The best cycling tours on New Zealand’s South Island

Arrival at Christchurch, Southern Island

Today, you are arriving in Christchurch. We will welcome you at around dinnertime and enjoy a short meal together. We have not included the hotel night(s) of this part of the trip yet, but for logistical reasons, we will point out which hotels you can book so we can collect your luggage the following day!

First ride on the Southern Island: Sign of the Bellbird to Lyttelton, 43 km/27 miles 757 m/2484 ft

Your South Island adventure starts in central Christchurch at 8 am. We begin with a short drive to the top of the Port Hills, where we will begin to cycle along the crater rim of an extinct volcano. From Dyers Pass, we cycle the undulating and almost traffic-free Summit Road, which offers impressive vistas across Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains, as well as the snowy peaks of the Southern Alps. We can also look into the bright blue water of Lyttelton Harbour inside the crater. Riding out to Godley Head, home to a WWII coastal defence battery atop 120m cliffs, we stop and walk to see the views from the peninsula over the Pacific Ocean. Back on the bikes, it’s a short ride back to Evans Pass and then a sweeping downhill to the port town of Lyttelton. There are cool cafes, colourful stores to explore, and quirky historic buildings along a heritage walk.
We drive back to Christchurch in the afternoon and have free time to rest before we meet for dinner.

Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki : 34km/21 miles +173m/567 ft

After breakfast at the hotel, your guides will be waiting in reception at 8 am. We drive south, crossing the Canterbury Plains towards Geraldine, then over the scenic Burke’s Pass to the famous Mackenzie Country, where Lake Tekapo soon appears as a bright blue jewel. We will visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, perched on the edge of the shimmering lake with a panoramic mountain backdrop. After lunch, we join the first of the trip’s Great Ride Cycle Trails – the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail. This is NZ’s longest cycle path, travelling 300km from the highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook, to the ocean at Oamaru. We spend the next 3 days riding the best sections of this trail. Today, we follow quiet roads with fantastic mountain views alongside the turquoise blue waters of a hydro canal system, go to Lake Pukaki, and then transfer to the small town of Twizel. Twizel is in the heart of a dark sky reserve, so take a walk outside after dark to see the incredible starry skies. Dinner by own care tonight.

Twizel to Omarama direct or add Tarnbrae Saddle, Alps to Ocean Trail, 62 km/ 38miles +299 m/980 ft or +81 km/ 50 miles +756 m/2480 ft

The stunning scenery keeps coming as we ride alongside the Pukaki and Ohau canals with a vast mountainous backdrop, through to Lake Ohau where we stop for lunch. Confident riders can continue on the trail to Tarnbrae Saddle (900m), the high point of the A2O. The vast Mackenzie Country views are just a reward for the climb. Alternatively, riders can transfer to the historic woolshed at Quailburn for a much easier ride down to Omarama, our stop for the night.
Omarama, translated from Maori as a ‘place of light,’ is known for its extraordinarily clear skies, which offer incredible stargazing opportunities at night. This evening, we will enjoy a meal at a typical small-town pub and experience real Kiwi hospitality.

Omarama to Aviemore Dam, transfer to Cromwell 42 km/ 26 miles , 305 m/990 ft, or 53 km/33 miles, +478m/1568 ft

Today’s Alps to Ocean ride follows the Waitaki River down the picturesque Waitaki Valley, known for its hydro lakes and dams. First, we follow the narrow trail along the shores of Lake Benmore to Sailors Cutting, where we join the lake shore to traverse around the shoreline of rocky outcrops, little beaches and even tree-covered islands. There is an easier option for less confident riders who prefer to avoid this more technical section. Regrouped, it’s a fun downhill cycle towards Aviemore Dam, where we’ll enjoy a picnic by the lake. We’ll finish our Alps to Ocean experience at the dam, load up the bikes and then drive towards Central Otago over the Lindis Pass. We head to Cromwell, where the Lake Dunstan trail is next, which we will tackle tomorrow. There will be time to have a wander around Cromwell old town, a small historic precinct dating back to the gold rush days of the 1800s, with several galleries, cafes and boutique shops.
Again, here are two options for cycling today:
Standard : Omarama to Aviemore Dam – 42km, +305m
Avid : Omarama to Aviemore Dam – 53km, +478m

Cromwell to Clyde: Lake Dunstan Ride 32 km/20 miles 321 m/1053 ft , 51 km/32 miles 568 m/1863 ft

Today, we ride the newest Great Ride, the Lake Dunstan Trail, a spectacular ride through unique and fascinating landscapes characteristic of Central Otago. Our journey starts with an easy ride following the shores of Lake Dunstan. We pass back through Cromwell’s old town and continue along the Kawarau arm of Lake Dunstan to the Bannockburn Bridge. We wind our way through old mine tailings, wineries and olive groves and, from Cornish Point, head into the dramatic Cromwell Gorge.
From here, the track winds around sheer rockfaces and over lake inlets on impressively engineered platforms and bridges rising above the lake to Clyde. For those riders who wish to avoid the more demanding section through the gorge, there will be an option to ride as far as Cornish Point and then return to the Bannockburn Bridge to drive to Clyde and have extra time to explore the small historic town. We stay in Clyde for the next 2 nights.

Cycling Options: Cromwell to Bannockburn Bridge via Cornish Point: 32km, +321m

Cromwell to Clyde – Lake Dunstan Trail: 51km, +568m

Clyde roundtrip: Otago Central Rail Trail: 41 km/ 25 miles or 68 km/42 miles, +223 m/731 ft or +341 m/1118 ft

Great Ride number three is the famous Otago Central Rail Trail, NZ’s original cycle trail.
After breakfast, a short transfer takes us inland to Ida Valley. Here, we join what we consider the best section of the rail trail, passing through tunnels and over bridges that once were the secret preserve of railway workers. We witness the natural beauty and look in awe at some early feats of the first settlers of this region. The ever-changing landscape includes rugged mountains, crystal clear rivers, and steep winding gorges. We cycle through the 229m Poolburn tunnel over the impressive Manuherikia Bridge and Poolburn viaduct.
From Lauder, we continue towards Chatto Creek, enjoying superb views of the Dunstan Mountains and Raggedy Range. The ride back to Clyde is mostly downhill. In the evening, we are free to sample one of the restaurants in town.
Cycle Options :
Oturehua to Chatto Creek – 41km, +223m/731
Oturehua to Clyde – 68km, +341m/1181 ft

Roxburgh Gorge Trail: Clyde to Roxburgh Dam/Roxburgh - 44km/27 miles,+827m/2713 ft or 56 km/35 miles,+888m/2910ft

Next up, Great Ride number four, is the striking Roxburgh Gorge Trail. Leaving Clyde, we pedal along the wooded River Trail, which links Clyde to the Roxburgh Gorge Trail alongside the mighty Clutha Mata-Au river.
The trail journeys through a remote, barren, treeless landscape, flanked by bluffs up to 350 metres high, following stone-walled water races and other remnants of gold mining activity. We arrive at Doctor’s Point to meet a jet boat to take us on a scenic, historical journey for the next 13km through the gorge to Shingle Creek. Back on our bikes, it’s a gradual climb to Elbow Creek, then through a small, secluded valley with regenerating Kanuka (tea tree) scrubland and into sweeping hill country farmland.
A series of switchbacks lead us to the impressive Roxburgh Hydro Dam lookout. It’s then a further 9km along the river to reach Roxburgh, where we load the bikes and drive to our accommodation in Alexandra.
Cycling options: Roxburgh Gorge Trail
Standard : Clyde to Roxburgh Dam – 44km, +827m
Avid : Clyde to Roxburgh – 56km, +888m

Queenstown Day: Queenstown Trails: 47 km/29 miles +495m/1642ft

Today we cycle the Queenstown Trails, the fifth and final of the Great Rides of our South Island adventure. A short drive takes us from Alexandra into the Gibbston Valley, renowned for its vineyards and Pinot Noir.
We set off riding alongside the Kawarau River to the historic bridge and the origin of AJ Hackett’s bungy jump. Here, we can witness bungy jumpers and zipliners getting their adrenaline fix! We then join the Arrow River Bridges trail, which crisscrosses the sparkling Arrow River over massive purpose-built suspension bridges to reach Arrowtown. Arrowtown is a charming, picturesque gold-mining town, and there is time to explore the old Chinese mining settlement or stroll through town.
After refreshments, we pedal past more colourful Central Otago vineyards to meet the Twin Rivers Trail linking the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers. On reaching the edge of Lake Wakatipu, nestled amongst vast mountain ranges, our cycle trail weaves along the shore and takes us into central Queenstown through the botanical gardens. We finish at the wharf side and arrive at our last hotel for the night in Queenstown. We will enjoy our farewell dinner from our great New Zealand adventure tonight.
Cycle : Queenstown Trails : 47km, +495m

Time to go our own way again

It is up to you from here on. Spending more time in this great place on this magic island has many options. One is to travel by train and ferry to the North Island and fly back from Auckland.