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South Island Adventures:
Early
to Mid February
2011 - Southern Lakes, Mountains and Rail Trails Tour:
Dates to be finalised with
accommodation providers
- 12
Days/11 Nights
This
Bushranger Bikes 12 day/11 night tour of New Zealand's mighty
South Island is one of our favourites. With an easy pace
and more relaxed gradients - this tour is rated
Grade 2+ with a strong focus on
providing a balanced mix of adventure and social fun with visits
to some of New Zealand's great Central Otago vineyards.
It
commences in Christchurch and the cycling adventure starts on
the Little River Rail Trail and some fantastic riding out to the
French Akaroa district of Banks Peninsula, just south of
Christchurch. Then it's off to Scottish Dunedin in the
deep south of New Zealand which is our launch pad into mighty
Central Otago. We wind our way through this magic part of
New Zealand, including Queenstown and Wanaka to the rugged West
Coast. Back over Lewis Pass to beautiful Hamner Springs - a
relaxing alpine hideaway in the Canterbury High Country and a
great location to ride some flowing forest tracks or ease some
tired muscles in the thermal pools. Finally the tour finishes
back in beautiful 'English influenced' Christchurch with a blast
on the flowing beach trails of Bottle Lake Park.
Itinerary
overview and features of
this tour:
-
Pickup in Christchurch with
pre-tour dinner and briefing
-
You get to
ride the tranquil Little River Rail Trail and the bus meets
you at our great cafe lunch spot in the settlement of Little
River. Then it's welcome lift 'uphill' to
ride a section of the Banks Peninsula Summit Road with a
downhill adrenaline blast into beautiful 'French' Akaroa
-
A transfer day in the
Bushranger bus to Dunedin, taking in the sites of the rugged
Otago coastline including lunch at the impressive Moeraki Boulders.
-
Accommodation at a quality
motel or fantastic historic lodge in Dunedin
-
Transfer by train on the
historic Taieri Gorge Railway into the heart of Central
Otago
-
You will get to ride the full 150KMs of the
Central Otago Rail Trail though the amazing 'Big Sky
Country' of the high Otago Plains - the scenery truly is
breath taking - with baggage transfers, quality
accommodation and fantastic meals organised by Bushranger
Bikes - very relaxing and civilised
-
We can organise visits to old and new gold
towns like Naseby, St Bathans, Clyde and MaCraes if time
permits
-
Extra activities depending on
available time such as Curling and visiting New Zealand's
old and new Gold, vineyard visits and wine tasting
-
A beautiful lakeside ride into
Queenstown - plenty of sight seeing and maybe some time for
a quick look at the shops or a ride on the Skyline Gondola
-
Driving the amazing Crown
range road, staying a night at either historic Arrowtown or
Cardrona and then on to Lake Wanaka and another fantastic
lakeside ride.
-
Riding a great road section
from the top of Haast Pass for 30kms to Roaring Billy falls,
or maybe 60kms to Haast Village for the energetic
-
Clear lakes, roaring
waterfalls and the possibility of some trout and salmon spotting
-
Driving the rugged West Coast
-
We lunch at Fox and you will
have the opportunity to walk to the face
of Fox Glacier and/or walk the Lake Matheson Circuit
renowned for its reflections of Mt Cook
-
BBQ on the beach at Hokitika
plus a visit to the Greenstone (Jade) galleries
-
A transit section over Lewis
Pass, via Greymouth, with a night in beautiful Hamner
Springs in the Canterbury high country - optional ride and
/or soak in the natural springs.
-
Riding the flowing beachside
trails of Bottle Lake Forest on the northern outskirts of
Christchurch
Our trademark - fantastic food,
award winning vineyards, magic accommodation and company all
organised for you - and
lots, lots more!
This
tour is suitable to a broad range of recreational cyclists
looking for all the ingredients of a magical New Zealand cycling
adventure with achievable distances and more moderate terrain.
There will be more gravel roads and trails than bitumen, so a
mountain bike or robust hybrid with good tyres is a must.
Places on this tour will be limited to 6 to 8 people so if you
are keen, express your interest early.
Bushranger bikes organises the itinerary, accommodation, most
meals, provides bike mechanical support and advice, a support
vehicle, transfers and baggage transfer service, local advice
and vineyard visits, plus lots more - you relax and have the
most magical and memorable holiday!
Cost
is A$3295 per person*
for the land content
and includes quality accommodation (11 nights - share basis), 11
breakfasts, 11 dinners, 5 lunches, transfers and all tour
inclusions as outlined above.
Single supplement is $770**.
* Prices are
subject to change and can be impacted by rising fuel costs, GST
changes and
fluctuating exchange rates.
** Single supplement may be less depending upon room single
occupancy rates charged by accommodation providers.
A
note about Bushranger Bikes Back Country Cycling tours -
click here.
North
Island Adventures:
February/March 2011 - Bushranger Bikes
North Island Volcanic
Madness and Wine Tour:
-13 Days/12 Nights of pure New Zealand Mountain Biking
and Wine Magic - dates to be finalised with accommodation
providers.
This is one of
our new
Back
Country tours and is
suitable for cyclists with good fitness, some mountain
biking
experience and a big sense of adventure and FUN. The
difficulty rating is Grade 2+ to 3+ and training rides will be offered for
those located in the Brisbane area prior to going on
tour. This will assist to sharpen the off-road cycling
skills and build endurance in the weeks leading up to the
tour.
The tour
includes riding
some of New Zealand's best adventure trails in the North Island
in a circuit that takes in
Regional Wellington mountain bike trails, Tongaririo National Park, Turangi,
Lake Taupo, and the fantastic tracks of Redwoods
(Whaka) in
Rotorua – a Region in the
centre of the North Island known as the Volcanic Plateau.
Plus sample the epicurean delights of the Hawkes Bay and
Wairarapa wine regions, and an option to include a magic visit
to Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world - Marlborough at the top
of the South Island.
This
trip includes the North Island's highest mountains, New Zealand’s
longest river and highlights the geothermal wonderland that is
rich in Maori culture and iconically New Zealand.
Broad
Itinerary overview and features of this tour
- still subject to finalisation:
-
The scenery
is spectacular and diverse – from snow-capped mountains, roaring
streams and waterfalls, to arid desert, ancient forests, huge lakes
and
rumbling geysers & volcanoes – a clean, fresh and exciting
environment that is uniquely New Zealand.
-
Options to ride the
mountain bike trails of Makara peak or Belmont Forest
and
the cruisey Hutt River Track.
-
Take
the challenge of hammering the coastal dune trails in the Kapiti
Region overlooking the coast whilst riding under the brooding eye of Kapiti Island.
-
Ride
beside beautiful fresh lakes, roaring huge waterfalls & cross
cool mountain streams.
-
Take a
walk
across
an ancient land in the tussock and mountainous area of
Tongariro National Park - drop off and pickup and pack
lunch can be organised for you.
-
Ride an
unforgettable section of road (or two) from the highest mountain in the
North Island starting above the tree and snow line - the best
downhill scenic ride in New Zealand.
-
Ride trails amongst
hissing geysers and bubbling fumaroles - this is Craters
of the Moon.
-
The
best mountain bike tracks in the world? Pure
Rotorua Redwoods/Whaka magic - you decide.
Plus................
-
Visit the
award winning vineyards of Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa with
some great back road cycling
-
Cruise
the Cook Strait between South and North Islands if the
Marlborough wine region is included.
-
Stay in great
resort & mountain lodge style accommodation.
-
Experience
fantastic food from cafes and restaurants like Pihanga on the
Mountain or 'The Station' in National Park.
-
Great company, fun
and lots,
lots more!
In
the style of tours to places like the Kokoda Track we will be
offering preparation mountain bike rides and wine tasting to those located in the Brisbane
area prior to the tour to make sure
that everyone is prepared and ready to get the most out of the
tour – all included in the tour price.
Bushranger Bikes tours are small and intimate, where you get
personal attention, so places on this tour will be limited to 6 to 8 people.
If
you are keen, express your interest early to avoid
disappointment.
Cost
is A$3645 per person*
for the land content and
includes quality accommodation (12 nights - share basis),
12 breakfasts, 12 dinners, 6 lunches, transfers and
support vehicle/trailer, guides with great local knowledge,
plus ride and mechanical support.
Single supplement is $840**.
* Prices are subject to change and can be impacted by
rising fuel costs, GST changes and fluctuating exchange rates.
** Single supplement may be less depending upon room single
occupancy rates charged by accommodation providers.
A
note about Bushranger Bikes Back
Country Cycling tours - click here.
Go on - join us on the next
fantastic New Zealand tour!
Our tours are not hardcore bike races across the
country side where the scenery is just a blur. They are
adventure rides for adventurous people, of all ages with
something for riders of all
skills and fitness levels. You actually get to experience the
places you travel through, take in the magic, breathtaking
scenery of New Zealand, Victoria and Southeast Queensland, and enjoy the cycling experience with
friends. Go on – put one of our tours on your to do list, put a tick
beside it and contact Bushranger today for more information –
info@bushrangerbikes.com.au
Please Note:
Bushranger Bikes reserves the right to cancel the tour or
change tour content and trails ridden without prior notice
depending upon participant numbers, weather conditions and
other variables to ensure the safety and fun factor of our
tours.
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