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South Island Cycle
Prices From: $3170 AUD
Tour Code: PDIC
Countries Visited: New Zealand
Your trip starts in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island. Today is just an arrival day, so no activities are planned. Please make your own way to our centrally-located joining hotel (details are in your travel documents). In the evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting (this is usually at 6pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place on message on a noticeboard located near the reception of our hotel), where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour and introduce the members of the tour, as well as answer any questions. Nearby are a variety of restaurants and our tour will start with dinner at one of them.
Meals included: 1 dinner
At 9am our guide will arrive at our hotel and transfer us to the depot, where we are fitted with an appropriate bicycle for use for the duration of the trip. Once we complete this procedure, we depart for the nearby summit road for a warm-up cycle ride. After enjoying a picnic lunch, we then drive across the Canterbury Plains to the foothills and then get back on our bikes for a cycle ride on quiet backcountry roads before finishing up in Farlie, where we stay the night.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
Today is an early start that allows us to enjoy riding on the sealed roads before traffic becomes more noticeable. We then climb up and over Burkes Pass to emerge on to Mackenzie Basin, which offers awesome views of the Southern Alps. We soon start the descent into Tekapo, nestled on the shore of a turquoise lake, where we stop for a picnic lunch. A vehicle transfer then takes us to the start of the canal road, which we follow through to Lake Pukaiki. Here we rejoin our vehicle for another transfer before embarking on a final ride that takes us through the back roads into the holiday township of Twizel.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
Our day starts with a transfer up to a nearby point where we enjoy a magical view of Mount Cook - New Zealand's highest mountain. Here we can embark on various walking options that get us even closer to the mountain. We then start todayβs cycle ride back down the best of the lakeside roads. Our vehicle then transfers us and our bikes onward through Omarama before we start riding again on a gradual climb to the summit of Lindis Pass - a worthy goal for any cyclist. From here it's downhill for the next 25 kilometres to finally reach a welcome pickup point, where a transfer takes us on to the lakeside, where we enjoy a final single-track ride to our accommodation in Wanaka.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
The gradual climb up to the historic hotel in the town of Cardrona is best covered by coach, but the hardy amongst us may want to cycle the 25 kilometres of sealed road. From here a transfer up to the summit of the Crown Range will really be appreciated before we ride an exhilarating descent into Arrowtown, a picturesque historic township and a pleasant place to stop for lunch. After lunch we head south, diverting around Queenstown and seeking out the sealed lakeside roads. From here through to Lake Manapouri, we cycle and coach towards our lakeside accommodation on the edge of the famous Fiordland National Park.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
The road to Milford starts with the entrance into Eglington Valley and then gradually climbs to the divide before dropping rapidly to Hollyford Valley. Here we ride into the valley and swoop down on smooth unsealed roads to reach the road end via historic Gunns Camp. We then travel by coach back up to the exciting Milford Tunnel and once we're through to the other side, we descend 1000 metres and enjoy a final 19 kilometre ride into Milford Sound, where we enjoy the quiet of the early evening. We board our floating hotel (complete with en suite cabins) and cruise the sound in search of dolphins and observing waterfalls that tumble into the sound down vertical walls. After a cruise into open water we have a chance to kayak with our onboard boats before heading back into the sound and anchoring for the night. Dinner and the overnight experience tonight are guaranteed to memorable.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
After breakfast we get to cruise the sound again before finally heading back to shore. Returning to our coach we drive back up to the tunnel and enjoy a cycle ride down the other side, before finally coaching and cycling back to Te Anau where we stay the night. The rest of the afternoon is free to allow us to relax and explore this beautiful township.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
From Te Anau we head into the back roads of Von Valley, before eventually reaching the shores of Lake Wakatipu. En route we divert to explore Lake Mavora, a quiet place nestled amidst the surrounding mountains. Then it's back into the vast backcountry blocks before we drop into Von Valley and enjoy a final cycle ride along the shore to Walter Peak Station, where we can enjoy some tea and scones. By late afternoon we are on board the historic Steamer 'SS Earnslaw', as she steams across the lake to Queenstown. Here our awaiting coach transfers us to our hotel, which is perched above the town and offers awesome views of the surrounding mountains known as The Remarkables.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
Our trip ends in the morning after breakfast in Queenstown, allowing ample time to explore further or travel on to alternative destinations. If you wish to stay on in Queenstown, it is possible to book additional post-tour accommodation. Please book this before you commence your travels. A departure transfer is not included; however, the hotel reception can arrange taxis, if required.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Tour Grade:
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