New Zealand Biking
The South Island from Christchurch to Queenstown
"Picture the Oregon coast on one side of the road and the Tetons on the other, without a stoplight all day," says Condé Nast Traveler of the South Island’s west coast. Join Backroads for a feast of biking and beauty in this place where sheep farms rub elbows with rain forests, alpine peaks host thundering waterfalls and deserted beaches welcome crashing breakers. Each biking day underscores New Zealand's endless beauty and diversity, and just when you think it couldn't get any better, it does. To top it all off, you’ll rarely encounter people more genuine than New Zealanders.
Trip Planning Links
- Epic biking at its best in one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds
- Glaciers meet rain forest meets crashing ocean coastline
- Travel by train across the South Island
- Dramatic varied scenery, finishing in a pinot-growing wine region
- Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Punakaiki
Meet in Christchurch 
Take the famous TranzAlpine train from one side of the island to the other, enjoying views of the Canterbury Plains and the spectacular gorges of the Waimakariri River Follow the river to the Tasman Sea, where the pounding surf awaits Arrive at Punakaiki, known for its impressive ocean "geysers."
Day 2 Hokitika
Bike along the dramatic Tasman coastline, bordered by rain forest Explore the town of Hokitika, famous for pounamu (New Zealand jade).
Day 3 Franz Josef
Pedal through dense marshland, bush reserves, verdant paddocks and old-growth forests on your way to Mount Hercules and Westland National Park.
Day 4 Fox Glacier
Hike up the stunning Franz Josef Glacier, where ice meets the rain forest For the truly fit, bike the challenging Fox Hills to Fox Glacier, or skip the pedaling and get there using van and foot power.
Days 5-6 Lake Moeraki
Ride to picturesque Lake Matheson and stroll along the shore Enjoy the beauty of the coastal rain forest as you spin to Lake Moeraki Tackle coastal climbs and savor fantastic views of the Tasman Sea Walk to Munro Beach, where you can feed eels or just kick back.
Days 7-8 Lake Wanaka
Discover the waterfall-laced Haast World Heritage area on the most spectacular and challenging ride of the trip Climb Haast Pass and pedal along Lakes Makorora and Hawea en route to sapphire Lake Wanaka Opt for a scenic flight and cruise to the spectacular Milford Sound Visit beautiful Lake Hawea Station for an afternoon of sheepshearing and sheepdog demonstrations.
Days 9-10 queenstown
Follow the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers past vineyards in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing wine regions.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
The best active vacation I've ever experienced. Everybody should see New Zealand at least once in their lifetime, and this Backroads trip is the best way to do it.- Park City, UT More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For biking tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
New Zealand Biking
KIWI COMFORTS: Premiere Inns*
Punakaiki Rocks Hotel
Punakaiki (1 night) Adjacent to Paparoa National Park, enjoy the beautiful views of the dramatic Tasman Sea from your oceanfront room.
* Casual Inn
Beachfront Hotel Hokitika
Hokitika (1 night) Steps away from the beach and surrounded by views of the ocean, rain forest and Southern Alps.
* Casual Inn
Westwood Lodge
Franz Josef (1 night) Spacious, warmly finished guest rooms overlook the rugged terrain at this inviting and secluded lodge.
Te Weheka
Fox Glacier (1 night) Tastefully furnished rooms with private balconies offer expansive vistas in a stunning locale near the Fox Glacier.
Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Lake Moeraki (2 nights) Few places on Earth can match the unique natural setting of this family-run riverside hideaway in the rain forest.
Edgewater Resort Hotel
Lake Wanaka (2 nights) Enjoy the beautiful mountain and lake panoramas from the window of your well-appointed and spacious lakeshore suite.
Nugget Point Resort
Queenstown (1 night) An intimate full-service resort in a spectacular setting overlooking Shotover Gorge.
New Zealand Biking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 26 miles
- 300 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 26, 51 miles
- 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 4 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 45, 65, 82 miles
- 1500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2-3
3 Route Options Available
- Optional Hiking 2, 4 miles
- 500-1000 feet elevation gain
- Optional Biking 15 miles
- 2150 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 45, 61 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 21, 42 miles
- 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
- Optional Hiking 1.5 hours
Day 7
- Levels 3 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 40, 62, 71, 90 miles
- 1000 - 5000 feet elevation gain
Day 8
- Level 3 1 Route Option Available
- 32 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 9
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 35, 45 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 10
- Conclusion of Trip