West Coast 
South Island Tour

New Zealand’s South Island and its West Coast have been popular with overseas and local cyclists for over 40 years. The range of natural scenery from the Canterbury Plains to the West Coast, down to Jacksons Bay and back over the Southern Alps to the dry inland area of the Southern Lakes, plus wonderful accommodation, makes for a memorable tour.

We have chosen April as this is generally a drier time of the year on the West Coast, and there is less traffic on the road at the end of summer.

NB:  B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1
Christchurch to Greymouth  April 2022 (L)  60km

Pick from 8.00 am Christchurch motel or 8.45 am Christchurch Airport and drive to Arthurs Pass.  Turn off SH 73 at Jacksons to begin the day’s ride.  Cycle 32 km to picturesque Lake Brunner and its lakeside town, Moana.  Lots of downhill and a picnic lunch along the way.  Cycle on to Stillwater and van transfer to Hokitika for the night.

Accommodation Beachfront hotel, Hokitika.

Day 2
Hokitika to Franz Josef  April 2022 (B,L,D)  73km

Cycle from Hokitika south to the old gold mining town of Ross (26 km) for morning tea and on to Harihari for a picnic lunch stop.   At Harihari be sure to check out the display of the replica biplane from the first solo Trans-Tasman flight which landed at Harihari in 1931 (not Blenheim as intended!).   Van transfer from Harihari to Franz Josef.

Accommodation: Aspen Court Motels, Franz Josef.

Day 3  
Franz Josef to Fox Glacier  April 2022 (B)  25km

If you like hills, you are in luck today!  You have three to enjoy on the 25 km ride between Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier.  Cycle through beautiful rain forest and be rewarded by wonderful downhills. We plan to walk around Lake Matheson to see the reflections in the afternoon.

We recommend White Hotel for dinner.

Accommodation Fox Glacier Lodge.

Day 4
Fox Glacier to Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge April 2022 (B,D)  85 km

No hills today, with an easy 60km ride through rainforest, past Bruce Bay, to the Paringa salmon farm for lunch.   After lunch, cycle 22 km through native forest and following Lake Moeraki, at our destination, Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge.  Enjoy kayaking and bush walks through

Accommodation at Haast River Motels.

Day 5
Jacksons Bay  April 2022 (B)  78km

Cycle 30 km following the spectacular coast at Knights Point and through temperate podocarp forests to the World Heritage Haast River, and the longest single lane bridge in New Zealand.  From the bridge, take a very quiet one-way road for an easy 48 km ride south along the coast and through rainforest, to Jacksons Bay, the end of the West Coast road network.  Enjoy lunch at the Cray Pot, the famous ex-pie cart café selling fish and chips.  If the café is not open, we will provide lunch. http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/jackson-bay-fishing-village/.    

Cycle all or part of the 48 km back to Haast, or take the van.

Dining: Haast World Heritage Hotel (not included)

Accommodation at Haast River Motels.

Day 6
Haast to Wanaka  April 2022 (B,L,D)  142km

A wonderful ride alongside the Haast River on easy terrain to Pleasant Flat (45km), followed by an optional van transfer to the top of Haast Pass, then 20km of undulating cycling with a picnic lunch on the way to Makarora.   You can’t help but notice the changes in the natural vegetation on this ride, starting with the dense rainforest at Haast, transitioning to more open beech forest as we pass into a rain shadow and then the dry desert country around Lake Wanaka.

Cycle past the spectacular lakes of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea and on to Wanaka town and our accommodation near the lake edge.

Accommodation: Lake Wanaka Lodge.

Day 7
Queenstown  April 2022 (B)  no cycling

Drive to Queenstown after breakfast for drop off and end of tour. 

All distances are in km. The quoted cycling distances for each day are based on our day maps and represent the maximum expected riding, but are likely to be decreased to suit individual needs and weather conditions on the day.

Breakfast and morning tea are provided each day and picnic lunches and dinner on most days.  Included dinners are catered by NZBT. Snacks, fruit and drinking water are available at all times.

Inclusions

• 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 evening meals
• Transportation of bags and support along the road.
• Transfer of people and bikes where required
• Pick up from Christchurch Airport or hotel on Day one.
• Transfer to Queenstown on Day 7 if required.
• Coloured Day maps with elevation profiles and Garmin GPX files
• Accommodation as detailed on a twin share basis with private bathrooms
• Quality rental bicycle and helmet, if required.  Specialised Roubaix road bikes
• NZ Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 15%

Accommodation

The accommodation for this trip has been selected to provide a comfortable night’s sleep at the end of a long day. The accommodation will be a double or twin room with private facilities.

Not included

• Meals not listed above
• Alcohol or drinks (other than tap water) with meals
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

Payment and Booking Conditions

The price in twin share accommodation for the above seven day, six night tour, is NZ$2950 per person.

Deposit

$500 per person

Safety

All adventures, no matter how modest, involve an element of risk - that is their nature. However, throughout your vacation, safety is always the most important consideration. Our experienced and safety-conscious guides are there when you need them.

Health and fitness

This is an active holiday so you need to be fit and in good health. If you are taking medication not listed on the registration form please let your guide know. Fitness is difficult to define. However, as a general rule you should be able to comfortably cycle for up to 3 - 4 hours a day. The fitter you are the more enjoyable your trip will be.

Gear List

The weather can be changeable with a trip like this, so will need to have suitable clothing for a wide range of conditions. We recommend you pack your luggage in a soft sports bag for easy stowing in the trailer. 

• Tee shirt and shorts
• Cycle pants and gloves
• Highly visible/bright cycle clothing for increased safety
• Long-sleeved lightweight top or shirt
• Lightweight woollen jumper or fleece
• Windproof shell
• Rainwear - top and pants
• Socks and underwear
• Suitable cycle footwear
• Lightweight trekking/hiking boots or footwear for walks
• Personal toilet gear, towel, sunscreen and lip balm
• Insect repellent for sand-flies
• Casual off-the-bike clothing
• Small day bag to leave in the van for items you want to access during the day