Alps 2 Ocean · classic 7 day
Seven self-guided days from the turquoise of Lake Tekapo to the Pacific at Oamaru, with the logistics handled end to end.
Self-guided
7 days, 6 nights
Christchurch to Oamaru, bus finish to Dunedin or Christchurch
Grades 2 to 3
Daily rides 38 to 82 km
From $1,799 per person
The Alps to Ocean is New Zealand's great long ride, from the big skies and turquoise lakes of the Mackenzie Basin, down the Waitaki Valley to the Pacific Ocean at Oamaru. Our Classic self-guided tour runs over seven days. The InterCity bus carries you from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo. Your bags travel ahead each day. Every bed is booked, and your bike is fitted to you at the trailhead. You ride the trail; we take care of everything else.
This itinerary is for riders who enjoy a full day in the saddle. The distances build through the week to one final ride into Oamaru. If you’d prefer to split the final day into 2 shorter riding days, take a look at our eight-day itinerary> It follows the same trail at a gentler pace.
Which Alps 2 Ocean suits you?
We run the trail two ways, and the honest difference is rhythm. The classic, this page, is seven days with riding days of 38 to 82 kilometres: the full trail with momentum, finishing in Oamaru with a bus to Dunedin or back to Christchurch. The 8-day spreads the same trail across shorter days, adds a night in the Waitaki farmland at Tokarahi, and suits riders who would rather arrive early and wander than ride long. Same trail, same beds-booked-bags-moved support, different pace. If the 82 kilometre final day of the classic makes you hesitate, that is your answer: take the 8-day >
Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo. No riding.
The InterCity bus leaves central Christchurch and has you in Tekapo by lunchtime. The afternoon is yours: the Mt John summit circuit earns its coffee, the Dark Sky Project earns its reputation, and an Aoraki/Mt Cook sightseeing flight can be arranged, none of them included in the tour price. The evening is yours too.
Stay: The Godley Hotel or Lake Tekapo Village Motel. Meals: none included today.
Day 2: Lake Tekapo to Twizel. 54 km, Grade 2.
Meet our partner in Tekapo for your bike fitting, wave your bags off to Twizel, and ride: golden tussock, the surreal blue of the canals, and one of the trail's great lookouts over Lake Pukaki to Aoraki/Mt Cook, before the wide open run across Pukaki Flats into Twizel.
Stay: The Alps Motel or The Lakes Motel. Meals: none included today.
Day 3: Twizel to Lake Ohau. 38 km, Grade 2.
Easy riding along the canals to the edge of Lake Ohau, where the off-road trail begins beneath the Ben Ohau Range. The foreshore passes the Te Maiharoa Pou, then the last ten kilometres follow the sealed lake road past the village to Lake Ohau Lodge, in time for a late lunch.
Stay: Lake Ohau Lodge. Meals: dinner at the lodge.
Day 4: Lake Ohau to Omarama. 44 km, Grade 3, plus an optional 14 km return to the Clay Cliffs.
The trail climbs the lower slopes of the Ohau Range to Freehold Creek, where the track narrows for the steady climb to the trail's highest point at 900 metres. The descent from Tarnbrae summit deserves respect: it is moderately technical with rough and loose patches, so ride within your ability, and walking the first descending kilometre is a perfectly good choice. From the historic Quailburn woolshed it rolls down to Omarama, with the Clay Cliffs side trip there if the legs want it.
Stay: Sierra Motel and Apartments, Omarama. Meals: breakfast at the lodge, and a packed lunch from the lodge for the trail.
Day 5: Omarama to Kurow. 67 km, Grades 2 & 3.
Today’s ride is one of the most scenic - so time to get those legs pumping! Cycling along Lake Benmore and then riding Sailors Cutting to Benmore Dam is an incredible experience with amazing scenery. As always, ride within your abilities and savour every moment. Cross over the dam at Lake Benmore, and continue your journey down the North side of Lake Aviemore, crossing back over at Aviemore Dam and continuing onto Riverside B&B in Kurow.
Stay: Riverside B&B, Kurow. Meals: breakfast at the Omarama Hotel.
Day 6: Kurow to Oamaru. 82 km, Grade 2.
The big one, and it earns its length: down the Waitaki Valley past the Takiroa rock art site, through the Duntroon wetlands, out across farmland to the Elephant Rocks, through the Rakis railway tunnel, and finally to Friendly Bay, Oamaru, where the trail meets the Pacific. Drop the bikes at our partner depot and stroll up to your hotel; the evening is yours to celebrate.
Stay: Poshtel Hotel, Oamaru. Meals: breakfast at the B&B, and a packed lunch for the trail.
Day 7: Departure day. No riding.
After a continental breakfast, the InterCity stop is a one minute walk from the hotel: the bus to Dunedin is included, or to Christchurch for an extra cost. Congratulations: that was one of the great rides.
Meals: continental breakfast.
Is this tour right for me?
Honest answer: this is a real week of riding. Most of the trail is Grade 2, day four carries a Grade 3 climb and a technical descent where walking a stretch is completely respectable, and the final day is 82 kilometres. Self-guided means you navigate, fix the odd flat between you, and choose your own pace; the trail is well marked, our notes are thorough, and the depot team is a phone call away.
If the distances read as exciting, this is your version. If they read as a lot, the 8-day is the same trail at a gentler rhythm, and either way the e-bikes take a great deal of the sting out of the climbs.
More on fitness, confidence and what our trail grades mean >
The bikes
You ride a Merida Crossway, chosen for exactly this kind of trail: an upright, comfortable position, smooth-rolling 29 inch wheels, front suspension, a quality gel saddle and powerful disc brakes, with easy gearing that keeps the pedalling honest rather than hard. A low-rise step-through version is available, so tell us when you book if that is your preference. Helmets and panniers are included, and an e-bike upgrade is available for $265 per person.
What's included
Included:
Six nights of accommodation as per the itinerary. Pre- and post-tour nights can be arranged on request at additional cost.
Three breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner.
Luggage transport for the entire journey: one bag per person, 15 kilograms maximum.
Merida Crossway hire with helmet, rear carrier bag and bottle cage. E-bike upgrade $275 per person.
InterCity bus transfers: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, and Oamaru to Dunedin or Christchurch.
Not included:
Meals and food not listed in the itinerary.
Drinks and drink bottles.
Personal expenses.
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend.
$1,799 per person, twin share. Single supplement $920. E-bike upgrade $275 per person.
Deposit: A 10% deposit per person secures your booking.
Is the 82 kilometre day as big as it sounds?
It is a big day. While much of the ride is on Grade 2 trail, there are also two decent climbs during the day that require a little extra effort. If you're riding an e-bike, we recommend using the lower assistance modes or turning it off altogether when not needed to conserve your battery for the climbs and later stages of the ride.
If an 82-kilometre day feels like more than you'd enjoy, our 8-day Alps to Ocean itinerary follows the same spectacular trail at a more relaxed pace >, with splitting the last long riding day into two. It's a great option if you'd prefer to spend more time soaking up the scenery and less time covering the kilometres.
How hard is the Tarnbrae descent really?
Moderately technical, with rough and loose patches in the first kilometre off the summit. Confident riders enjoy it; everyone else walks the first stretch and remounts, which is exactly what we would tell you to do.
What if something goes wrong on the trail?
The depot team is a phone call away throughout, your group carries pumps, tubes and repair kits. Someone in your group needs to be able to change a flat tyre. There is mobile phone reception for most of the trail (and gets better as time goes on) but you are welcome to hire a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to take with you. Please mention this at the time of booking.
Can we do it on e-bikes?
Yes, for an upgrade cost, and the climbs shrink accordingly. Say so when you book, since e-bike numbers are limited.
Where does the tour actually end?
The riding ends at Friendly Bay in Oamaru - make sure you stop for a photo at the end of the trail sign (iconic!). The included bus takes you on to Dunedin or Christchurch the next morning, and the bus stop is a one-minute walk from the hotel.
Ready to ride, or questions first?
Lock in a departure. Click the button and let's get riding or ask any questions with the form below.
Ask us anything
Tell us what you are thinking and we will reply within one business day.
Where to next
Alps 2 Ocean, 8-day, self-guided
West Coast Wilderness Trail, self-guided
Extend your stay, Hanmer Springs
Extend your stay, Akaroa
