2010 -
Southern Lakes, Mountains and Rail Trails Tour:
13 to 24 February 2010
-12 Days/11 Nights Tour.
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.
It commences with a pickup
in Christchurch and transfer by road to the start of 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
followed by some fantastic riding on the Little River
Rail Trail plus riding 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 the
impressive Moeraki Boulders.
-
Accommodation at a fantastic historic
lodge
in Dunedin
-
Transfer by train on the
historic Taieri
Gorge Railway into the heart of Central Otago
-
Riding 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
-
Visiting old gold
towns like Naseby, St Bathans and Clyde
-
Extra activities depending
on available time such as Curling and visiting New Zealand's old
and new Gold
-
A beautiful lakeside ride
into Queenstown - plenty of sight seeing and
maybe some time for a quick look at the shops
-
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 trout spotting at the Blue Pools
-
Driving the rugged West
Coast
-
A
chance to walk to the face of Fox Glacier and/or walking the
Lake Matheson Circuit renowned for its reflections of Mt
Cook
-
BBQ on the beach at
Hokitika and a ride into the ranges (weather and time dependant),
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
-
Fantastic food,
award winning vineyards, accommodation and company - 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.
Cost
is A$3145 per person*
for the land content and
includes quality accommodation (11 nights - share basis), 11 breakfasts,
11 dinners, 5 lunches, transfers and
support vehicle/trailer, guides with great local knowledge,
plus ride and mechanical support.
* Prices
are subject to change and can be impacted by rising fuel
costs and fluctuating exchange rates.
A
note about Bushranger Bikes Back
Country Cycling tours - click here.
2010 - Bushranger Bikes
Marlborough Sounds & Volcanic
Madness Tour:
27 February to 11 March
2010 -13 Days/12 Nights of pure New Zealand Mountain Biking
Magic.
This is one of our signature
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 3+ to 4 and training rides will be offered for
those located in the Brisbane area (a training calendar will
also be provided to all participants) 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 locations
like the tranquil Marlborough Sounds at the top of the
South Island and a North Island circuit that takes in
Regional Wellington mountain bike trails, Tongaririo National Park
and forest, Turangi and the Tongariro River, Lake Taupo, the
ancient Whirinaki Forest and the fantastic tracks of Redwoods in
Rotorua – a Region in the
centre of the North Island known as the
Volcanic Plateau. This
area 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.
Itinerary overview and features of this tour:
-
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.
-
Three days on the
breathtakingly beautiful Queen Charlotte Track, idyllic
accommodation in remote bays.
-
Options to ride the
mountain bike trails of Makara peak, Belmont Forest or
the Akatarawas.
-
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.
-
Ride trails amongst
hissing geysers and bubbling fumaroles - this is Craters
of the Moon.
-
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.
-
Experience the ancient forests of New Zealand riding the tracks of Whirinaki.
-
The
best mountain bike tracks in the world? Pure
Rotorua Redwoods magic - you decide.
-
Cruise
the Cook Strait between South and North Islands.
-
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 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$3395 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.
A
note about Bushranger Bikes Back
Country Cycling tours - click here.
Go on - join us on the next
fantastic New Zealand tour!
Finally,
Bushranger Tours are not hardcore mountain bike races across the
country side where the scenery is just a blur. They are
adventure rides for adventurous people, of all ages and most
skill and fitness levels. You actually get to experience the
places you travel through, meet the locals, take in the magic breathtaking
scenery of New Zealand and enjoy the cycling experience with
friends. Go on – put this tour on your to do list, then 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.
*
Prices are subject to change and can be impacted by
rising fuel costs and fluctuating exchange rates.
