The 180km Around The Mountains Trail explores some of New Zealand’s most secluded high-country and rustic settings.
The inspiring and diverse trail offers a mix of agricultural hinterland and Queenstown, the country’s premier alpine resort. Riders can enjoy mountain ranges, lake and valley vistas and Kiwi hospitality in charming country towns.
The 4-5 day journey begins with a cruise on the iconic TSS Earnslaw steamship from Queenstown to Walter Peak Station. Riders pedal on through the stunning Von Valley to the remote Mavora Lakes.
Following the route of the Kingston Flyer railway at the southern most tip of Lake Wakatipu, riders take in the Eyre Mountains, and the towns of Garston, Athol, Lumsden and Mossburn via a wide smooth trail.
Suitable for the reasonably fit and capable, riders can expect a few rough surfaces and hills. With good preparation it makes for a great adventure.
We've added the best sections of the Around the Mountains Trails to our multi-adventure; Milford Sound and Fiordland Hike Bike and Kayak below. E-bikes available.
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Cyclists need to be confident riding on uneven surfaces and aware that this surface reduces cycling speeds. The trail is wide, which means that you can be sociable and ride alongside others.
Parts of the trail is on a gravel road. Cyclists need to be comfortable riding on rougher gravel surfaces including graded roads and deeper gravel.
Most of the sealed roads are quiet back-roads. Cyclists need to be aware of the road rules and able to cope with small amounts of traffic.
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As a general rule, November to April are the most ideal months for cycling the Around the Mountains 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 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.
Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.
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.
We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.
Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.