New Zealand
South Island - Budget Tour
*New for 2010!

A Stunning Variety of Landscapes

New Zealand's South Island packs more scenic diversity into a smaller landmass than probably any other place on earth: Christchurch, a lovely potpourri of the historic and the modern; the Banks Peninsula, with its highlands, windsurfers and Maori culture; Canterbury's craggy peaks and gold-rush lands; the Westland, with its river-studded jade country, dazzling glaciers, miles of brilliant coastline and tropical forest; the Southern Lake District's curving, jeweled countryside; Central Otago's phenomenal wine country. On this 10-day budget version of our New Zealand Tour you'll sample all of these regions - while staying in simple, comfortable lodgings and feasting on mouthwatering local fare.

Highland Hills,
Sun-Soaked Bays

Our all-levels tour begins on a Wednesday morning in the bustling Garden City, Christchurch.  After meeting you there, we'll head southward to the Banks Peninsula, cruising a low-traffic ridgeline road with sweeping views of the bays and harbors of Lyttleton and the surrounding areas. Herds of sheep graze in nearby fields; the sparkling water below is speckled with the the crayon hues of parasailers' kites. We'll lunch at the edge of Governors Bay in Allandale, and continue our ride along the coastland, finishing in the tiny town of Sumner, one of the oldest European settlements on the island. Tonight we'll lodge and dine in Christchurch.

From Farmland to Hot Springs

Day Two, Thursday, we'll head north and west toward Hurunui, pedaling through the Canterbury Plain's bucolic farmland. Along the way we'll stop to visit a local sheep farm. Since sheep are the majority population of the South Island (there are 20 sheep for every person) it's a fascinating opportunity to learn a bit more about these wooly wonders. We'll continue on to the resort town of Hanmer Springs, where the afternoon offers a blissful soak in its renowned thermal pools. Should you prefer, you'll also have options for hiking, a spa treatment or a massage. We'll spend tonight at the Drifters Inn, an alpine style lodge.

Mountain Peaks & Gold Rush Country

Friday, Day Three, we'll head over the mountains to the coast via the lush forests of Lewis Pass. Following the Grey River, we'll explore this former gold mining region, lunching in the goldrush town of Reefton, the 'Town of LIght,' and visiting Blackball, birthplace of New Zealand's Labour Party. Our route winds through rich, woodsy hills and curving valleys with peekaboo views of the soaring Southern Alps.  Our lodging for the night is at the Ashley Hotel in Greymouth, not far from the coast.

Into the Westland

Day Four heralds the beginning of our journey southward beside the coast.  Our route today takes us through a dazzling multitude of landscapes. From Greymouth, we'll ride through some of the South Island's prime greenstone (jade) region and into the Westland's otherworldly rainforest with its feathery stands of native rimu and white pine, past the snowcapped peaks edging Lake Mapourika, and finish in the town of Franz Josef, which borders one of the world's most unique glaciers. We'll spend two nights here at the Alpine Glacier Motor Lodge, so we'll have time to explore.

Franz Josef Offers Plenty of Options

Sunday, our layover day in Franz Josef, offers several activities from which to choose. You'll have the opportunity to hike on the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier, with its upper end in the high snowfields of the Southern Alps and its lower reaches in a temperate rainforest just above sea level. Ride to - or kayak - the waters of the lush Okarito Lagoon, renowned as the feeding grounds of rare kotuku (great white heron) and royal spoonbill. Or if you prefer, you can simpy relax and catch up on correspondence, explore the town's artsy shops and get a massage.

Mountains, Lakes & the Tasman Sea

Day Six is another splendid day of cycling. Heading out of Franz Josef, we'll ride beside the Tasman Sea and through remote World Heritage Area countryside, relishing inland glimpses of the scissor-edged Southern Alps. Native legend has it that these jagged peaks were created when a freezing wind turned four brother gods to stone. Our lunch spot at Bruce Bay gives us a fine view of New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki - also known as Mt. Cook - training grounds for Sir Edmund Hillary. The afternoon's ride finds us continuing past gorgeous Lake Moeraki to the Heritage Park Lodge, tucked into spectacular rainforest in the tiny town of Haast.

Tuesday, our seventh day, we'll ride over Haast Pass and through Mt. Aspiring National Park with its beech forests and waterfalls - a mecca for photographers and wilderness lovers. In the afternoon, you may wish to book a jetboat ride with a local outfitter - a thrilling excursion deep into the park's rugged river valleys and pristine native rainforest. Tonight we'll dine in Makarora, at the head of Lake Wanaka, and bed down at the idyllic Makarora Wilderness Resort.

Out of the Wilds, Into the Wine Regions

Wednesday finds us pedaling through more of Mt. Aspiring's wilderness and into the vibrant, friendly town of Wanaka, a vacationer's haven in the Southern Lakes District. Lake Wanaka and its surrounds are well-known for fine wineries and exceptional wines, especially Pinot Noir. You'll have the afternoon free to take in a wine tour and sample some of the region's finest offerings - or if you like, hike one of the region's numerous trails or do an optional bike ride to picturesque Glendhu Bay. We'll spend tonight and tomorrow night at the splendid and peaceful Lake Wanaka Lodge, a short stroll from town. Dinner is on your own this evening; we'll give you plenty of options ranging from elegant to eclectic.

Ski Fields Peaceful in Summer

Thursday we'll ride to Cardrona, one of New Zealand's best-loved ski fields. Several scenes from the Lord of the Rings series were filmed at various locations nearby, though you may not recognize them now. Summertime finds the local gardens a tangle of flowers gone wild, the ubiquitous sheep herds shorn and content, and the roads blissfully empty. If you like, you can pedal up to the skiers' summit with its marvelous views of Mt. Aspiring and the surrounding peaks, or spend the afternoon riding out to Lake Moeraki's Glendhu Bay if you weren't able to fit it in during the prior day's activities.

A Fine Wine Finale

Friday, our final day, we'll spend the morning riding through the gorgeous, lake-studded Central Otago region, finishing with a festive lunchtime celebration at a Bannockburn winery. Afterward, you'll shuttle on to Queenstown, the Adventure Capital of the World. If you've time to stay on, Queenstown offers an endless range of options for further exploration - most notably of the Fiordlands farther south. We're happy to arrange for your lodging in Queenstown as a base for continued adventures.

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