Kaikoura & Molesworth High Country Cycle

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Christchurch to Kaikoura

   You'll meet with the group at a central Christchurch location at 8:00 am. Your adventure begins as you head north through the Waipara Valley wine region, known for its internationally acclaimed Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay wines. Your first bike ride takes you along quiet back roads, leading you to the North Canterbury coastline at the scenic Cathedral Rocks and rugged Gore Bay. Afterward, you arrive in Cheviot for a relaxed country lunch.

   Continuing north, you travel back to the coast where the mountains meet the ocean, arriving in Kaikoura in the late afternoon. You check into a luxurious beachfront hotel, where you will spend the next three nights. In the early evening, you reconvene for your first group dinner.

   • 23.6 miles
   • Sudima Hotel Kaikoura
   • Lunch and Dinner
2. Day 2Kaikoura Whale Watch & Cycle Trail

   After breakfast, if the early morning departure is available, you have the option to join a whale watch tour for an up-close encounter with the world's largest toothed predator, the Giant Sperm Whale. You might also spot Blue, Fin, Sei, Humpback, Minke, Pilot, Orca, and Southern Right Whales, along with Common and Bottlenose Dolphins, Elephant Seals, and Leopard Seals. The tour lasts about three hours and only operates in calm conditions.
   
   While some of you are on the whale watch tour, the rest of the group can explore the town and enjoy the stunning Kaikoura Peninsula coastal walk, which offers impressive views of rugged cliff formations, tidal platforms, and the Seaward Kaikoura Range. You all regroup for lunch before riding the newly developed Kaikoura cycle trail. This trail follows the perimeter of the plains under the towering peaks of the Kaikoura Ranges and Mt Fyffe. It features a mix of single track and quiet country roads, both gravel and paved, passing through bush and open farmland with many glimpses of the ocean from above. After the ride, you return to the hotel and are free to make your own dinner arrangements.

   • 29.8 miles
   • Sudima Hotel Kaikoura
   • Breakfast

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     Explore Kaikoura

     Spend some time exploring this wildlife-rich spot

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     Walk Kaikoura

     Take a refreshing stroll to Kaikoura peninsula

3. Day 3Inland Kaikoura Road Cycle

   Today's ride follows quiet undulating rural roads alongside the Amuri and Seawards Kaikoura Mountains. After breakfast your ride starts directly from the hotel, you'll cross the Kowhai River and head towards the hills on the Inland Kaikoura Road. Entering rolling farm country, the route soon crosses from the Kaikoura District to the Hurunui, climbing several inclines and passing over the Conway River and the historic Doone Station and gravesite. The landforms around here still show the effects of the massive November 2016 earthquake, with the road crossing faultlines and scars. From the high point at the Whale Back Saddle it is all downhill to Mt Lyford Village where the lodge will be a welcome sight for refreshments before returning to Kaikoura.

    In the late afternoon, you have free time to explore the township or take a walk on the beach before meeting with the group for dinner.

   
   
   
   

   • 37.9 miles
   • Sudima Hotel Kaikoura
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Kaikoura to Molesworth Valley

   Today, you leave Kaikoura early and drive north to the start of the Awatere Valley (approximately 1.5 hours), with a short stop at Ohau Point lookout to see fur seals on the rocks below. Over the next three days, you will travel through stunning backcountry wilderness, including the Molesworth Station, New Zealand's largest farm at 180,787 hectares. This area supports the country's largest herd of beef cattle and nearly 30 endemic plant species.
   
   Your journey to Hanmer Springs follows the Awatere River, then crosses Wards Pass to follow the Acheron River to its confluence with the Clarence River. You set off riding along the wide Awatere Valley, surrounded by vineyards. You climb up the valley through rolling farmscapes, where the road turns to gravel, and you are dwarfed by the impressive Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku (2885m) and the massive Inland Kaikoura Ranges. After a steep climb to the top of Upcot Saddle, you get a short downhill respite before another climb over a higher saddle brings you to Middlehurst Station, your comfortable accommodation in the upper valley.
   
   E-bike riders will need to use their battery power conservatively to avoid running out of power. Riders should have the fitness and skills to avoid relying on 'boost mode.' Please speak to your guides for ways to preserve battery life. No spare batteries are carried or available, but the support vehicle will always be nearby for anyone who wants a breather or to cycle a shorter distance.
   
   Tonight's farm stay has shared bathroom facilities. You will be welcomed by your hosts with platters and drinks, followed by a hearty evening meal prepared by the onsite chef.

   • 42.3 miles
   • Middlehurst Station
   • Breakfast and Dinner

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     Awatere Vineyards

     Enjoy the scenic vineyard views as you ride

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     Middlehurst Station Lodging

     Spend a few days in this superb high country spot in very comfortable accommodation

   • 

     Middlehurst Station Lodging

     Spend a few days in this superb high country spot in very comfortable accommodation

5. Day 5Middlehurst Station - 4WD Excursion

   Today, you enjoy a day at Middlehurst Station, starting with a 4WD excursion into the high backcountry. Guided by your hosts, you will learn about life on the farm, hear interesting stories, and discover the history of the property while experiencing incredible remote scenery. You stop for 'Smoko' at one of the historic musters huts and have the chance to spot wildlife grazing on the vast skylines.
   
   You return to the beautiful Middlehurst Station by mid-afternoon. Then, you have free time to relax and soak in a hot tub surrounded by the stunning mountainous environment before enjoying another delicious home-cooked evening meal.
   
   

   • 27 miles
   • Middlehurst Station
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

   • 

     Middlehurst Station Lodging

     Spend a few days in this superb high country spot in very comfortable accommodation

   • 

     Middlehurst Station Lodging

     Spend a few days in this superb high country spot in very comfortable accommodation

6. Day 6Molesworth Valley to Hanmer Springs

   After breakfast, you bid farewell to your hosts and ride into Molesworth Station, savouring the remoteness of the spectacular landscape. Leaving Middlehurst, you pass the original cob homestead built by John Murphy in 1866 and the gateway to the vast Molesworth Station. You climb to Wards Pass (1145m) and continue across the 250-hectare expanse of Isolated Flat, an outwash plain bounded by the Awatere Fault. From January to April, tall white gentian flowers and blue borage bloom colorfully among clumps of short tussock and pasture grass.
   
   Flanked by mountain ranges, the road follows the Acheron River to the historic Acheron House, built in 1863 as an overnight stopover during the early stock droving days. Upon reaching the mighty Clarence River, you drive over Jacks Pass and descend into Hanmer Springs, your destination for the night. After settling into your comfortable accommodation, you have the option to head to the thermal hot pools for a well-deserved soak in the therapeutic waters. You meet again in the evening for your final group dinner to celebrate the week's cycling achievements.

   • 49.7 miles
   • St James Apartments Hanmer Springs
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Waipara Valley and return to Christchurch

   Hanmer Springs is a hub for mountain biking and hiking, and a great place to rest, relax and enjoy the mountain air. Today you'll have a choice to ride or walk and to revisit the hot pools depending on energy levels.

   Cycle Option: Enjoy riding the tracks in Hanmer Forest, ranging from easy to more technical trails.
   

   Hiking Option: A short relaxed walk takes you through the forest to a lookout at Conical Hill.
   

   After enjoying a coffee and snack, you leave Hanmer late in the morning and head to Georges Road Winery, a boutique vineyard in Waipara, for a tasting and platter lunch. It's a perfect way to celebrate all you've experienced and achieved. Your final experience is a visit to Iron Ridge Quarry Park, a magical wonderland with stunning sculptures set against a carefully curated native garden, all under the shadow of breathtaking limestone hills. Here, you'll enjoy a guided walk hosted by the owner and sculptor, Raymond Herber. Afterward, you have a final hour's drive back to Christchurch, with an expected arrival around 5 pm and a drop-off in the city centre.
   
   

   • Breakfast and Lunch