"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. 

KIWI COMFORTS: Premiere Inns

Punakaiki Rocks Hotel (1 night): Adjacent to Paparoa National Park, enjoy the beautiful views of the dramatic Tasman Sea from your oceanfront room.

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

Westwood Lodge (1 night): Spacious, warmly finished guest rooms overlook the rugged terrain at this inviting and secluded lodge.

Te Weheka (1 night): Spacious well-appointed guest rooms and expansive vistas in a stunning locale near the Fox Glacier.

Wilderness Lodge 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 (2 nights): Enjoy the beautiful mountain and lake panoramas from the window of your well-appointed and spacious lakeshore suite.

Nugget Point Resort (1 night): An intimate full-service resort in a spectacular setting overlooking Shotover Gorge.

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

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
Level 1	2-3 hours	10-20 mile	2-5 miles
Level 2	2-4 hours	21-30 miles	5-7 miles
Level 3	3-5 hours	31-40 miles	7-9 miles
Level 4	4-6 hours	41-55 miles	9-11 miles
Level 5	5-7+ hours	56-75+ miles	11-13+ miles

2008 DATES

CLASSIC TRIPS

• 12/20-29Price: $4498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1100 for sgl. occ.)

2009 DATES

CLASSIC TRIPS

• 1/10-19Price: $4898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1100 for sgl. occ.)
• 1/24-2/2Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 2/11-20Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 3/7-16Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 11/21-30Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/20-29Price: $5198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)

SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS

• 3/21-30Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1100 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/31-1/9Price: $5198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)

2010 DATES

CLASSIC TRIPS

• 1/9-18Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 2/8-17Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 3/6-15Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 11/20-29Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/19-28Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)

SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS

• 1/23-2/1Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 3/20-29Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/31-1/9Price: $5098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1080 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

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

I recently traveled with Backroads to New Zealand, and I believe it was one of the defining vacations of my life (and I have probably been on several thousand vacations in my life). Two reasons it was so terrific were the leaders. Both represented Backroads at its best: attentive, gentlemanly, athletic, sensitive to the guests' needs, and always there when you needed them.

August Cosentino - New York, NY