Great West Coast Cycle

A truly memorable trip in the very capable hands of [the tour operator]. Friendly, efficient, entertaining & informative guides, a spectacular & challenging route through extraordinary country, excellent & confidence-inspiring Merida bikes, fine accommodation every night, some very good food, and the ever-present bus with water & snacks whenever you needed it. Plus the opportunity for some time off for other activities in beautiful places like Franz Josef, Wanaka & Queenstown. And all in the company of a charming & friendly group of people. Make sure you are comfortable with averaging 75kms per day over 7 days, with some significant climbing on at least 3 of those days. I would happily come back to NZ and tour again with [the tour operator]. In fact I can't wait...

Our guides, Dave and Sue, were exceptional; warm, friendly, knowledgable who went out of their way to assist us with any request. Dave's accounts of NZ and Maori history were very interesting. The side excursions, hiking to the Franz Josef glacier, or Lake Matheson, for example, were very enjoyable and a nice complement to cycling. Accommodations varied but even the simpler ones were in good locations, clean and functional.

The trip was 5 star from start to finish. Guides Sue & Dave were superb with attention to even the smallest detail. This is a classic ride. The weather and scenery were fantastic and the group of 10 gelled from the moment of the informative briefing the day before we departed. All accommodation and food was of a very high standard. I would not hesitate to recommend [the tour operator], this trip, our guides and New Zealand to any cyclist. We are already planning our return, possibly as a group in 2022.

The Great West Coast tour led by Sue and Iain was amazing- spectacular scenery, great company, delicious meals and comfortable lodgings. Sue and Iain were awesome at accommodating the various levels of cycling expertise and experience in the group, as well as changes in the weather. Each day, they shared all the necessary information about the routes, rest stops, and points of interest. I think everyone in the group was able to do as much (or as little) cycling as they wanted on any given day.

A lovely and different way to see South NZ. Roads are quiet, routes sometimes ( nicely) challenging, but you get a feel for what is doable - at your level. Accommodation was better than expected. But the 2 people who really made the ride were Iain and Sue, they looked out for everyone, had a great SOH, and were very knowledgeable about everything. The scenery was breathtaking and the guides just brought everything together plus we had an amazing group! This isn’t an easy ride, be road savvy and confident on your bike. There are some challenging narrow roads, some hairpin bends. Although you can get lifts in the pickup vehicle if you get tired, much better you prepare yourself in pre training.

The distances covered and climbs were good - quite challenging but not superhuman. The accommodations were just right - nothing fancier is needed and in several places, they were the best in town. The food was just right also. Sue and Craig made the trip enjoyable from A to Z. About the only thing we would change would be to make the first day's cycling a bit shorter (Moana to Pancake Rocks) or perhaps given a bit more time to complete it.

Wonderful trip in every way: itinerary, challenging climbs, guides, accommodations, bike rentals, additional activities, included meals, and compatible group. Sue, our main guide, was exceptional! We were very well informed on everything. She and Craig worked very well together and were delightful. My one recommendation is that the rental bikes should have compact gearing considering the 13-17% climbs. But, fortunately the climbs worked out OK and I loved them.

This wonderful trip started with a train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth - beautiful scenery and a great chance to get to know other cyclists on the trip. Daily rides were doable, with just the right amount of challenge - our guides (Bas and Sue) took extreme care to prepare us for the safest, most enjoyable route from town to town. And, if we didn't feel up for the miles or topography, the sag vehicle was always just a short distance away. Accommodations were clean and efficient, with an emphasis on giving us a real feel for New Zealand and its beauty. Meals were varied and good quality.

We completed the Great West Coast Cycle guided by Sue and Bas on December 15, 2017. The trip was just amazing. Sue and Bas planned our days well, and were extremely flexible when opportunities to improve the ride became apparent. They were both attentive to the needs of the group, and they greatly exceeded our expectations. If we return to New Zealand, we will certainly ride with them again.

Wonderful guides! They quickly determined everyone's cycling abilities and catered the amount of riding to each person. The scenery was always speculator' and we enjoyed the quirky spots they took us to for breaks and lunches as well as extra sightseeing. Some of the quirky places to stop along away were great. Who gets to hang out at a roadside stop with a giant sand fly as a sign? 1st day it would have been great to overnight at the end of the ride versus sitting in the van for 90 minutes to our hotel. The views were great on the first days ride. But the ride was cut short because of the need to to drive back to the hotel. Pack light, you have chances to do laundry along the way.

Really enjoyed the trip in so many ways. The paper maps issued each day are good but could be improved by the addition of distances on the map. (Ride with GPS) feature and by display of gradient. Dave and Pete were great. Both putting in a lot of effort into activities for us in the non-cycling time, thanks.

Definitely the best cycling holiday we have done to date. Our criteria was 'door to door' cycling with as little transfer in the bus as possible. Bikes I would suggest, as a bike mechanic, that all the bikes with caliper brakes as an upgrade. Also suggest that the crew also carry proper cable cutters and good spare cables. This trip offered us the best possible option to see the South Island after driving the North.

We had a brilliant time with superb guides, Sue and Bas, accommodating our skill range, at 69 and 68, which didn't quite measure up to the terrific riders on this trip who were in their 20s, 30s and 40s and very strong cyclists. Yet we throughly enjoyed the trip, riding most of the way with a few "bumps" up the steepest hills in the van. The motels were fine, the food good, the company excellent and the prevailing sense of humour almost as good as the stunning scenery.

It was truly a pleasure to complete the Great West Coast Cycle Tour with Chris and Rich. Their knowledge and can-do attitude along with the execution of daily plans and they roll with the punches when things just don’t seem right. I highly recommend this tour for anyone that likes an adventure, the amount of scenery change, the wonderful flora and fauna (including domestic animals), and the people on the tour as well as in the towns just always kept a smile on my face. The hotels and restaurants were downright wonderful. Thank you for recommending the tour and the timing of it couldn’t have been any better, weather was amazing…even when it rained. Thank you Rich and Chris for everything.