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BICYCLE NEW ZEALAND |
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“Bright New Zealand”
Day One: Christchurch You will be met this morning at the airport and transferred to your accommodation. In the early afternoon, we will introduce you to the sights of picturesque Christchurch. The tour will include 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, the Southern Alps and the South Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the evening’s meal and the company of your fellow cyclers in the pleasant ambiance of a local Christchurch restaurant.
Meal: Dinner Destinations visited: Christchurch
Day Two: Christchurch – Geraldine This morning we leave the “Garden City” and drive south to experience the open beauty of the vast Canterbury Plains. Through the rolling hills, we arrive at the small town of Geraldine, reminiscent of an English country village. We’ll then cycle through the Kakahu Forest and steadily climb to a rest place - "The Farm Barn" – to take in the outstanding views of Fairlie and the surroundings. A small pass will bring us into the “Mackenzie Country” where we’ll finally reach the turquoise glacier lake of Tekapo.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destinations visited: Geraldine to Tekapo Distance cycled: 41 km/ 25.4 miles
Day Three: Lake Tekapo - Queenstown Lake Tekapo is part of a large hydro-energy project where six lakes are joined by canals. We ride alongside these awesome canals to Lake Pukaki, where, on a clear day there are breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks in the distance. If we are lucky, we will see "Aoraki", or "Mount Cook”, the highest mountain in New Zealand. Our van will then escort us through the McKenzie Plain (famous for its Merino sheep) to Omarama (renowned as a gliding centre) and onwards to Queenstown. After winding our way through the Kawarau Gorge (an area that is steeped in goldmining history) we stop at one of the famous wineries in the Gibbston Valley, before arriving at the resort town of Queenstown.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destinations visited: Lake Tekapo to Queenstown Accomplished: 33km/ 20.4 miles
Day Four: Queenstown Loop Queenstown is the outdoor adventurer's capital of the world! This is a free day and the optional activities are too numerous to list in full, but choices include taking the gondola ride to the Skyline restaurant, viewpoint, and luge ride. Or opt for a lake cruise aboard the historic steamship Earnslaw, with activity options including: jet boating on the Shotover River, bungy jumping, white water rafting and paragliding. Or choose to visit the Kiwi house at the base of the gondola to see New Zealand's national icon. Perhaps take a day trip to Fiordlands, Milford or Doubtful Sound.
Meals: Breakfast/ Dinner
Day Five: Queenstown - Wanaka We will begin with a 10km drive to Arrowtown - a historical gold mining town with fascinating shops spread along lovely tree-lined streets. Later in the morning, we’ll hop on our bikes for a challenging ride over the Crown Range, and enjoy fabulous views over the Arrow basin toward Queenstown and Lake Hayes. From the Cardrona Saddle, it’s a splendid downhill into the Cardrona Valley. The historic Cardrona Hotel, a worthwhile stop, is a relic from the gold prospecting days of the late 1800's and has much of the area's history is on display. Finish the day’s ride with a gentle downward sloping road to Wanaka. If there is time, we can visit one of the new wineries located in this very scenic area.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destinations visited: Arrowtown to Wanaka Distance cycled: 51 km/ 31.6 miles
Day Six: Wanaka - Franz Josef Glacier We get an early start on our bikes this morning and ride from our accommodation along the edges of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. As we travel west, the vegetation becomes increasingly dense until we become submerged in the lush rain forest on the boundary of the Mount Aspiring National Park, just before Makarora. Taste the essence of this unspoiled and exquisitely preserved area. We then continue by vehicle over the Haast Pass and onwards to the sea. Farther north along the coastal road, we’ll reach our destination of Franz Josef Glacier - at the foot of the Southern Alps - where we’ll walk to the glacier face.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destinations visited: Wanaka to Makaroa Distance cycled: 65 km/ 40.3 miles
Day Seven: Franz Josef Glacier - Greymouth - Punakaiki We continue our coastal drive north to Ross, a rural service town and center for a small open caste gold mine which is situated beside the town. Farther along, we’ll stop at Hokitika to visit a Greenstone factory, an ideal place to purchase some beautiful jade. From Greymouth, we’ll ride our bikes to our destination of Punakaiki. In the evening, enjoy a pleasant stroll along the beach and watch the sun set into the sea.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destinations visited: Greymouth to Punakaiki Distance cycled: 45 km/ 27.9 miles
Day Eight: Punakaiki Punakaiki, which is famed for its blowholes and “pancake rocks”, was so named because the sand and limestone formations look like well stacked pancakes! We will have a full day to explore this area, spending some time at the rocks, and enjoying scenic walks. Later in the afternoon, if weather permits, you may go kayaking, or maybe just take time out to relax and enjoy the beauty of the area from one of the numerous cafes.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Destination visited: Punakaiki Resorts
Day Nine: Punakaiki - Greymouth - Christchurch This morning there is time for more walking or caving (optional) before we drive to Greymouth to board the TransAlpine Express at 1pm. This train ride to Christchurch is easily one of the best train journeys of its kind in the world. Traveling via Arthur’s Pass to the East Coast we arrive back in Christchurch that evening where your tour finishes.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch Accomplished: Total Satisfaction! |
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