Fiordland and South Coast Gravel

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Queenstown to Te Anau

   You will meet the tour in central Queenstown around 8:00 am for a bike fit. From Queenstown, you will drive the narrow lakeside road alongside Lake Wakitipu to Kingston, where you start the ride for the day on the rolling rural roads of upper Southland. The native red tussock covered hills lead you into the township of Te Anau, perched on the edge of the Fiordland National Park; your goal is the remote Five Rivers cafe for lunch and then onto Mossburn, but stronger riders can be challenged by the possibility of a metric century ride today.
   

   • 41.6 - 78.3 miles
   • Accommodation in Te Anau
   • Lunch and Dinner
2. Day 2Te Anau to Invercargill

   The morning’s ride takes you alongside the lakes of Te Anau & Manapouri before you head south through an ever-changing landscape. The stark arid mountains give way to more gentle pastures as you enter the productive Southland farm country. Small communities dot the landscape and the coastal riding becomes spectacular. This coast is exposed to southerly blasts creating some surreal windswept scenery. Gradually you will quit the farmlands and approach Invercargill where you'll stay tonight.
   

   • 37.3 - 93.2 miles
   • Invercargill Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3Invercargill to McLean Falls

   The route today skirts the beautiful and undiscovered Catlins Forest Park and coastline. The roads are quiet and the scenery diverse as the coastline increasingly becomes spectacular. The morning ride ends at beautiful Curio Bay where you will enjoy a leisurely picnic by the sea, short walks along the beach, a swim for the brave & a visit to a petrified forest on the seashore. This is a renowned wildlife area & you are likely to see the rare Hector's Dolphins, Fur Seals & Yellow Eyed Penguins.

   After lunch, there is an optional ride to your overnight accommodation near McLean Falls.
   

   • 52.8 - 71.5 miles
   • Accommodation near McLean Falls
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

   • 

     Whistling Frog, McLean Falls

     An example of one of the charming accommodation options used on tour – in lovely settings with comfortable lodgings

   • 

     Whistling Frog, McLean Falls

     An example of one of the charming accommodation options used on tour – in lovely settings with comfortable lodgings

   • 

     Whistling Frog, McLean Falls

     An example of one of the charming accommodation options used on tour – in lovely settings with comfortable lodgings

4. Day 4McLean Falls to Kaka Point

   You set out from your accommodation this morning, ready for a challenging ride with significant climbs on both paved and gravel roads. The effort is well worth it, rewarded by breathtaking views of the coastline. Skirting Catlins Lake, you cycle into the small town of Owaka, then head back to the coast on a gravel road leading to the stunning Cannibal Bay. Here, you'll take a break from the bikes to enjoy a likely trip highlight: a memorable walk along the remote and beautiful beach, passing resident sea lions on your way to Surat Bay. With the van and bikes transferred during the walk, and if time permits, there's an option for a second ride from Surat Bay through the seaside village of Kaka Point and out to Nugget Point for a short walk to the lighthouse.
   
   Cycling Stats:
   McLean Fall to Cannibal Bay: 49km, +796m (47% Paved, 53% Gravel)
   Surat Bay to Kaka Point: 36km, +441m (83% Paved, 17% Gravel)

   • 23.6 miles
   • Kaka Point Accommodation
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Kaka Point to Dunedin

   This morning, you drive through rural landscapes along the busy main road to Balclutha. From here, your ride begins, heading back to the ocean for a delightful gravel ride along the coast, followed by a challenging climb up and over to Toko Mouth, a village where the rules of normal civilization seem to have been swept out to sea!

   After lunch by the river mouth, enjoy a gentle ride along the beach to Brighton, on the outskirts of Dunedin. This cosmopolitan university town, known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand due to its rich Scottish heritage, is where you'll stay tonight. Dinner is at your leisure.
   
   Cycling Stats:
   Balclutha to Brighton: 98km, +1067m (32% Paved, 68% Gravel)

   • 60.9 miles
   • Dunedin Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
6. Day 6Dunedin Peninsula to Oamaru

   This morning, you explore the Otago Peninsula by bike. The ride has some challenges, taking you first up and over Portobello Hill, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the entire Peninsula before descending to meander along the gravel roads around Hooper and Papanui inlets, accompanied by plenty of marine birdlife. The ride then continues with some relaxing, flat sections beside the ocean, leading to the Royal Albatross Centre on the headland, the only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross in the world. You then ride back along the coast to complete a stunning loop.
   
   Cycling Stats:
   Otago Peninsula: 61km, +871m (80% Paved, 20% Gravel)

   • 36.7 - 52.2 miles
   • Oamaru Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Dinner
7. Day 7Oamaru to Christchurch

   Today, you head towards Christchurch, but not before enjoying more rural cycling. You have the option to visit the award-winning Whitestone Cheese factory in Oamaru or the nearby Riverstone Kitchen to see their amazing gardens where they grow most of their culinary produce. You start cycling from the township of Waimate, the center of an agriculturally rich community, steeped in the natural beauty of rolling farmland and native bush. You ride on quiet roads through small farmlets and communities beneath the Hunter Hills and through the Esk Valley, stopping to admire the beautiful little church of St Mary, perched on a hill in Valley. A final burst of cycling takes you to the coast and the start of the drive back to Christchurch. With good traffic flows, you should arrive in Christchurch by around 5pm.
   
   Cycling Stats:
   Waimate to St Andrews: 54km, +504m (49% Paved, 51% Gravel)

   • 20.5 - 29.8 miles
   • Breakfast