Alps, Valleys & Lakes
A 10-night guided e-bike tour of the lower South Island, Christchurch to Christchurch.
Guided e-bike
10 nights
Christchurch return
Grades 1 to 3,
easy to intermediate
Daily rides 31 to 57 km
From $6,499 per person
Alps, Valleys & Lakes is our flagship: a 10-night guided e-bike tour of New Zealand's South Island, starting and finishing in Christchurch. You ride gravel trails along valley floors and lake edges on top-of-the-range e-bikes. A day off to explore Queenstown and the TranzAlpine rail journey across the Southern Alps are both built into the route.
You travel as a small group, with an experienced guide riding with you on the trails and a support driver keeping the vehicle close by when needed. Most of our guests are retired or semi-retired, here for the scenery and the company rather than the stopwatch. If that sounds like you, this is the tour we would point you to first.
Day 1: Christchurch. Short introductory ride.
Meet your guide and the rest of the group at 1pm at Quest Cathedral Junction. After a tour briefing and bike fitting we drive out to the Te Kuru wetlands for a gentle first ride to get comfortable on the bikes, and if time and weather allow, we carry on up to the Sign of the Kiwi for a first look across Christchurch to the Southern Alps. The day ends with the welcome dinner.
Stay: Quest Cathedral Junction, Christchurch. Meals: welcome dinner.
Day 2: Christchurch to Lake Ohau on the Alps 2 Ocean. 57 km, Grade 1 & 2.
We drive south across the Canterbury Plains and start riding at Twizel, following the Alps 2 Ocean to the edge of Lake Ohau and along the foreshore beneath the Ben Ohau Range to Lake Ohau Village. The lodge is right on the lake, and it is ours for the night.
Stay: Lake Ohau Lodge. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 3: Lake Ohau to Cromwell on the Alps 2 Ocean. 52 km, Grade 2 & 3.
A short drive to Omarama, then we ride the newest section of the Alps 2 Ocean along Lake Benmore, through Sailors Cutting to Benmore Dam and on to Aviemore Dam. From there the van carries the group to Cromwell for the night.
Stay: Marsden Lake Resort, Central Otago. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4: Cromwell to Clyde on the Lake Dunstan Trail. 51 km, Grade 2 & 3.
The Lake Dunstan Trail starts at the hotel door. One of the newest trails in the country, engineered along the gorge edge above the lake, it ends in Clyde, where we spend the night.
Stay: Olivers Lodge & Stables, Clyde. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 5: Clyde to Queenstown on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail. 44.5 km riding plus 13 km by jet boat, Grade 2 & 3.
We ride 12.5 kilometres from Clyde to the Roxburgh Gorge, then 32 kilometres through the gorge itself, with a 45-minute jet boat covering 13 kilometres of the river along the way, included in the tour. At the end of the ride the van takes us to Queenstown, home for the next two nights.
Stay: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 6: Queenstown. Rest day, no riding.
A free day off the bikes. Queenstown's activities are easy to arrange and all optional, none included in the tour price. Our pick is the day trip to Milford Sound, pre-booked before you travel and paid on the day.
Stay: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront. Meals: none included today.
Day 7: Queenstown to Wanaka on the Queenstown Trail. 40 km, Grade 2 & 3.
Ride the Queenstown Trail to the old gold mining town of Arrowtown, then follow the cycle path to the Kawarau Bridge. From there we drive over the Crown Range, past the Cardrona Hotel, and down to Wanaka for the night.
Stay: Wanaka Hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 8: Wanaka to Fox Glacier on the Hawea River Trail. 35 km, easy to intermediate.
We ride from the hotel along the Wanaka lakefront and down the Hawea River trail to Gladstone, then the van takes us through Mt Aspiring National Park to Fox Glacier for the evening.
Stay: Lake Matheson Motel, Fox Glacier. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 9: Fox Glacier to Hokitika on the West Coast Wilderness Trail. 33 km, Grade 2 to 3.
The morning is free for an optional heli-flight over the glaciers, weather permitting and booked ahead, not included in the tour. Mid-morning we head north to Treetops and ride our first stretch of the West Coast Wilderness Trail through to Hokitika.
Stay: Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika. Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Day 10: Hokitika to Christchurch on the West Coast Wilderness Trail. 31 km, Grade 2.
A final morning on the West Coast Wilderness Trail from Kumara to Greymouth, then we board the TranzAlpine for the rail crossing of the Southern Alps back to Christchurch. The tour gathers for the farewell dinner.
Stay: Quest Cathedral Junction, Christchurch. Meals: breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner.
Day 11: Departure day.
The tour ends in Christchurch. Airport transfers can be arranged on request, and if you would like to stay longer we are happy to help, including a night in Hanmer Springs or Akaroa before you fly.
Meals: none included today.
Is this tour right for me?
Honest answer: your riding confidence matters more than your age. Most of our guests are retired or semi-retired and the trails are gravel, not road, and that feels different: some switchbacks, some decent elevation, and a few sections that ask for confidence on the bike.
Here is the safety net. The support vehicle is close by on most days, so you can hop in and skip any section you would rather not ride, and loads of people do exactly that. There are a couple of days where the van has no trail access. Your guide will tell you in advance which days those are, and give you an honest read on whether you will manage them. On every day, van or no van, your guide is first aid trained and carries a personal locator beacon for the stretches beyond mobile coverage. Those might be the days you ride part of the way, or not at all. The choice is really yours.
The e-bikes level the playing field on the climbs. Ten straight days in the saddle is still a shock to the system, so if you can, spend some time on a bike before the tour, ideally on gravel.
More on fitness, confidence and what our trail grades mean >
The bikes
You ride a top-of-the-range Merida e-bike, fitted to you on day one and yours for the whole tour. The fleet covers a full range of sizes, with a limited number of step-through frames, so tell us when you book if that is your preference. A free gel seat is there for the asking, and every bike carries a pannier, drink bottle, multi tool, tyre levers and a spare tube. The motor takes the drama out of the hills, and there is even a walking mode that powers the bike along beside you at walking pace. A helmet is included, or bring your own. Helmets are required by law in New Zealand.
What's included
Included:
Ten nights of accommodation, mostly 4 to 5 star. They are the hotels we stay in ourselves when we go on holidays. Pre- and post-tour nights can be arranged on request at additional cost.
Eight breakfasts, eight lunches and three dinners, including the welcome and farewell dinners, plus daily snacks.
One riding guide plus a support driver for the whole tour, with an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as the support vehicle.
The TranzAlpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch.
The 45-minute jet boat ride through the Roxburgh Gorge.
Luggage transport for the entire journey. Your bags travel in the van during the cycling stages.
A top-of-the-range Merida e-bike fitted with a pannier, drink bottle, multi tool, tyre levers and spare tube. A limited number of step-through frames are available, so ask when booking.
A helmet, and you are welcome to bring your own. Helmets are required by law in New Zealand.
All Department of Conservation and trail fees.
Water during the cycling.
Not included:
Flights and travel to and from Christchurch.
Airport transfers, though we can arrange them on request at additional cost.
Meals not listed in the itinerary, including everything on the Queenstown rest day.
Drinks, except water during the cycling, plus telephone and mini-bar costs.
Personal expenses such as laundry.
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend.
2026 departures, $6,499 per person twin share, single supplement $1,599:
15 to 25 October 2026. Guaranteed departure.
28 October to 7 November 2026. Sold out.
11 to 21 November 2026. Only two spots left.
24 November to 4 December 2026. Guaranteed departure.
7 to 17 December 2026. Guaranteed departure.
2027 departures, $6,699 per person twin share, single supplement $1,683:
6 to 16 January 2027. Sold out.
19 to 29 January 2027. Sold out.
1 to 11 February 2027. Sold out.
16 to 26 February 2027. Only two spots left.
1 to 11 March 2027. Available.
15 to 25 March 2027. Available.
14 to 24 October 2027. Available.
28 October to 7 November 2027. Available.
11 to 21 November 2027. Available.
24 November to 4 December 2027. Available.
All prices in New Zealand dollars. Minimum 6 and maximum 12 guests per tour. A 10% deposit per person secures your place.
Travelling alone? Tell us at booking if you are happy to share and we will try to pair you with another solo rider where possible, which saves the single supplement.
How far do we ride each day?
Each day is a bit different, with rides ranging from about 31 to 57 kilometres. Some days can feel longer than the number suggests because you are on trail surfaces rather than road. Exact distances for every day are in the itinerary above.
Do I have to ride all of it? What if I've had enough?
You don't have to ride anything you don't want to. Plenty of guests skip a section or a whole trail on any given day, and that is all good by us. Hop in and ride with the driver instead. No explanations needed, and no shame anywhere there. Just be aware there are a couple of days where the van can't access the trail. Your guide will let you know in advance which days these are.
I haven't ridden in years. Will I keep up?
Our e-bikes make cycling significantly easier. They flatten the hills, take the sting out of headwinds, and feature a walking mode that powers the bike alongside you if you choose to walk a section.
However, an e-bike is not a substitute for riding experience or confidence. Our tours include long days in the saddle and a mix of gravel trails and sealed roads. You should be comfortable starting, stopping, braking, cornering, and riding confidently on gravel surfaces.
If you haven't ridden for several years, we strongly recommend getting back on a bike well before your tour. Several practice rides are essential, and if possible, spend some time riding an e-bike on gravel trails. This will help you rebuild your skills and ensure you enjoy the experience.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more gentle guided tour, you may wish to consider our Wilderness, Coastlines & Vines Tour >
If you're unsure whether you're ready, please talk to us before booking. We'll happily discuss your cycling experience and provide an honest assessment. We'd much rather have that conversation beforehand than see you struggle on tour.
What are the hotels like?
Really nice. Most are 4-star or above, or the nicest available in each town, and some of the towns are really little. All of them are places we stay ourselves when we go on holidays.
What do we do for dinner? Are meals included?
Eight breakfasts, eight lunches and three dinners are included, plus daily snacks. The dinners are the welcome dinner, a dinner mid-tour and the farewell dinner. On the free evenings we still make a dinner reservation for the group at our favourite places, so there is always the option to eat out together, and you are equally welcome to do your own thing. On the Queenstown rest day no meals are included, so the day is completely yours.
Can you cater for my dietary requirements?
Yes. As long as we know in advance, we let all the hotels and restaurants know and keep the right snacks in the van. For anything specialised, we may ask your guidance on the best brands to buy.
Ready to ride, or questions first?
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Where to next
Wilderness, Coastlines & Vines, guided
Lake Dunstan Trail guide
Extend your stay, Hanmer Springs
Extend your stay, Akaroa
