At 301km, the Alps 2 Ocean is New Zealand’s longest continuous cycle trail, taking you from the base of the mighty Southern Alps to the vibrant coastal town of Oamaru.
From New Zealand’s highest mountain – Aoraki/Mt Cook, to the turquoise hydro-lakes and tussock-lands of the Mackenzie Country and lush farmland of the Waitaki Valley, few cycle trails offer the diversity and variety of spectacular landscapes. Start your ride from Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and enjoy a heli-flight over the Tasman River. Or set off from Lake Tekapo and follow the canals before descending down to meet the rest of the trail at Lake Pukaki.
Along the way, small towns and rural settlements offer friendly pubs and cafés as well as unique and local accommodation to relax after a day on the bike. There's plenty to do off the bike as well. Soak in steaming hot tubs, enjoy a wine tasting in one of the Waitaki vineyards, star gaze under the most incredible night sky, and explore the towering clay cliffs.
Take a look at our exciting range of itineraries including electric bikes through this stunning part of New Zealand and start planning your Alps 2 Ocean Cycling holiday!
From
From IntroductoryTo Challenging
6Days
Moderate
15Days
7Days
8Days
45% of the Alps 2 Ocean trail is compacted gravel. Cyclists need to be confident riding on uneven surfaces and aware that riding on this surface will reduce cycling speeds. There are some narrow cattle-stop grates, and “chicanes” (s-shaped safety gateways).
There are a few short road sections. It’s particularly well suited to younger, older, and less experienced riders, with the security of small towns never far away.
18% of the Alps 2 Ocean trail is gravel road. This is manageable for most, however cyclists need to be comfortable riding on rougher gravel surfaces including graded roads and deeper gravel.
6% of the Alps 2 Ocean trail is rough shingle. This can include rocks and rough terrain. Some cyclists will choose to walk these sections.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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As a general rule, November to April are the most ideal months for cycling the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.
The temperature during the South Island summers range from 10-30 ºC, with a pleasant 40- 50% humidity. New Zealand’s weather can frequently change with amazing rapidity. Because the weather can change so unexpectedly you should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. This basically means having a good waterproof jacket and some warm clothing. You don’t need to bring your winter wardrobe but a good fleece/jumper and good thermals are a must.
Come spring, the weather is starting to warm up, the flowers start to bring colour to the trail and there are less people around meaning uninterrupted views. – There is a higher chance of rain, however the spring flowers can often make up for that.
Summer is a great time to ride the trail. The trail is buzzing with people, the Lupin’s are in bloom, the days are hot but not too hot for cycling and the daylight hours are longer meaning more time to explore.
Crisp sunny days, long fine spells of weather and cooler temperatures make Autumn a great time to ride the trail. The summer crowds have moved on and autumn shows its true colours as the changing leaves transform the landscape into a golden paradise.
New Zealand is +12 hours ahead of UTC/GMT
New Zealand has 3 official languages: English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.
New Zealand’s multi-ethnic society means that around 150 additional languages are spoken by different communities.
Maori language takes its roots from Eastern Polynesia, however, following settlement in New Zealand by Polynesian groups from the 13th century, Maori developed as a unique language distinct from other Polynesian languages. At the time of New Zealand’s 2013 Census, there were 148,395 Maori language speakers. Maori language is spoken mainly in the North Island, where the bulk of New Zealand’s Maori population resides.
New Zealand Dollar
There are opportunities to change money at banks during the tour or you may wish to change it when arriving at the airport.
In some of the rural areas that we visit there aren’t any banks and sometimes when there is a bank it could be shut when we arrive.
ATM machines are widespread throughout New Zealand, except when travelling through rural areas such as the West Coast.
Visa and Master card are the most widely accepted credit cards and we would recommend them for most expenses. American Express has limited use in NZ and it is only accepted in some centres.
A currency converter you may find helpful is www.xe.com.
+64
Electricity in New Zealand is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is I. (Aust - 3 flat prong).
Visas are not required for passport holders from the following countries visiting New Zealand for a stay of up to 3 months; Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom
However you should possess:
A passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your departure from New Zealand
An onward or return ticket to a country you have permission to enter
Sufficient money to support yourself during your stay
For all other nationalities and longer stays please contact the relevant embassy.
Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.
We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.