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Paradise Plus 19 Day North and South Island Bicycle Tour
offered by supplier M07701 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 20
day(s)
Group Size: 6
- 13
people
Destination(s):
New Zealand
Specialty Categories:
Bicycle Touring
Season: October - April
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 4560 New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 4560 New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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New Zealand offers a diversity of landscape from volcanoes, hot springs, fast flowing rivers, alluvial plains, native forests alive with the sound of native bird song, to impossibly rugged, snow covered Alps and deep, sheer sided Fiords. Where else can you find such variety in a country roughly the size of Great Britain? As one client put it "Yesterday was amazing, I just couldn't imagine today being better, yet it was!" (Dennis Hill) He was still saying that after 21 days!
New Zealand is sparsely populated, with only 3.8 million people. Its roads are generally quiet and the scenery spectacular; a combination which makes it a perfect cycling destination. It is through this constantly changing, uncluttered countryside that you will cycle, your senses invigorated by the sights and sounds of your surroundings.
A combined bus and cycle tour ensures that you can cycle the highlights of both Islands in a relatively short time. You will cycle approximately 850 km, however you are always welcome to ride in the support vehicle whenever you feel the need.
Experience has taught us that it's best not to overdo the first couple of days. Stop when you feel you have done enough, over doing those first few days could spoil your holiday!
Day 1 Arrival in Auckland, transfer and city sightseeing tour
Day 2 Auckland - Whitianga: 251 km, 61 km cycling Clevedon-Miranda
Day 3 Rest day in Whitianga: hiking, swimming, kayaking, Hot Water beach
Day 4 Whitianga - Rotorua: 245 km, 57 km cycling Hikuai-Waihi
Day 5 Rotorua - Tongariro National Park: 181 km, 49 km cycling Turangi-National Park
Day 6 Rest day in the Tongariro National Park: hiking, kayaking, horse riding
Day 7 Tongariro National Park - Wanganui: 125 km, 91 km cycling Raetihi-Wanganui
Day 8 Wanganui - Wellington: 195 km
Day 9 Wellington - Marahau: Ferry crossing, 183 km, 35 km cycling Picton-Havelock
Day 10 Relaxing in Marahau: tramping, sea kayaking, swimming
Day 11 Marahau - Westport: 240 km, 65 km cycling Lyell-Westport
Day 12 Westport - Hokitika: 155 km, 65 km cycling Charlston-Runanga
Day 13 Hokitika - Fox Glacier: 136 km, 63 km cycling Hari Hari-Franz Josef
Day 14 Fox- Haast: 142 km, 52 km cycling Bruce Bay-Ships Creek
Day 15 Haast - Wanaka: 81 km cycling
Day 16 Wanaka - Queenstown: 81 km, 56 km cycling Wanaka-Arrowtown
Day 17 Rest day in Queenstown: hiking, Bungy jumping, rafting, jet boating
Day 18 Queenstown - Twizel: 236 km, 66 km cycling Lindis Pass-Twizel
Day 19 Twizel - Christchurch: 281 km, 57 km cycling Twizel-Tekapo, sightseeing Christchurch
Day 20 Airport transfer and departure.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Auckland - Arrival
All tour members will be met at the airport and transported to their accommodation. After a chance to freshen up there will be a short sightseeing tour of the city.
Day 2:
Auckland - Whitianga
Leaving Auckland, 'the city of Sails' behind, you will ride along the amazing coast road from Kawakawa Bay to Thames and then on to the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula to Whitianga.
Day 3:
Whitianga
Whitianga has much to offer, from kayaking, riding and hiking some of the local bush walks, to an excursion to Hot Water Beach, so named because a hot spring bubbles up through the sand, making it a lovely warm place to relax at low tide and watch swimmers enjoying the surf.
Day 4:
Whitianga - Rotorua
Eastwards from the Coromandel Peninsula lies the `Bay of Plenty`. The coastal road threads its way between the rugged Coromandel range to our right and the coast, littered with beautiful beaches on our left. At Tauranga we head inland and travel through the Kaimai - Mamaku Forest to the shores of Lake Rotorua, famous for its active wonderland of geysers, hot springs and boiling mud pools.
Day 5:
Day 5 Rotorua - Tongariro National Park
Following state highway 1 from Rotorua, we head south toward New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo. We follow its shores to Turangi at its southern end, before joining highway 47 which takes us past Lake Rotoaira and up onto the Volcanic Plateau. En route there are spectacular views of Lake Taupo to the North, and Mounts Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu to the south.
Day 6:
Tongariro National Park
Leave the cycle on the trailer, rest your posterior and hit the trail! The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand's premier day walks, taking you on a fascinating journey of discovery through a variety of vegetation zones, over scoria scattered moon scapes, past the most beautiful turquoise blue lakes, solidified molten rock statues, boiling hot springs and offers some spectacular panoramas over the surrounding countryside.
Other options include: horse riding and wild river rafting.
Day 7:
National Park - Wanganui
Enough of Volcano's and the like, it's time to head for the coast. We ride along the western side of the Tongariro National Park, before leaving it behind at Raetihi. Here we follow the Mangawhero River along highway 4 to Wanganui, one of New Zealand's oldest towns. Nestled on the plains near the mouth of the river which gave the city its name, it is famous for its many mature gardens, earning it the appropriate nick name of the "Garden City".
Day 8:
Wanganui - Wellington
A coastal journey through lush, rolling pastoral land slowly changes as the bush clad Tararua range rises to our left, narrowing the plains until they all but disappear at Waikanae. In the afternoon there is a short sightseeing tour around New Zealand`s capital, euphemistically known as the "Windy City", if you are unlucky, you may learn why!
Day 9:
Wellington - Marahau
First up is a 3 1/2 hour ferry journey across Cook strait. We enter the South Island via Tory channel and Queen Charlotte Sound. From Picton we take the beautiful Queen Charlotte Drive to Havelock which lies at the head of the Pelorous Sound. Nelson, New Zealand's sunniest town makes a perfect place for a break, before we head on to Marahau, through one of New Zealand's premier fruit growing areas.
Day 10:
Marahau
Today's program could be hiking, kayaking or just relaxing with a good book. The start of the famous Abel Tasman Coastal walk lies only a few minutes away and offers a lovely, easy graded track on which you can explore some of the native forest and sandy beaches.
Day 11:
Marahau - Westport
Variety is the theme for today. Starting on the coast you will traverse Pine forests planted for milling, native forests, the Kahurangi National park, New Zealand's newest and the gorgeous Buller gorge, with its deep, slow flowing waters contrasting against the lush vegetation of the native forest. As you travel westwards note how the trees change, the forest becomes denser and damper and takes on a sub-tropical, rainforest look. Don't forget to duck as you go through Hawks crag!
Day 12:
Westport - Hokitika
Today there is enough time for a walk to the small seal colony at Cape Foulwind, near Westport, or to take a walk in the forest in the Paparoa National Park. The ride is along the spectacular coastal road to Punakaiki, famed for its blow holes and pancake rocks, so named because the sand and limestone formations look like, well stacked pancakes! You aren't going to want to leave here, but Hokitika beckons, with a Greenstone factory tour and the opportunity to buy jade carvings and jewellery at reasonable prices. Pounamu is the Maori name for Greenstone and was important to them for weapons and pendants, with tribes making arduous treks through the Alps to search for it. In the evening enjoy a pleasant stroll along the beach and watch the sun set into the sea.
Day 13:
Hokitika - Fox Glacier
In the 1860's the Westcoast experienced a frantic rush for Gold, with towns rising and falling in a matter of months. Ross, which we will travel through today was one such town, but unlike most it survived. Today it serves as a rural service town and centre for a small open caste gold mine, situated beside the town. After leaving Ross the flora begins to change, from open pastoral land to dense rainforest. The road twists and turns as it seeks passage through this almost impenetrable forest and unforgiving, rugged countryside. The Southern Alps increasingly dominate the landscape, squeezing the coastal plain until it almost disappears in places. An afternoon or evening visit to the Glacier viewing platform is a must!
Day 14:
Franz Josef Glacier - Haast
The southward journey becomes more spectacular, the Alps are higher, the coast more rugged. The road snakes its way through forest, over rivers and across farmland. Make sure you take lots of deep breaths, the air, tinged with a mixture of sea and bush is something else!
Haast is situated in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand's largest at 1,252,297 ha. Its world importance was recognised by UNESCO when it gave it "World Heritage" status. Much of the native bush here remains unmodified and is well worth exploring, along with a visit to the local Visitors Centre, which has excellent displays showing how the land has evolved.
Day 15:
Haast -Wanaka
Todays is contrast exemplified! From the confines of the steep river valleys of the west to the wide open river valleys of the east. What begins as an almost flat ride slowly steepens as you enter the Haast River valley, past Thunder Falls, through the Gates of Haast where the waters of the Haast river tumble past huge boulders carelessly strewn about the river bed. A steady climb follows as you ascend the newest alpine road to transect the Southern Alps, your goal the 563 m (1700 ft) Haast Pass. Once there your reward is an exhilarating downhill run into the Makarora River valley.
Day 16:
Wanaka - Queenstown
A relatively easy day, firstly to Cromwell, which sits beside New Zealand's newest lake, Lake Dunstan, through a pleasant rural landscape dotted with sheep, cattle, and numerous fruit orchards. Through the Kawarau Gorge, where the waters of Lake Wakatipu charge headlong towards Lake Dunstan. We make a detour to Arrowtown, another old Gold mining town, before heading on to Queenstown.
Day 17:
Queenstown - Activity day!
Queenstown, the Kiwi St.Tropez!. This place is an outdoor adventurers playground. Options: A day trip to Fiordland's, Milford or Doubtful Sound.
Local activities: Shopping, Gondola ride to the Skyline restaurant and viewpoint, 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 to see New Zealand's national icon in the flesh.
Day 18:
Queenstown - Twizel
Heading out of Queenstown we once again follow the Kawarau River through its gorge, past vineyards well situated to catch the sun on either side of the road. We travel north, across Lake Dunstan and head toward Lindis Pass, the southern entrance to the MacKenzie Basin, so named after the antics of a sheep stealer by the name of James McKenzie who was caught with 1,000 stolen sheep in 1855 headed for the basin. The area is now famous for its Merino sheep and Hydro Electric Power System which consists of 6 lakes joined by canals, some of which we will travel along on our way . On a clear day you will be treated to magnificent views of New Zealand's highest Mountain, Mt Cook or Aorangi.
Day 19:
Twizel - Christchurch
We leave the MacKenzie Basin via the 200 m Burke Pass and travel on a road which traverses the rich, rolling farmland of South Canterbury, to the small rural town of Fairlie. We take a break at the "The Farm Barn" and enjoy the lovely views over Fairlie and its hinterland. After a long descent we put the bikes back on the trailer for the last time and head for Christchurch.
For those with enough energy there will be a short city tour, including a drive round the summit road of the Port Hills, a stop at the "Sign of the Takahe" to enjoy magnificent views over the city to Pegasus Bay and across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.
Day 20:
Christchurch - Departure
Airport transport .
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Accommodation Supplement: NZD$ 1080
Includes tourguide, back up vehicle, luggage transfer, ferry crossing.
Bike hire not included.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Bicycle Touring
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