This superb cycling adventure from Christchurch to Queenstown offers you a chance to explore the vast and impressive Mackenzie Basin by bike to truly appreciate its huge glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains. The itinerary also allows you an opportunity to stretch the legs to admire the grandeur of Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, when you walk beneath its flanks.
Explore the vast and impressive Mackenzie Basin and remote Central Otago on this remarkable gravel tour from Christchurch to Queenstown. You'll trace the footsteps of the early pioneers, along gold mining trails and stock routes which now form quiet back country roads.
The journey begins with an awesome ride on the Port Hills with views of the vivid blue Akaroa harbor, the crater of an extinct volcano. You'll then travel through beautiful farm country over the McKenzie Pass to the stunning turquoise Lake Tekapo and into the "big-sky country" of Central Otago. You'll cross the Hakataramea Pass and then ride through the Waitiki Valley on the Alps to Ocean Trail to Oamaru. Next up, cycle on the route of the historic railway, crossing viaducts, bridges and through railway tunnels dating back to the gold mining era of the 1880’s.
The final two days take you along the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge where you'll experience real isolation cycling alongside the Clutha River before embarking on the Lake Dunstan trail, surrounded by high mountain peaks and above a stunning gorge. Finish this epic cycle tour in Queenstown.
This tour is graded moderate to challenging. You will need to be a competent rider with stamina and a good level of fitness, you should be able to cycle comfortably for 6-8 hours or around 80-100km/50-60miles per day, day after day. There are some long undulating and hilly days on a mix of smooth gravel, dirt roads with some rougher corrugated and stony sections. There are some river crossings, so you can expect to get wet feet. You should be confident riding on roads with traffic, although the routes you'll cycle are quiet, you need to expect to see some vehicles. This tour is not for beginners. 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.