Wishbone Relay - Around the Mountains

We will meet our guides in central Queenstown at 8:00am for a tour briefing and a bike fitting. Our warm up ride takes us along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, following the Queenstown Trail to the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge, where Lake Wakatipu flows into the Kawarau River. We continue past impressive lakeside mansions and numerous jetties and beaches until reaching the Sculpture Trail at Kelvin Heights. Be sure to watch out for the Wakatipu Kuikui, a figure with wild hair blowing in the wind and magnificent views out over the lake. We then transfer the short distance to the historic railway town of Kingston where we start the Around The Mountains Cycle Trail. Weaving our way through the pretty rural Mataura valley, surrounded by the Hector and Eyre mountains towards Garston and Athol, we cross a number of suspension bridges called the Golden Gate bridges. Our ride today ends at Five Rivers where there is a cafe and gallery for us to visit before we drive to our accommodation in Lumsden where we will meet Perry and Ian who have cycled north from Bluff. We meet in the evening again for our first group dinner. Cycling Distance: Queenstown Trail to Kelvin Heights - 16km Kingston to Five Rivers - 48km

Meals:  L,D

This morning we transfer back to Five Rivers to continue the Around the Mountains Trail. We pass through rich farm lands by the banks of the Oreti River, to complete the section to Lumsden and then carry on along a mix of old railway line and well-graded track, threaded between the highway and farmland to Mossburn. Mossburn is known as the deer capital of New Zealand and a lunch stop at Bracken-Hall allows us to sample the region's famous venison pies and 'Southland sushi'. This afternoon we continue to follow the Oreti River on purpose built trail, with views towards the imposing Fiordland mountains. At Centre Hill we have the option to load up the bikes and return to Mossburn or for those wanting a longer ride, we can return the same way back along the trail. We meet again in the early evening for our well earned dinner. Cycling Distance: Five Rivers to Mossburn - 35km Mossburn to Centre Hill - 23km

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast we set off riding from Centre Hill, where we finished yesterday towards the Mavora Lakes. This section of trail is not complete and we need to bike on a gravel road. The road can be busy and dusty, so there is the option to ride in the van. We then drive to Manapouri where we are dwarfed by the mountains looming all around us and there is no question that we are on the edge of the wonderfully remote Fiordland National Park. Our second ride takes us along the new Lake to Lake Trail connecting Lake Manapouri with Lake Te Anau, following the glistening Waiau River. We transfer to Te Anau and our accommodation, tonight we celebrate taking part on our 4 day adventure with Perry at our final group dinner. Cycling Distance: Centre Hill to Mavora Lakes - 35km Lake to Lake Trail - 20km

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we leave Te Anau and after a short drive we cycle from the hidden Mavora Lakes, a site of scenes from Lord of the Rings. We ride by the lakes and through the beech forest before continuing on to the colourful Von Valley. There is a real sense of isolation and the huge mountain and tussock landscape is vast. We farewell our supporting coach as we cycle downhill to the shores of Lake Wakatipu and Mount Nicholas station. Here we are greeted with stunning views of alpine peaks and snow covered Mount Earnslaw at the head of the lake. We follow the lakeside trail to Walter Peak Station, where we enjoy a celebratory drink in the historic homestead. We then board the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamer and cross Lake Wakatipu, returning us to Queenstown in the early evening. It's time to say a sad farewell as we pick you up from the wharf and drop you off in the central city, and Perry and Ian continue on their journey northwards. Cycling Distance: Mavora Valley to Walter Peak Station - 55km

Meals:  B,L