Day 1 Christchurch

You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your accommodation. Join us with the scenic afternoon tour of this picturesque city, including a highlight stop at the "Sign of the Takahe", where you will be treated to a birds eye view of the city, the Canterbury plains, Southern Alps and the South Pacific Ocean. The evening meal will give the group a chance to get to know each other in the pleasant surroundings of a local Christchurch restaurant.

Meals: L

Day 2 Christchurch - Geraldine

Experience the open beauty of the Canterbury Plains. Start cycling after viewing the Rakaia gorge flowing deep and swiftly. The relaxing ride through the Mt Hutt region's rolling countryside to Geraldine is a transplanted English settler's dream town.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Mt. Hutt to Geraldine - 80km

Day 3 Geraldine - Lake Tekapo

Riding through the Kakahu Forest we steadily climb to a rest place - " The Farm Barn", where we experience the great view of Fairlie and the surrounds. The route takes us over a small pass in the Mackenzie highland. After travelling 42 km by bike we reach the turquoise coloured glacier Lake Tekapo. Those who are in the mood, can do a 1.5 hour walking tour up to Mount John.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Geraldine to Lake Tekapo - 91km biking

Day 4 Lake Tekapo - Omarama

Lake Tekapo is part of a large hydro-energy project. There are six lakes joined by canals. We ride along the awesome canal to Lake Pukaki. On a clear day, we can breathtakingly view the snow capped peaks of Aoraki, "Mount Cook", the highest mountain of New Zealand. Continue to Omarama "Place of light" famed as a gliding centre.

The Mackenzie highland is famous for its Merino sheep, which have very fine wool.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Lake Tekapo to Omarama - 87km biking

Day 5 Omarama - Cromwell

Gently from Omarama you make your way up the Lindis Pass, a truly photographic delight with its unique scenery. Cruising down following the Lindis River is most rewarding. Riding beside Lake Dunstan, the youngest storage lake in New Zealand, you overnight in the centre of this fruit growing region.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Omarama to Cromwell - 112km biking

Day 6 Cromwell - Queenstown

Experience the goldfields area steeped in history following the rugged Kawarau Gorge and River. After 15km we arrive at Roaring Meg, a small power station and an attractive picnic spot. Travelling past vineyards and the original AJ Hackett bungy suspension bridge (43m) we cycle past Lake Hayes and the shores of Lake Wakatipu into Queenstown.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Cromwell to Queenstown - 60km biking

Day 7 Queenstown - Rest Day - Departure Day for First 7 Days

Queenstown the outdoor adventurer's capital of the world!

Take the Gondola ride to the Skyline restaurant, viewpoint and luge ride. Don't miss the lake cruise aboard the historic steamship Earnslaw, jet boating on the Shotover river, Bungy jumping, white water rafting, paragliding, or a visit to the Kiwi house at the base of the Gondola to see New Zealand's national icon in the flesh. Or take a day trip to Fiordland's, Milford or Doubtful Sound.

Meals: B. No Cycling

Second 7 Days

Day 8 Queenstown - Arrival Day

Arrival day for participants doing the second 7 days only, in which case you need to arrive by 8am as we leave for Arrowtown this morning.

Day 8 Queenstown - Wanaka

An early morning visit to Arrowtown, an idyllic gold town with its lovely tree lined streets and fascinating shops, is followed by a challenging ride over the Crown Range. Stops to take on more oxygen are rewarded with fabulous views back over the Arrow basin toward Queenstown and Lake Hayes. From the Cardrona Saddle there is a great downhill into the Cardrona Valley. On your left you will pass the historic Cardrona Hotel, a relic from the gold prospecting days of the late 1800's and a worthy stop to imbibe some liquid refreshments. The final ride is along a gentle downward sloping road to Wanaka.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Queesntown to Wanaka - 81km biking

Day 9 Wanaka - Makarorav

When you think back this afternoon about where you started this morning, you may find it hard to believe that in the short distance we have covered by bike, the landscape could change so much.

Today`s trip will guide you through the hill country along lakes Hawea and Wanaka. As you travel the vegetation becomes denser until shortly before Makarora you become submerged in the dense rain forest on the boundary of the Mount Aspiring National Park. The simple A-frame motels are in a picturesque setting and the 20 minutes nature walk behind the tourist park will enthrall you.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Wanaka to Makaroa - 65km biking

Day 10 Makarora - Haast

A great day with your bike through dense rain forest, past 100 small rivers and waterfalls, that impress all. We travel to the summit of Haast Pass (563 m/1700 ft) and from there begins the pleasurable ride for 60 km along the Haast river to the sea. If unspoilt nature exists, then it is here. You are a guest of one of the youngest and also greatest National Parks in the world, which the United Nations has found as an international protected "World Heritage Park". Due to this fact this jewel of nature is virtually undisturbed. A close look into the developing stages of this landscape can be seen at the Visitors Centre of Haast, which was opened in 1991.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Makaroa to Haast - 82km biking

Day 11 Haast - Fox Glacier

Today's stretch will guide us through rain forest, the `Pakihi` swamps and along the coast. There is time for short walks and photo stops or just focus on the beauty of nature. Our goal is the small village of Fox Glacier, at the foot of the glacier of the same name. The walk to the glacier face which is almost at sea level is another experience.

Meals: B/L. Cycling from: Haast to Fox Glacier - 119km biking

Day 12 Fox Glacier - Hokitika

As we ride only 25 km to Franz Josef today, it leaves us enough time for a walk around lake Matheson (the Mirror Lake). On a clear and windless day the peaks of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are mirrored beautifully in the lake. There will be time for a 1.5 hour walk to the Franz Josef Glacier or to visit the nearby Visitors Centre for "Westland National Park".

We drive to Hokitika, an important gold and jade (Greenstone or Pounamu) town on the West Coast.

25km biking, Meals: B/L

Day 13 Hokitika - Greymouth - Christchurch

Optional morning ride to Lake Kaniere in the morning. We have the opportunity to visit a Greenstone factory and buy jade at a reasonable price. At 1 pm we have to board the TransAlpine Express in Greymouth. This train ride to Christchurch belongs to one of the best train journeys of its kind in the world.

Meals: B/L. Cycling Optional

Day 14 Christchurch - Departure

All participants will be transferred to the airport between 7am and 3.30pm.

Meals: B

Please note that your trip may differ from the above itinerary either to better suit the needs of the group, or due to circumstances beyond our control such as the weather.