New Zealand South Island Cycle Tours

Southern Alps 15 Day Inn Trip

The Southern Alps tour takes one on a breathtaking loop through some of the world's finest scenery. Stay in charming inns and hotels. Walk on a glacier, experience the rainforest on a range of short hikes and meet friendly New Zealanders. Ride to Mt Cook and stay on a sheep farm. Besides great biking you can try jet-boating, rafting, scenic flights and bungy jumping. This is one of our most popular trips.


Going up the Crown Range (with guide Marilyn ready to give a push)

Accommodation includes luxury wilderness lodges, farmstay, alpine chalets and character inns.  More>


Itinerary

DAY 1 CHRISTCHURCH.
Meet in the cathedral city of Christchurch for a ride along the Port Hills.

DAY 2 ARTHUR'S PASS.
Start biking at Porter's Pass through Southern Alps wilderness to Arthur's Pass.

DAY 3 HOKITIKA.
After a short walk to the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall enjoy a fabulous descent of Otira Gorge to the sea and Hokitika.

DAY 4 + 5 FRANZ JOSEF.
Time for a walk up the valley to the terminal ice and perhaps a scenic flight onto the snow.

DAY 6 LAKE MOERAKI.
Ride through lush rainforest to Lake Moeraki. Here we enjoy the comfort of the Wilderness Lodge, take a bush walk or canoe on the lake.

DAY 7 MAKARORA.
Enjoy an optional jet-boat ride up the Wilkin River in Mt Aspiring National Park.

DAY 8 WANAKA.
To picturesque Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, famed for trout fishing.

DAY 9 + 10 QUEENSTOWN.
Pass Arrowtown, a beautifully restored old gold mining town, on the way to Queenstown, surrounded by mountains on spectacular Lake Wakatipu. Try rafting, jet boating, a day trip to Milford Sound or a bungy jump.

DAY 11 OMARAMA.
Ride through the Otago tussock country and across the Lindis Pass to McKenzie Country.

DAY 12 MT COOK.
We ride alongside Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook, Australasia's highest mountain. Time to take in the grandeur of the scene with a walk up Hooker Valley.

DAY 13 FARM STAY.
Ride to Lake Tekapo, down Burke's Pass to stay on a sheep farm at Fairlie.

DAY 14+15 CHRISTCHURCH.
After a short ride through the Pareora Gorge we bus to Christchurch for a farewell dinner.


(click to enlarge)

Departure Dates

2010

SA01 (14 Nov. - 28 Nov.)
SA03 (16 Dec. - 30 Dec.)*

2011

SA06 (31 Jan. - 14 Feb.)
SA11 (21 Mar. - 04 Apr.)

Price: NZ$6,250
(Includes 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners)
Single Surcharge: NZ$1,395
If willing to share there will be no surcharge
Bike Rental: NZ$425
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Route Rating: Moderate with 3 challenging days
Meet: Noon. Christchurch
Trip End: After breakfast in Christchurch
* NZ$50 surcharge for Christmas trip

Combining Tours

SA02 can be combined with Tasmania tour AT01. SA06 can be combined with Northern Highlights tour NH05 or Tasmania tour AT01

Related Downloads

Southern Alps 15 Day Bike Tour Southern Alps 15 Day Bike Tour - (143KB)

New Zealand is truly amazing place where you can experience dry plains, rainforests, ocean beaches and glaciers all within a day's ride of each other. The people who live there are wonderfully open and willing to share their lovely island. Pedaltours were very congenial and most helpful in helping us relax and enjoy the trip. The other riders were great, as well with a wide range of riding abilities, ages, and backgrounds which made for very interesting dinner conversations! I would go again without question.

Jeanette Augenstein, CO Springs CO


We have cycled with Pedaltours twice in New Zealand, most recently on the South Island with CBC. I can’t say enough about Pedaltours’ support — they are terrific at accommodating varying skill levels and lengths of ride. Both times the guides were knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Lodging and food are both good-to-very-good, all within a very reasonable price. And we loved cycling in New Zealand, which is beautiful and welcoming.  

Mary Blackstone and Roger Collier, Orcas Island

 
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