Bike NZ's original rail trail ride, the Otago Central Rail Trail
Get off the roads and into the countryside to discover the rural beauty
Check off another bucket list trail as you ride the full length of the Lake Dunstan Trail
Spend a day riding the excellent trails in and around Queenstown before finishing the tour in this exciting town
Enjoy exploring a varied array of the South Island's best trails on this unique tour
Get on your bike and discover some wonderful NZ cycling with new friends
Discover an iconic NZ trail as you ride part of the Alps to Ocean trail
Cycle tour NZ and enjoy the experience
Soak up the views from the back of a bike
You'll be well fed and watered on this organised guided tour

South Island by Bike

Duration
8 days
Site savings
$29
From
$2,806 USD

Explore five of NZ's most scenic and diverse cycle trails whilst visiting some of the country's most treasured locations on an 8 day guided tour. This unique itinerary has been designed to showcase the very best trails the South Island has to offer. New Zealand has a vast network of cycle trails throughout the country offering a range of diverse landscapes; 23 have been awarded the Great Rides status. The operator has selected the finest sections of the best FIVE trails for this epic 8 day tour.

  • Category
    Trail Riding
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    8 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    2 - Novice
  • Activity Level
    3 - Active
  • Elevation
    3 - Intermediate
  • Terrain
    Mixed
  • Distance
    256 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    32 miles
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Beginning in the garden city of Christchurch with a warm-up ride along the spectacular Summit Road following the rim of an extinct volcano, you'll then head to glimmering Lake Tekapo to spend 3 days riding the Alps to Ocean trail near Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.  You'll cycle past the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, turquoise glacier-fed lakes and lush pastures dotted with sheep, as far as Lake Aviemore.  You'll then travel into Central Otago to take on the stunning Lake Dunstan Trail which winds through a deep gorge and past world-class Pinot Noir vineyards.

Next up is New Zealand's original 'Great Ride', the Otago Central Rail Trail, followed by the Roxburgh Gorge trail through another remote gorge which includes a scenic jet boat transfer.  Your final ride explores the trails of Queenstown within the beautiful Lakes District, taking in the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown and the stunning Arrow River Bridges Trail.

Character-filled towns, comfortable accommodation and friendly welcomes are all part of the package, as is the passion and local knowledge of your guides.

This cycle tour is graded moderate. You will need a good level of fitness and be able to cycle 50-60km each day – as much as 95km on the longest day. The trail surfaces vary from hard packed to loose gravel yet all are purpose built for off-road cycling and are well maintained.  The operator recommends training on gravel trails and completing a multi-day ride prior to your trip to get used to being in the saddle for long periods of time. The tour is fully supported and if at any stage you feel like having a rest from cycling you will be able to ride in the support vehicle.

Tour inclusions and exclusions at a glance:

What's included?
Items included in the cost of the tour

  • Accommodation
  • Water and snacks while cycling
  • Transport to/from central Christchurch
  • Pre-departure Information kit to help you plan and prepare
  • Full vehicle support along the trail including trailer for luggage
  • Experienced guides who handle all the hard bits and share epic stories
  • Rider fees paid to the A2O Trail Trust for ongoing maintenance and improvements
  • Tasty cafe breakfasts (x7), gourmet picnic or cafe lunches (x7), two course restaurant dinners (x5) catered to all dietary requirements
  • Wine tasting at a Central Otago vineyard
  • Scenic Roxburgh Gorge jet boat transfer
What's not included?
Items not included in the cost of the tour

  • International / Domestic flights
  • Meals where not specified in the itinerary
  • All beverages, other than breakfast
  • Water bottle (help save the environment and bring your own bike drink bottle)
  • Personal expenses (eg. phone calls, internet, laundry, shopping etc)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas
  • Optional activities
  • Free bike rental is not included. Please see the available rental options below.

Tour options and upgrades:

3 equipment options available
1 tour add-on available