New Zealand
South Island - Classic Tour

A Four-Part Harmony of Rugged Coastline, Soaring Mountains, Turquoise Lakes, and Dense Forests

The South Island of New Zealand is a pristine wilderness of rugged coastline, spectacular mountains, turquoise lakes, and dense forests.  It is a land where the sheep outnumber the humans, pollution virtually does not exist, and cyclists won’t encounter cars for miles.  The dramatic countryside provided a stunning backdrop for the Lord of the Rings films.

Cityscapes and Hot Springs

Our tour, for all ability levels, begins on a Wednesday in the very English city of Christchurch, New Zealand’s cycling capital.  We head south and cycle along a ridge on the Banks Peninsula with sweeping views of Christchurch to the north and Lyttelton Harbour to the south.  The scenic road leads us down to the sea and back to Christchurch, where we spend the night at the Crowne Plaza, a luxury, full service hotel in the center of town.

On Thursday we shuttle north along the coast and start cycling through the fertile farmland of the Canterbury Plain. We spend the night at the Heritage Hotel in Hanmer Springs, a resort town famous for its natural hot springs.  We’ll enjoy a visit to the hot pools and spa before dinner.

The Famous West Coast of New Zealand

Friday starts with a shuttle over the mountains, then unfolds with a delightful bicycle ride down to the west coast, following the Grey River through former gold mining country and forested valleys with views of soaring mountains on each side.  We spend the night at the Ashley Hotel in Greymouth.

Saturday finds us heading south beside the coast.  We cross the Hokitika River through native rimu and white pine and enter the town of Hokitika, famous for its jade jewelry.  Continuing south into Westland National Park, we have superb views of snow-capped peaks as we pass Lake Mapourika.  With stunning scenery and almost no vehicles, the remote west coast of New Zealand is considered one of the best places on earth to ride.  Our inn for the next two nights is in the town of Fox Glacier, which sits at the base of the glacier of the same name.

Hike Fox Glacier

Sunday is a layover day.  In the morning, we go for a guided hike on the glacier.  Special ice boots are provided for walking on its surface.  The rest of the day is free to explore this stunning national park by helicopter, get a massage, kayak on New Zealand’s largest lagoon and witness rare birds, or walk to several historical gold mining sites.

Beautiful, Remote Lake Moeraki

Monday we cycle through a lush forest of rimu and rata beside the Tasman Sea.  Sunny weather provides spectacular views of the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook, the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary.  We spend tonight and the following night at the Wilderness Lodge on Lake Moeraki, famed for its fine food and gracious accommodations.

Tuesday is another layover day.  The lodge provides canoes for exploring the lake and guided hikes through dense forest to the wild, uninhabited coast.  The ocean around New Zealand is a rich turquoise, thanks to deep, clear water and pollution-free skies.  You can go for a great optional bicycle ride along a deserted section of coast.  The road is flat and ends at a small remote fishing village at the end of a spit.  After dinner you can take a walk to see glow worms and gaze at the Southern Cross through pristine air.

Sample the Wines in the Central Otago Region

Wednesday we pass Knight’s Point, which affords views of the rugged coastline and seals basking in the sun.  From Haast Village we head inland, following the Haast River toward snow-capped peaks, passing countless waterfalls and bird life as we climb up to Haast Pass at 1,860 feet.  On the descent to Makarora, the countryside becomes dramatically drier, with dense foliage giving way to open sheep country and vineyards.  Wine lovers can sample vintages from the nearby Central Otago Region, the premier wine growing area of New Zealand that is internationally known for its Pinot Noir.  We spend the next two nights at the Edgewater Resort, right on the lake in the ski resort town of Wanaka.

Thursday is a layover day with many options.  You can kayak from our resort on Lake Wanaka, hike in nearby Mt. Aspiring National Park, explore the shops in the town of Wanaka, or get a massage.  We lead an optional bike ride into the best-known wine growing area of New Zealand.  We cycle south along a valley to the heart of wine country near the towns of Cromwell and Bannockburn.  After a great lunch in the Lazy Dog Café and a visit to an adjacent winery, we van back to Wanaka.

Queenstown, the Adventure Capital of the World

Friday morning we go for a mellow and very scenic bike ride along the shore of Lake Wanaka to Glendhu Bay.  We return to our resort for lunch and the end of the trip.

Public shuttle is available for those who wish to go to Queenstown after lunch; we’ll help with arrangements.  You may want to spend at least one full day on your own sampling Queenstown’s numerous outdoor activities, such as jet boat rides, rafting on nearby rivers, and world-class hikes.  You also can experience an overnight boat cruise on Milford Sound.  This not-to-be-missed adventure is run by Real Journeys, who will pick you up at your Queenstown hotel at 8 am on Saturday and shuttle you to their Queenstown office.  From there you will be driven on one of their tour buses to Milford Sound, where you board their 126-foot ship, the Milford Mariner.  You’ll cruise the length of Milford Sound and out into the open ocean of the Tasman Sea, view countless waterfalls cascading over the cliffs surrounding Milford Sound, have a chance to go kayaking from the ship, enjoy a great meal, and spend an interesting evening aboard ship anchored in the sound.  The next morning after breakfast, you will return to Queenstown either by their bus or their small airplane.

A Trip of a Lifetime

Many cyclists consider New Zealand the trip of a lifetime.  With our knowledge of the area and personal service, Bicycle Adventures can fulfill your dreams of an amazing vacation there.

Return to top of page