Unspoiled New Zealand - glaciers, rainforests, lakes and snowy peaks; the Southern Alps tour takes you on a breath-taking loop through some of the world's finest scenery. New Zealand was one of the last places in the world to be settled by man and it still retains a rugged, incomparable pristine beauty. "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed here on the West Coast and is rightly recognized as a World Heritage Area. The South Island is known for friendly Kiwi hospitality, excellent local cuisine and includes interesting history from the region's gold mining days. The vibrant towns of Wanaka and Queenstown- both on the shores of beautiful lakes with an alpine backdrop – make for a wonderful experience.
The South Island is known for friendly Kiwi hospitality, excellent local cuisine and includes interesting history from the region's gold mining days. The vibrant towns of Wanaka and Queenstown, both on the shores of beautiful lakes with an alpine backdrop, make for a wonderful experience. Watch a sheepdog demonstration on a real high country sheep station and experience New Zealand at a cyclist’s pace.
The tour starts in New Zealand's second-largest city Christchurch, (pop. 350,000). It’s also the country’s cycling capital and gateway to the South Island. It is an attractive city with the river Avon winding its way through the center bordered by weeping willows and has an excellent botanical garden at Hagley Park. Points of interest along the journey include Arthur’s Pass National Park with its magnificent mountain scenery, lakes, the dramatic viaduct and descent through the Otira Gorge. It is a park of contrasts, with dry beech/tawhai forest in the east, luxuriant rainforest on western slopes, and a historic highway and railway running through the middle. The park was established in 1929 and was New Zealand’s third national park and the first one on the South Island.
Further on the trip you'll encounter glow-worms, taste whitebait fritters and possibly run into the cheeky kea (a native parrot) that are known to chew bike saddles! Along the way, Westland National Park and Franz Josef Glacier will astound you with views of a dramatic glacier flowing down to a rainforest, amidst a backdrop of New Zealand’s snow-capped peaks. It’s a sight not seen often in the world.
Pedaling further south, you'll be impressed by Lake Wanaka’s spectacular location at the foot of the Southern Alps. With the wilderness of the Mt Aspiring National Park nearby it becomes a magnet for outdoor lovers.
This tour is classified as moderate with 2 challenging days. More importantly, the tour lets you witness the natural beauty that South Island has to offer.