NZ Gravel Bike Tour: South Island Ride

I participated in the South Island Gravel Explorer from 24 Feb 26 to 2 Mar 26. We were a group of 7 mates from Perth and 5 additional cyclists of which 4 came from other countries. After a rest day in Queenstown the Perth 7 had three more great days of riding with the same guides and support. My comments apply equally to both parts and the ten days total riding.

I rode a brand-new Trek Checkpoint E gravel bike. After a day getting used to the power system I fell in love with this bike. Great gearing and braking and instinctive power system. This is a go anywhere bike which came into its own on the many uphill sections. As an example, at the steep end to Mackenzie Pass where experienced manual bike riders ran out of gears the E-bike's power system made all the difference.

The routes were amazing show casing the incredible scenery of the South Island including the three great passes and the famous Otago Rail Trail. Each day presented its own challenges and variety.

Our guides were fantastic. They made a point of quickly assessing each rider's abilities and building trust.

Every day ran so smoothly with subtle changes made on the run to accommodate changing weather and conditions. Shatel's regular briefings, delivered with panache and humour added to the great sense of adventure. David with his quiet sense of humour was always working tirelessly in the background to keep everything running smoothly. I can't say enough in praise of these two amazing people!

Accommodation and meals all excellent with a couple of wild cards thrown in: the geodesic domes at Kurow and the country pub at Lumsden.

The bus, the regular snacks, drinks and coffee all appeared seamlessly at every stop.

This was one of the most enjoyable outdoor holidays I have experienced. I can't recommend it enough for experienced cyclists looking for a great off-road experience.

This was my seventh multi-day bike tour and my first with [the operator]. I had a great time with a very nice group of people. We endured all of the elements over the seven days including heat, rain, cold and wind. A few route changes were made due to road closures and weather. The ...team handled these changes without a fuss and had us on alternate routes. The food and accommodation was very good, and it was nice to have proper gravel bikes which were perfect for the terrain we covered.

An excellent gravel adventure, not easy but well worth the riding! Tough climbs, thrilling downhills and the scenery was fantastic. Finishing on the Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail was an amazing way to end the trip. Our guides were great, Shantel and David were fun to be with and they did an excellent job managing the challenges thrown at them. The people we met were great, food and accommodations were excellent. We would do it all over again!

A great experience in no small way attributable to the 2 guides we had (Annie & Tereza) who were fantastic. They ensured the tour lived up to [the operator]'s goal of providing a very high standard of service. It is fair to say the tour lived up to its moderate/challenging rating & as their brochure mentions this trip is definitely for the experienced cyclist. In summary, I'd highly recommend [the operator] for anyone interested in NZ cycling tours

Another outstanding ride with [the operator]. We were competently led by Annie and Tereza who are so supportive, skillful, passionate and knowledgeable. The food and accommodation just the best, the extra specials for example wine tasting, adds value. I can’t recommend [the operator] enough - my fourth trip so can speak from experience.