daily Ride Schedule

Day 1: Meet in Christchurch and go for a short test ride.

10 km 352 m

D1

Meet in Christchurch and go for a short test ride.

Day 2: Marvel at lakes and mountain ranges along the "Alps 2 Ocean" trail.

35 km 1171 m

D1

Marvel at lakes and mountain ranges along the "Alps 2 Ocean" trail.

Day 3: Pedal a newer section of the Alps 2 Ocean today along Lake Benmore.

32 km 1498 m

D1

Pedal a newer section of the Alps 2 Ocean today along Lake Benmore.

Day 4: The Lake Dunstan Trail, the historic town of Cromwell, and the Cromwell Gorge.

31 km 1974 m

D1

The Lake Dunstan Trail, the historic town of Cromwell, and the Cromwell Gorge.

Day 5: Bicycle and boat Roxburgh Gorge on the way to Queenstown.

35 km 1400 m

D1

Bicycle and boat Roxburgh Gorge on the way to Queenstown.

Day 6: Enjoy Queenstown today!

Enjoy Queenstown today!

Day 7: Cycle the Queenstown Trail to legendary Arrowtown and get dizzy at Kawarau Bridge - famous for bungy jumping.

25 km 1368 m

D1

Cycle the Queenstown Trail to legendary Arrowtown and get dizzy at Kawarau Bridge - famous for bungy jumping.

Day 8: Lake Hawea, Mt. Aspiring National Park, and Fox Glacier - what a day!

16 km 728 m

D1

Lake Hawea, Mt. Aspiring National Park, and Fox Glacier - what a day!

Day 9: Hokitika and the West Coast Wilderness Trail.

9 km 311 m

D1

Hokitika and the West Coast Wilderness Trail.

Day 10: Enjoy more riding on the West Coast Wilderness Trail before hopping aboard the scenic TranzAlpine Train back to Christchurch.

18 km 340 m

D1

Enjoy more riding on the West Coast Wilderness Trail before hopping aboard the scenic TranzAlpine Train back to Christchurch.

Accommodation & Services

Accommodation

Hotel

What's Included

Catering services
Accommodation arrangements
Bike rental
Mechanical support
Support vehicle following all rides

About the South Island

Read full regional guide