We get our wheels turning on the stunning Queen Charlotte drive.  A shorter riding day offers us time to explore the coastal settlements along the way.

Cycling Distance: 45km

Rich in history the Maungatapu begins gently climbing up through  regenerating bush.  But gentle doesn’t last very long and soon becomes a steep, rocky 4×4 track that will have you negotiating baby head size boulders on the climb and descent. A wee bit of pushing will get you through the worst. Luckily the decent finishes with a smooth valley ride into Nelson City with a swim on the way!  61km.  Note: The 4×4 section is steep and rough and unsupported. Option is to transfer around by vehicle and rejoin after this section.

Cycling Distance: 61km

If yesterday was too exciting for you… today should settle your nerves. We meander out of Nelson on a friendly cycle trail and quiet country roads all the way to St Arnaud. 

Cycling Distance: 99km

We stretch our legs today clocking up some kilometres on quiet country roads.  We pass through Lake Rotoroa, some gorgeous native bush and lots of fords.

Cycling Distance: 75km

Good rural farming country meets native bush on lovely quiet little-used roads. We pop over Maruia Saddle at 500m, then it’s a lovely up-and-over piece of road that is rich in bush and birdlife to Reefton. 

Cycling Distance: 123km

It’s gently descending all the way to Greymouth.  Pretty much a rest day!

Cycling Distance: 82km

Rest day in Greymouth, explore the nearby historical mining towns

We don our plaid, join the West Coast Wilderness Trail, and gently climb to what can only be described as a West Coast icon.  What goes up must come down and this afternoon we do… We enjoy a stunning ride from Cowboy Paradise down to Hokitika via the Lake Kaniere trails.

Cycling Distance: 101km

We absorb the West Coast pace of life on the most recent part of the West Coast Wilderness trail. Coastal cycle trail, secondary roads and finally highway, we enjoy a smorgasbord of farmland, stunning bush and lakes.

Cycling Distance: 124km

Get your hill legs out… its back on our bikes we ride into glacier country.  We set out early to allow time for optional glacial viewing activities for those who wish. 

Cycling Distance: 50km

We continue riding south on sealed roads to enjoy this rugged wild west coast coastal section of the beautiful West Coast.

Cycling Distance: 120km

Click into your low gears or crank up your battery we’re going over… Up we go – up and over the Southern Alps. Take it slowly – because there is some great scenery to see!  

Cycling Distance: 78km

We ride from Lake Wanaka to Lake Hawea and back to Lake Wanaka.  It sounds like a circle… but it’s not.  It’s quite hilly and can be windy but if we’re in luck the resident nor’wester will blow us to Wanaka with the last part on a fun riverside cycle trail.

Cycling Distance: 75km

Rest Day in Wanaka. Central Otago scenery, local activities, abundant shopping and dining options or a relaxing walk by the lake.

The Crown Range road is the highest main road in NZ at 1076m and today we ride over it!  We finish the day on the cycle trail into Queenstown.

Cycling Distance: 87km

We begin the day with a 45min boat trip across Lake Wakatipu.  Today is BIG, big scenery, big day, big climb, big down and hopefully a big southland feed! 

Cycling Distance: 103km

We make a beeline for Invercargill today, quiet country roads through rolling farmland. Cycling Distance: 87km

Did someone say something about cake?  Maybe champagne would be more appropriate as we celebrate a massive achievement – riding the length of New Zealand? Transfer to Invercargill for the final night of the tour.

Cycling Distance: 31km

Our final breakfast together on the whole tour.  For those heading home transfer to Invercargill airport can be arranged.  Drop-offs to Queenstown or Wanaka are possible.

YOU – RIDE . NAVIGATE . ENJOY . EAT . SLEEP .

WE PROVIDE:

• Daily ride information.
• Digital navigation and cue notes.
• Mechanical and first aid support.
• Carry your luggage.
• Ride sweep.
• Sag Wagon.
• Breakfasts, lunches, water and riding snacks (and some dinners).
• All the logistics.
• And all Accommodation

Whether you choose to ride the full length of New Zealand or just one Island at a time – we’ll sort the nitty gritty. Before your tour begins, we will organise all the logistics and book all accommodation.

We will give you daily digital route maps, that you can follow on your phone or GPS, and route cue notes so that you can ride at your own pace, stop when you like to smell the roses and grab a coffee when the opportunity presents, while always knowing that we are there if you need us.

On tour, your awesome Escape Adventures support crew will have your breakfast ready for an early start and provide snacks for you to carry with you.  They will provide daily ride information and ride sweep with first aid and mechanical support.  Our support vehicle will carry your luggage, and on most days set up a ‘floating picnic lunch’ on route so that you can dine’n’dash and top up on water and snacks.  The support vehicle is also there if you need first aid or mechanical support, or if you need a break from the saddle.

This cycle tour includes rides of 31-124km per day. Please do read about the daily riding distances taking note of the riding terrain in the itinerary below and prepare accordingly. The more prepared you are the more you will enjoy your adventure! You should be comfortable riding 3-5 times a week with regular rides of 30-50km in length. Preparing for your cycle tour should involve gravel, dirt and off-road riding, with some hills. Please do contact us if you would like some help with a detailed training plan.

Preparing for your cycle tour should involve:

• Riding on gravel, unpaved terrain with some hills.
• Ride 3-4 times a week with rides of 40-80km in length.

Support: Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, has lunch, snacks and water at hand, and is there if you need a break from the saddle.

Included in your tour: All breakfasts and riding snacks, most lunches and one evening meal. (Two lunches are not included).
Two lunches and most of the evening meals (as per the tour itinerary) are in places where there are dining and wining options available – therefore at your own cost and choosing. (This gives you more control over the cost of your tour AND spreads the love supporting local businesses!)We are most definitely able to cater for vegetarians and special diets. If this includes you, it is essential to advise us of this before your tour begins, so that the support vehicle can be stocked with the necessary supplies.

Typical Included Meals:

•  Breakfasts – Fresh fruit, muesli, toast and spreads, hot drinks. 
•  Lunches – Picnic style lunches, fresh salads, cold meats, cheese & bread.
•  Snacks – Fresh fruit, salty snacks, home baking.

All accommodation for the duration of 19 nights of your cycle tour is included. Our job is to explore and find the most fitting accommodation to work in with the riding route. Sometimes there is lots of choice, sometimes very little. We will be staying in a combination of motels, hotels, lodges, holiday houses and holiday park cabins. When possible these will have ensuite bathrooms, however in some cases – in holiday houses and holiday park cabins it will be necessary to share bathrooms.

Accommodation is on a share twin basis. If you’re traveling alone, we’ll pair you to twin-share with another biker. If you do not wish to share a single supplement is available. *Single room options may be limited in some locations.

The ideal bike for the tour is a hardtail mountain bike or a touring bike with off road tyres. A gravel bike is also an option – but only if you are familiar with riding one on unpaved surfaces! You will need to be able to carry up to 1.5-2L water, a jacket and snacks in a backpack, front roll or frame bag.

Escape Adventures have a small fleet of bikes and E-bikes available for hire available for hire in S M L & XL. (Bookings Essential).

Trek X-Caliber mountain bikes $950
E-Bikes (Brand and Model tbc) – $1600 

When you hire one of our bikes – they are maintained by us and kept in excellent running condition.  Contact us if you plan on hiring a bike.

This trip has 6-12 bikers, plus two experienced Escape Adventures tour leaders