Bushranger Bikes New Zealand Tours: 2012

 

South Island                                        North Island

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Canterbury High Country - Central South Island

This tour is being run as a fully booked, managed, and organised trip however there will be sections of trail where the group self-guides while the support vehicle drives ahead to the next meeting point.

The inspiration for this tour came from a group of friends as we travelled and shared experiences and ideas on a North Island New Zealand tour in March 2012.  We decided that in 2013 we wanted to do it all again and explore some of my favourite trails, routes and locations in the South Island.  So here it is..........

For information on this trip and how the support arrangements will work e-mail info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Tour confirmed.  Bookings are being accepted now - info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

This Bushranger Bikes 13 day/12 night tour of New Zealand's mighty South Island is one of my 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.  Category is mountain bike/mixed - rail trail, road, bikeways and some gravel.

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 will be our launch pad into mighty Central Otago.  We wind our way through this magic part of New Zealand, including Queenstown and Wanaka and then head back up through the Canterbury High Country. We plan to explore a couple of sections of the new Alps to Ocean trail, stay on a High Country sheep station and then head to beautiful Hamner Springs - a relaxing alpine hideaway in the Canterbury High Country.  On offer here will be some flowing forest tracks to ride or ease the tired muscles in the famous thermal pools. Finally the tour finishes back in beautiful 'English influenced' Christchurch with a cruise or blast on the flowing beach trails of Bottle Lake Park.

Saddle Up - The Otago Rail Trail

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 sights 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 and MaCraes if time permits.

• Extra activities depending on available time such as Curling and 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.

• Then we take a drive back up through the Canterbury High Country, and ride a section of one of New Zealand's newest adventure cycling trails in the Mt Cook region.

•  Experience a night on a High Country Sheep Station.

• Amazing scenery - clear lakes, alpine passes and the possibility of some trout and salmon spotting.

• 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!

The Otago Rail Trail

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 on the ground baggage transfer service, local advice and vineyard visits, plus lots more - you relax and have the most magical and memorable holiday!  Please note - there will be sections of trail where the group self-guides while the vehicle moves ahead to the next meeting point.

Cost is from AU$3600 per person* for the land content and includes quality accommodation (12 nights - share basis), 12 breakfasts, 12 dinners, 5 lunches, transfers and all tour inclusions as outlined above.  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.

Tree Trunk Gorge - Central North Island

 -13 Days/12 Nights of pure New Zealand Back Country Cycling and Wine Magic.

Dates:   Early November 2013 - booking interest being accepted now -  info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Late Summer Sizzler - A new Back Country tour. This tour was so successful and so much fun in March 2012 we have decided to include it in our annual adventure timetable.

It's action packed and full on but tamed just a little (well quite a lot actually) and aimed at suiting a broader cross section of adventure cyclists and fun seekers.  Suitable for cyclists with reasonable fitness, maybe a little off-road/gravel road cycling experience and a big sense of adventure and FUN.  The difficulty rating is Grade 2+ and Bushranger will provide advice to help you prepare and build endurance in the weeks leading up to the tour.  Category is mixed - road, bikeways and some back roads and gravel.

This tour includes visits to some of New Zealand's best vineyards and wine regions - Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa - where in addition to sampling the produce we will cycle the beach front from Napier (Art Deco capital) to quaint Havelock North, visit one of New Zealand's largest apple orchards, take on a Te Mata peak gravity ride, explore the Tuki Tuki river valley, and cycle into Martinborough - one of New Zealand's renowned boutique towns and top wine regions.

Also on the agenda -  exploring Regional Wellington by mountain bike, gravity assisted downhill cruising in Tongaririo National Park (all bitumen surface), exploring some of New Zealand's new recreational cycling trails, riding easy flowing river tracks at Turangi, choose your level of excitement (easy to exhilarating) on well graded trails in Taupo – a Region in the centre of the North Island known as the Volcanic Plateau, tour the vineyards of Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa and then finishing this tour riding the historic Rimutaka Rail Trail.  Brilliant!

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.

Ted - Tackling the infamous 42 Traverse - Central North Island

Broad Itinerary overview and features of this tour:                            

Flowing out of Tree Trunk Gorge - Central North Island

Ride preparation advice will be provided prior to the tour to make sure that everyone is prepared and ready to get the most out of the tour. 

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.

Other dates and custom group tours are available, including Southeast Queensland and New Zealand mountain bike tours - please contact Bushranger - info@bushrangerbikes.com.au for more information or to discuss options.

Go on - join us on the next fantastic New Zealand tour!

My 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 my 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.
 

For more information on our tours including availability, price and inclusions contact Bushranger Bikes now info@bushrangerbikes.com.au

Central Otago Hotel - Hyde