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Route Rating Level 3 to Level 5

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

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Premiere Inns
  • From $4,498
    To $5,198 pp dbl. occ.
  • Scenic flights, boat cruise, bungee jump not included in trip price.
  • (+From $1,080 To $1,100
    for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

10 DAYS, 9 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 2 lunches and 2 dinners.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Christchurch, New Zealand/Queenstown, New Zealand

Special Interest

Cruise, Exotic Adventure, Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Rainforest Exploration, Tropical/Winter Sunshine

My Backroads

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

New Zeland Biking

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. 

View other trips in Asia & the Pacific

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 coastline, bordered by rain forest Explore the town of Hokitika, famous for pounamu (New Zealand jade).

Day 3 Franz Josef

Pedal through old-growth forests and over Mount Hercules to Westland National Park.

Day 4 Fox Glacier

Hike up to the stunning Franz Josef Glacier, where ice meets the rain forest or bike down to the coast at Okarito  For the truly fit, take on the challenging Fox Hills on your bike or hop in the van and hike to Fox Glacier.

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 pedal to Lake Moeraki  Hike to Munro Beach or explore ancient forests on foot.

Days 7-8 Lake Wanaka

Discover the waterfall-laced Haast World Heritage area on the most spectacular 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.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

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.
Bradford Bond - Park City, UT

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All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the New Zealand tour experts. For biking tours in Asia & the Pacific, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Asia & the Pacific biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific 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.

Beachfront Hotel

Hokitika (1 night): Steps away from the beach and surrounded by views of the ocean, rain forest and Southern Alps. 

* With 1 Casual Inn night

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): Spacious well-appointed guest rooms and 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 New Zealand Biking

Edgewater Resort Hotel

New Zealand Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 2 2 Route Options Available
  • 22, 26 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
  •  25, 50 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 4 to 5 2 Route Options Available
  • 45, 84 miiles
  • 1500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • Optional Morning Ride 17, 34 miles
  • 500 -1000 feet elevation gain
  • Level 5 1 Route Option Available
  • Optional Afternoon Ride 14 miles
  • 2000-2500 feet elevation gain
  • Optional activities
Day 5
  • Levels 3 to 4  2 Route Options Available
  • 37, 55 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 3 1 Route Option Available
  • Optional ride 19 miles
  • 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Optional hike 4.5 miles
Day 7
  • Levels 4 to 5  3 Route Options Available
  • 51, 75, 112 miles
  • 2000 - 4500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Optional activities
  • Level 3 1 Route Option Available
  • 32 miles
  • 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 9
  • Level 4 1 Route Option Available
  • 46 miles
  • 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 10
  • Conclusion of Trip
New Zealand Biking New Zealand Biking

Trips 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 Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
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