6-Day New Zealand Alps-to-Ocean Adventure Bike Tour

Leaving the city behind, we'llhead south toward the magnificent Aoraki Mount Cook. Along the way we'll enjoy apicnic lunch nestled in the foothills of the Southern Alps. After being fitted with our bikes, we will journey into Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park where we'll embark ona scenic ride to White Horse Hill Campground.

We'll be spending the night at lodgings in Aoraki Mount Cook Village. Get a good sleep tonight, tomorrow our ride to the ocean begins!
Accommodation: Mt Cook Lodge and Motels, Mt CookView More
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 4 miles (6 kilometers)
Notes: Test ride on smooth, level terrain.

After breakfast at our accommodation, we'll top up our packs with snacks for the exciting day of biking ahead. Then we'll head to White Horse Hill Campground, the start of the iconic Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail! If the weather conditions are safe, we'llenjoy a short ride to the helipad and take a helicopter transfer with our bikes to "Rotten Tommy," ready for the next section of the trail. From the air or the ground, you'll enjoy impressive views of the Tasman River,a powerful, glacier fed braided river that flows from New Zealand's longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.

Our ride today takes us from the end of Braemar road to Tekapo B Power Station, one of the hydroelectric stations on this network. The system transfers water from Lakes Tekapo and Ohau to lakes Pukaki, Benmore, and Aviemore, and finally along the Waitaki River to the Pacific on the East Coast, and is responsible for generating a vast amount of New Zealand's annual energy requirement. From Tekapo B Power Station, we'll skirt the rest ofthe east side of Lake Pukaki, but before we leave this lake behind, we'll pause at the lookout point for an opportunity to capture one of the most famous scenes in New Zealand - looking across the cobalt blue water of the lake to Aoraki Mt. Cook, where our ride started yesterday.

Tonight we'll stay in the Mackenzie Country basin, with stunning views stretching across the Southern Alps. The area is known for the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, with light pollution strictly controlled, so it's the ideal spot to stargaze!
Accommodation: Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel, TwizelView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 20.5, 31 or 45 miles (33, 51 or 72 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: Up to 345 feet (105 meters) ascent, 1,155 feet (358 meters) descent
Notes: Our terrain today is rolling with periodic gentle hills and declines. Vehicle support is available at points along the way.

Today, under our own steam, we'll travel along the winding canal to the shores of Lake Ohau. We'll leave behind us the town of Twizel, built initially asa settlement for construction workers working on the hydroelectric scheme,these days Twizel has a character allof its own! Our ride today winds mostly along quiet, sealed roads, though towards the end of our pedal we'll negotiate smooth shingle on the wide biking trail leading up to Ohau Lodge. You can be forgiven for being distracted by the views along this stretch, looking across to Lake Ohau and the surrounding peaks.

If we're up for it, we'll conquer the grunty climb up from the Lodge at 1,837 feet (560 meters) to the highest point on the whole trail, Tambrae, at 2,953 feet (900 meters). Along the way, we'llcross Parsons, Sawyers, and Freehold Creek, and be able to look across to the route we rode today.

Once we hop over the top, it's a glorious uninterrupted downhill to Quailburn Road where we'llhop on the bus and drive back to Ohau Lodge for the night - if we're lucky we may be able to relax in the hot tub on the deck! We'lldine together tonight in the Lodge restaurant.
Accommodation: Lake Ohau Lodge, OhauView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Dinner

Biking: 11, 23 or 57 miles (18, 38 or 55 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: Up to 1,760 feet (520 meters) ascent, 965 feet (295 meters) descent
Notes: To Lake Ohau Lodge (first 38 kilometers), we'llride through a diverse landscape of flat, rolling, and hilly sections. Vehicle support is available at points along the way. The final 19 kilometers is unsupported and no vehicle access is available.

Today's section of the Alps to Ocean trail starts where we finished yesterday, with an easy downhill section on Quailburn Road, all the way to Omarama. Omarama is the gliding capital of New Zealand - due to its position on a flat plain surrounded by taller peaks, the thermals here are perfect for flying without an engine, so be sure to look up occasionally!

From Omarama, we'll push on down to Sailor's Cutting, and our favorite portion of the ride! The trail winds its way around the Ahuriri arm of Lake Benmore, well hidden from the highway, and the trail will take us up to the Benmore Hydro Dam, the largest dam within the Waitaki power scheme.

We'll hop off our bikes once we arrive in Otematata where we'll spend the night.
Accommodation: Otematata Lakeside Apartments, OtematataView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 15, 22 or 36 miles (24, 37 ot 59 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: Up to 541 feet (165 meters) ascent, 692 feet (211 meters) descent
Notes: We'll ride through a diverse landscape of flat, rolling, and hilly sections. Vehicle support is available at points along the way

Our day starts with a 30-mile (45-kilometer) ride from Otematata to Kurow, and almost all of this section is on low-traffic, tar-sealed roads-which might be a welcome break for your bum after yesterday's climb! We'll pass over the Benmore Hydro Dam, New Zealand's secondlargest hydro station, before skirting the edge of Lake Aviemore and on to Kurow. Kurow is New Zealand's most up-and-coming pinot noir region, the limestone-rich soils have proved a great tonic for the vines.

After a leg stretch, we'lljump back on our bikes and tackle the second part of the day, a 28-kilometer ride from Kurow to Duntroon. This predominantly gravel trail brings us alongside the Waitaki River and sweeps along the valley. Today is our biggest day in the saddle, so we'll be taking it easy and making sure everyone is well-fuelled and hydrated. There's plenty to see along this diverse trail - we'll pass vineyards, rivers, and the Takiroa Maori rock art site - a limestone shelter containing several pieces of rock art dating back to between 1400 and 1900 AD.

Once we arrive in Duntroon, we'll continue onto Oamaru, to spend the night and share our last dinner together!
Accommodation: Brydone Hotel, OamaruView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 14, 22 or 39 miles (23, 36 or 63 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: Up to 165 feet (50 meters) ascent, 935 feet (285 meters) descent
Notes: Our ride today is predominantly flat terrain with occasional gentle slopes. Vehicle support is available at points along the way.