Email a Friend - Alps to Ocean Cycle

This picturesque cycling itinerary will take you downhill from the mighty Southern Alps towards the Pacific Ocean, allowing you to experience a diverse range of landscapes and experiences on our stunning South Island. Encounter the majesty of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki Mt Cook, and the sweeping tussocklands of the Mackenzie Basin as you cycle the ancient Maori trading and food gathering routes towards the historic and vibrant coastal township of Oamaru. With superb mountain scenery as your backdrop, you'll be enchanted by picturesque canal rides past the amazing turquoise blue lakes at Tekapo, where you can soak in the hot pools, before following the flat trails towards Lake Pukaki and the alpine retreat of Twizel. This ride offers much more than just superb cycling, you'll talk with conservation staff about their Black Stilt Recovery Program, which deals with one of New Zealand's most endangered species, learn about the early history of Oamaru and also be entertained by the nightly parade of the Blue Penguins, the world's smallest! As you cycle along quiet, rural sealed roads there will also be opportunities to view ancient Maori rock art, dramatic limestone landscapes and to explore the small local communities of the Waitaki Valley.