Day 1. Arrive into Twizel – Lake Pukaki. Cycling Distance 14km (D)

Arrive into Twizel from either Christchurch, Oamaru or Queenstown and meet your professional Journey Coordinator at our depot. We will have your bikes ready upon arrival to go over any fine tuning before you are on your way.

Bikes loaded onto our own shuttle bus, we will chauffeur you a short distance to Tekapo B power station on the beautiful shores of Lake Pukaki. Time now for you to start cycling on your first 4km leg of sealed road to the start of the lakeside track. Following this route around the lake edge to arrive at the gorgeous Lakestone Lodge where your hosts Anna and Mike will take such good care of you this evening. A beautifully presented six room lodge, Lakestone is designed to provide the best perspective of the lake and the views to Mount Cook.

Dinner tonight is a great prelude to the week that follows. Taking advantage of the internationally acclaimed Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, we have a stunning night sky experience scheduled for after 10pm, just a short 10 minute walk from the lodge.

Day 2. Lake Pukaki – Mt. Cook – Lake Pukaki. Cycling Distance: 8km – optional 8km flat sealed road (B, L, D)

Wake up to a gorgeous breakfast in the dining room, just because you deserve it and enjoy stunning views up the valley. Right on cue, your shuttle will arrive for a 58km drive up the western edge of Lake Pukaki into Mt Cook Alpine Village. A chance to explore the famous Sir Edmund Hillary museum located within the Hermitage Hotel, part of the living history of the region and a record of his amazing expeditions around the world including the Antartic.

Afterwards, a short drive takes us to the start of the Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail.  Across the flats the trail weaves through the tussocks and then reaches the famous bridge across the Hooker River. From here you will ride up to the start of the short walk to the Tasman Glacier Lake and join the Glacier Explorers trip to get up close to the 1000 year old ice of the Tasman Glacier. A truly remarkable experience and highlight of your journey.

Once back on land, you will continue the ride to the nearby Aoraki Mt Cook Airport where today’s cycling comes to a finish. For those not yet ready for the day to end, opt for a scenic helicopter flight to experience some of the most spectacular birds eye views of Mt Cook – Aoraki from the air. One of the best places in New Zealand to experience a scenic flight ride.

From the airport our shuttle vehicle will return to the beautiful Lakestone Lodge to relax over drinks and a well prepared evening meal. Time to rest those legs, enjoy a nightcap and a well deserved sleep.

Day 3. Lake Pukaki – Lake Ohau Lodge. Cycling Distance: 50km (B, L, D)

Refuel this morning with breakfast at the lodge before packing your bags to continue your ride around the lake front and across the Twizel plains. Passing Pukaki Airport en route into the gorgeous Twizel township. Take a short circuit of the town before an early lunch at one of the many delicious and homely cafe’s before you head for Lake Ohau Lodge some 38km away.

The first 20km’s of this ride is on flat sealed roads alongside one of the many canals taking you to the southern end of nearby Lake Ohau. The off-road trail then follows the lake edge for 8km before joining the road that takes you past the beautiful lake and onto the Lodge itself.

Dinner is served in the cozy Lodge restaurant that features an open fire, big windows with lake views, a bar and spacious tables. It has a reputation for outstanding food, excellent service and a classic south island warmth and welcome. Enjoy locally sourced food before a relaxing evening, preparing for yet another day of adventure.

Day 4. Lake Ohau Lodge – Omarama. Cycling Distance: 45km (B, L)

Enjoy the restaurant views in daylight over breakfast before riding over to the Tarnbrae section of the trail. Weaving along the base of the foothills and after crossing a bushclad stream bed, the trail starts to climb to the highpoint of the entire tail providing incredible views into the Mackenzie Basin.

From the highpoint, care is required as the trail drops quickly via a series of zig-zags before reaching the grassy flats below. From here, follow the the four wheel drive tracks to reach the top of the rural road and the historic woolshed, a relic of days gone by.

After enjoying your neatly packed picnic lunch, start down the gravel road until it changes to seal and leads into Omarara, home to one of the worlds best gliding sites. There is a side trip offered along the way which takes you into the famous Clay Cliffs. This is an 8km ride each way.

Tonight’s accommodation is the Heritage Hotel, situated at the cross roads of the Mackenzie Basin, Lindis Pass and Waitaki Valley. Offering panoramic views, with modern and comfortable rooms. Enjoy an evening meal here at your leisure, with al fresco dining in the summer months with views of the mountains.

Day 5. Omarara – Kurow. Cycle Distance: 41km – plus optional 22km flat sealed road (B, L, D)

The trail now heads east towards the coast and enters the region famed for its hydro lakes. The trail weaves around the hydro lake formed by Benmore Dam – the largest earth dam in NZ. At 12km the trail reaches Sailors Cutting, the site of the classic Kiwi caravan park, where caravans arrive on opening day and remain through summer providing an outlet for the boaties and water skiers.

The remaining 12-15km is new trail scheduled for completion Jan – Feb 2021. This trail extends into Benmore Gorge with its many bays and coves, previously only experienced by boaties. This section will feel remote and
has no cell phone coverage, but this part of the trail is sure to be quickly acknowledged as one of the highlights. En-route you can enjoy a picnic lunch before climbing over the ridge and dropping onto the Benmore Dam
and cycling along the edge of Lake Aviemore.

The next section of trail was opened in Feb 2020 and provides stunning off-road riding past the historic Waitaki Dam. Arriving into your accommodation at Waitaki Braids Lodge, there is enough time left in the day for a walk to a nearby wine outlet and a sampling of the regions finest offerings. A chance to support a local businesses and buy a gorgeous bottle of red to take back for a nightcap.

Day 6. Kurow – Enfield. Cycle Distance: 70km (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the Lodge, your second to last cycle day begins with a ride down valley and alongside the Waitaki River, arriving at Duntroon some 29km later. A chance for a coffee and a break, before continuing on
through the dramatic landscapes with limestone outcrops and boulders. Nearby Elephant Rocks is worthy of a visit and then the trail continues to weave its way through the valleys and small towns.

A steady climb takes  you to a beautiful rural viewpoint before descending to the Rakis Tunnel and onto the small township of Enfield and your accommodation in the converted old Enfield School. Dinner tonight will be at the nearby Tavern allowing the opportunity to mingle with the locals and make some memories. Craig and Blanche will make you feel right at home.

Day 7. Enfield – Oamaru. Cycle Distance: 12km (B , L)

Your finish line lies just 12km away and the final morning ride brings you into Oamaru and the photo frame on the harbour. Cycle Journeys depot is nearby and there is a chance to change before joining a guided Historic
walking tour of Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct which makes this region special.

Access to the nearby Steam Punk HQ is included in your package and  what better way to celebrate the trip  finish than relaxing over a beer tasting tray at Scott’s Brewery with a stone cooked pizza for lunch.

Trip Coordinator

Through-out your cycle tour you will be continually supported, this includes daily bag transfers as well as making daily by phone to provide any updates and advice.

Shuttle Transfers as detailed

Standard Bike Hire

E-bike upgrade available for $350.00NZD

Daily Luggage Transfers

Leave the hassle of luggage up to us and arrive to your daily accommodations with everything taken care of.

Luxury en-suite accommodation

Enjoy a proper nights rest after each day at our numerous luxury accommodations included in your cycle tour.

Meals as detailed

B, L, D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Sir Edmund Hillary Museum

Take a chance to discover the iconic history of the Mackenzie region and the incredible story of the life of ‘Sir Ed’, a humanitarian, ambassador and one of the worlds greatest explorers. The centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook area, it’s people and it’s place in the universe. Featuring a 126-seat custom designed theatre with 2D and 3D and a Digital Dome Planetarium this is truly a must do for every kiwi and visitor.

Glacier Explorer Boat Trip

A truly incredible inclusion of this trip –  Tasman glacier is New Zealand’s largest and most accessible glacier where you can reach out and touch the icebergs formed some 300 years earlier. The trip is approximately 2.5 hours including a refreshing half hour walk to the terminal lake of Tasman Glacier before your experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable boat to explore the melting ice face of the glacier and icebergs that have carved into its murky waters. The lake feels incredibly eerie as the boat cruises slowly for one hour, from one point of interest to the next whilst the guide imparts the history of the glacier, lake and Mount Cook National Park, allowing you to build your own picture to the unique nature of the area.

Wine Tasting

You simply cannot visit this region without indulging in some wine tasting in local outlets en route. We encourage responsible drinking (to ensure you can still cycle afterwards!)

Historic City walk in Oamaru

Boasting unique colonial history, discover the steampunk city of Oamaru and learn about New Zealand life from a bygone era.

Steampunk HQ

Oamaru is New Zealand’s home to Steampunk therefore only fitting to make a visit to the interactive museum that features an interesting collection of  retro-futuristic sci-fi art, movies, sculpture and sound. Steampunk is a quirky and fun genre of science fiction that features steam-powered technology. It is often set in an alternate, futuristic version of 19th century Victorian England steam powered devices – the ‘world gone mad’ as Victorian people may have imagined it. Examples are machines like those in the writing of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, and in television shows such as Dr. Who.

Scott’s Beer Tasting and Lunch

Exasperated with the high jinks and hootenanny, the elections of 1905 put a cork in commercial beer production for the region in Oamaru. However, No deterrent of course, to the crafty bootlegger with little regard for the law, forced to perfect the art underground . . .  where Scott’s was born. Here’s a sneak peak of their brews and some of the options you can look forward to sipping on:

• Nineteen 05 Golden Ale
• Boulder NZ Pale Ale
• Vienna Lager
• B-10 Porter
• Harbourmaster I.P.A
• Black Point Extra Stout
• Pale Ale Gluten Free
• Explorer Light Ale
• Smokey Joe Smoked Red Ale

Contribution to Alps 2 Ocean Trail maintenance programme

Whats not inlcuded?

• Evening meal at Oamaru
• Alcohol, soft drinks and additional coffees & beverages
• Optional activities as indicated below
• Transfers to and from Twizel / Oamaru

Transportation

This itinerary has been developed to allow some certainty in order to be able to price this product as essentially a fully inclusive product. Cycle Journeys can provide custom shuttle transport for the following;

Christchurch – Twizel, Queenstown – Twizel, Oamaru – Christchurch, Oamaru – Queenstown, Oamaru – Twizel

Scenic Helicopter Flight

There are various options based from Mt Cook Airport. Further details can be found here; www.mtcookhelicopters.nz/category/scenic-flights/  Because of the potential to be weather impaired, this activity has been left as an optional addition for you to decide on participation.

Oamaru Gliding

This is a spectacular and unusual experience that should be tried at least once. Omarama is recognised as being one of the premium world gliding sites, but as always, it will be weather dependant. Details can be found here; www.glideomarama.com/trial-flights

Accommodation

Accommodation options at a luxury level are not available in abundance down the trail and hence we may require flexibility to achieve getting all the necessary ‘ducks in a row’. While we will attempt to utilise our key
partners, at times we may be forced to identify alternative options to meet your timelines.
www.cyclejourneys.co.nz/news-inspiration/accommodation-features/

2-6 people, NZ$3,595 pp 

7-12 people, NZ$3,349 pp 

Please Note: Both group sizes have a single supplement rate of NZ$810 for solo travellers.