Prepare for a week-long cycling showcasing the diverse landscapes of the South Island in New Zealand. This fully-supported journey from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean features a thrilling helicopter ride, top-notch accommodations, all meals, and a support vehicle driven by your guide. Enjoy awesome rides, discover historic sites, and connect with fellow enthusiasts from around the globe—all against the backdrop of the region's awe-inspiring natural beauty. This all-inclusive journey is tailored for those in pursuit of an unforgettable cycling adventure without any logistical concerns.
Meet your Alps 2 Ocean Trail cycling guide and fellow cyclists in Christchurch or Queenstown at 7 am for the drive to Mt Cook (read more about the pick-up in the Things to know section below). The journey can take up to 4 hours, and we will stop for lunch in Tekapo. After lunch, we will get you on your bikes and ride to Lake Pukaki, Tonight we will host you and prepare you food!
Meals: Dinner
Distance: 34 miles (55 km)
Today we will transfer you to the start at Aoraki Mt Cook. The helicopter will drop us at a remote part of the trail and we will start riding along the turquoise blue Lake Pukaki, following its coastline along a gravel road and a smooth cycle trail. Guided along by the Ben Ohau mountain range across the other side of the Lake, and heading away from Aoraki Mt Cook, we will stop to soak up the magnificence of this scenery and have a picnic lunch. Once we leave the lake, we will head directly to Twizel across the Pukaki Flats. Our evening meal will be at one of Twizels best restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 33 miles (53 km)
After breakfast, we will ride through Twizel along the sealed Ohau Canal road. We meet at Lake Ohau below the mountain of Ben Ohau for morning tea, then follow the cycle trail around Lake Ohau. We will stop at Lake Middleton for a picnic lunch. The short and quiet Ohau road takes us to our evenings destination at Lake Ohau Lodge. Tonight we will be served the Lodge high country dinner in their dining room. The bar and hot tubs are a great way to relax and tell stories of the day’s adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 25 miles (40 km)
After breakfast, we will ride to the highest point of the trail—Tambrae point. The gentle gradient takes you 1,148 feet (350 m) higher and gives amazing vistas over the Mackenzie basin. The expression goes ‘What goes up must come down,’ but please be careful with your speed as you whizz down to Quailburn! Once we are there, a quiet gravel road and cycle trail takes us to Omarama, halfway from the trail finish. Omarama Hot Tubs are the key to relaxing any sore muscles and are included in the tour. Tonight, we will dine at The Pink Glider cafe.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 28 miles (45 km)
Omarama is half-way along the trail, so it’s the perfect timing to have breakfast at the Wrinkly Rams cafe. From Omarama, the scenery changes and brings to light how the region and its water catchment were used for the Waitaki Hydro-Electric Scheme. Heading for our next stop at Kurow we cycle past Lakes Benmore, Aviemore, and Waitaki. The trail varies from smooth shingle to sealed road. The new sailors cutting trail now takes you along the Ahuriri gorge and to the top of the Benmore dam. This evening, we will go for a wine tasting at The River T winery.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 42 miles (68 km)
The trail follows the braided river to Duntroon and then heads up into the hills past the peculiar and wonderful Elephant Rocks. Ride through some amazing limestone outcrops and catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean over the coastal plains, and then we will glide downhill to our accommodation through Rakis Tunnel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Distance: 42 miles (67 km)
Enjoy the last few kilometres of trail through pastures and farmland to reach the end of the trail. Explore Oamaru briefly before our final celebratory pizza lunch at a local craft brewery. You will then be shuttled back to Christchurch/Queenstown, marking the end of the adventure. Say goodbye to your guide, fellow cyclists, and to New Zealand—or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
To fully enjoy this fully-supported Alps to Ocean cycling trip in New Zealand’s South Island, a reasonable level of fitness is essential. The journey is graded as moderate, with an average daily distance of approximately 25 miles (40 km), the shortest day spanning 7.5 miles (12 km), and the longest day 42 miles (68 km).
The terrain varies along the route, with most sections on sealed roads and smooth shingle—making for relatively easy riding. However, other segments consist of rough shingle, and, rarely, dirt and grass roads, which can make for uneven terrain. Additionally, you’ll encounter more challenging and technical sections, featuring narrower tracks with switchbacks and occasional exposure.
It’s important to note that this cycling trip is not intended to be a marathon event. You should ride at your own pace, and there’s no pressure to keep up with others. You’ll always have a support vehicle nearby with a guide ready to assist you if you encounter any difficulties. Additionally, if you’re a less confident cyclist or are worried about the climbs and long distances, you can rent an e-bike, making the entire experience significantly less strenuous.
In preparation for this Alps to Ocean bike tour, we recommend dedicating 90 minutes to cycling three to five times a week for at least three months leading up to your trip. This practice will help you build the endurance and stamina required for the journey. There are ample hills to climb, so it’s advisable to practice cycling uphill and on rougher terrain before your tour to ensure you fully appreciate the fantastic riding and diverse scenery.
Here’s what you’ll need:
The ideal months for travel, from January to early May, bring temperatures ranging from 50°F to 86°F (10°C to 30°C) on the South Island, along with a comfortable humidity level of 40-50%. However, keep in mind that higher altitudes can be significantly cooler, and snowfall is possible even in summer.
Additionally, there are occasional hot, dry, and fierce winds during the summer months. While you won’t need a full winter wardrobe, since you will be riding at higher elevations, packing a good waterproof jacket and some thin and lightweight warm clothing (including a fleece or jumper and quality thermals) will ensure you’re prepared for any unexpected changes in temperature and weather conditions during your tour.
Bike and helmet are included in the price of the Alps to Ocean bike trip. However, if you want a less strenuous experience, you can rent an e-biking upon checkout.
With rentals, you get a small top tube bag for your phone, wallet, and lip balm, and an expendable seat post bag to carry your wet weather clothes, spare layer, etc.
Group sizes and prices:
Cycling the Alps to Ocean Trail in New Zealand can be arranged for private groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Alps 2 Ocean adventure is either Christchurch or Queenstown at around 7:30am on Day 1. The nearest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN) and Christchurch Airport (CHC). Please note that the exact pick-up spot is to be determined, depending on first come, first served basis, meaning that the first clients to book the tour have the choice of pick-up destination. You’ll be informed in time.
Participants should arrive a day prior to the cycling adventure (Day 1 in the itinerary) as the journey kicks off right afterward. Arriving a day in advance is crucial as it provides you with the opportunity to relax and ensures a seamless and stress-free start to your experience.
These are the starting points for tours which already have participants signed up:
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain/road, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in the South Island please refer to the U.S. Department of State’s travel information on New Zealand.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!