Experience true Southern hospitality as you explore secluded alpine valleys and remote lakes on a fully supported, 4 day cycle trail tour. From Queenstown, you will cycle alongside Lake Wakatipu before heading to Kingston to start the trail. A ride through the rural Mataura valley takes you through the small township of Lumsden before continuing through Southland farmland and along the Oreti River. Show
Best Price Guarantee No booking or payment fees Save $42 on your next booking Experience true Southern hospitality as you explore secluded alpine valleys and remote lakes on a fully supported, 4 day cycle trail tour. From Queenstown, you will cycle alongside Lake Wakatipu before heading to Kingston to start the trail. A ride through the rural Mataura valley takes you through the small township of Lumsden before continuing through Southland farmland and along the Oreti River.
Best Price Guarantee No booking or payment fees Save $42 on your next booking Set in the remote wilderness of southern New Zealand, the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail offers a truly unique experience for those seeking to venture off the beaten track. It’s a trail of contrasts – from the energetic adrenalin-seekers paradise of Queenstown to absolute tranquillity as you traverse the agricultural hinterland of Southland. The Around the Mountains Cycle Trail offers an unrivalled diversity for cyclists. The 186km journey can be ridden in either direction, starting at Kingston or Walter Peak, and takes 3-5 days at a relaxed pace on this easy to conquer trail. ' Immerse yourself amongst true southern hospitality as you pedal through historic townships and rural farmland. Soak up the alpine vista views and marvel at the pristine waters of the Mavora Lakes – one of the awe-inspiring locations featured in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Cycle alongside the Oreti and Mataura rivers and through the native tussock lands of Walter Peak and Mt Nicholas stations – both authentic high country farms. Whether you choose to start or end your adventure on her antique bow, a cruise across picturesque Lake Wakatipu on the century-old coal-fired steamship the TSS Earnslaw will be forever etched in your memory. Experience true Southern hospitality as you explore secluded alpine valleys and remote lakes on our fully supported, 4 day, Around the Mountains Cycle Trail Tour. From Queenstown, we cycle alongside Lake Wakatipu before heading to Kingston to start the trail. A ride through the rural Mataura valley takes us through the small township of Lumsden before continuing through Southland farmland and along the Oreti river. The supported nature of this tour makes for an easy visit to Lake Manapouri to ride the breathtaking Lake to Lake trail. From Te Anau, we head back to the Around the Mountains trail to explore the magnificent Mavora Lakes and secluded Von Valley. We reach the end of our ride at Walter Peak Station, before cruising back to Queenstown on the iconic TSS Earnslaw steam ship. ItineraryWe will meet our guides in central Queenstown at 8:00am for a tour briefing and a bike fitting. Our warm up ride takes us along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, following the Queenstown Trail to the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge, where Lake Wakatipu flows into the Kawarau River. We continue past impressive lakeside mansions and numerous jetties and beaches until reaching the Sculpture Trail at Kelvin Heights. Be sure to watch out for the Wakatipu Kuikui, a figure with wild hair blowing in the wind and magnificent views out over the lake. We then transfer the short distance to the historic railway town of Kingston where we start the Around The Mountains Cycle Trail. Weaving our way through the pretty rural Mataura valley, surrounded by the Hector and Eyre mountains towards Garston and Athol, we cross a number of suspension bridges called the Golden Gate bridges. Our ride ends at Five Rivers where there is a cafe and gallery for us to visit before we drive to Lumsden and our accommodation in the historic Royal Mail Hotel for the night. We meet in the evening again for our first group dinner. Cycling Distance: Queenstown Trail to Kelvin Heights - 16km Kingston to Five Rivers - 48km Meals: L,D This morning we transfer back to Five Rivers to continue the Around the Mountains Trail. We pass through rich farm lands by the banks of the Oreti River, to complete the section to Lumsden and then carry on along a mix of old railway line and well-graded track, threaded between the highway and farmland to Mossburn. Mossburn is known as the deer capital of New Zealand and a lunch stop at Bracken-Hall allows us to sample the region's famous venison pies and 'Southland sushi'. This afternoon we continue to follow the Oreti River on purpose built trail, with views towards the imposing Fiordland mountains. At Centre Hill the trail meets a busy gravel road and here we have the option to load up the bikes and return to Mossburn or for those wanting a longer ride, we can return the same way back along the trail. We meet again in the early evening for our well earned dinner. Cycling Distance: Five Rivers to Mossburn - 35km Mossburn to Centre Hill - 23km Meals: B,L,D After breakfast we drive to Manapouri where we are dwarfed by the mountains looming all around us and there is no question that we are on the edge of the wonderfully remote Fiordland National Park. Todays ride takes us along the new Lake to Lake Trail connecting Lake Manapouri with Lake Te Anau, following the glistening Waiau River. On arrival in Te Anau we have lunch and then are free to walk a section of the Kepler track to Rainbow Reach, wander along the shores of Lake Te Anau or visit the bird sanctuary where Takahe and Kaka can be seen. There is an option to join an excursion to see the glow worm caves by boat. Your guides can help with suggestions and make any bookings. In the early evening we head to Fiordland Cinema to see "Ata Whenua" (Shadowland) a beautiful short movie showcasing Fiordland landscapes from the air before our final evening meal together. Cycling Distance: Lake to Lake Trail - 20km Meals: B,L,D This morning we leave Te Anau and after a short drive we cycle from the hidden Mavora Lakes, a site of scenes from Lord of the Rings. We ride by the lakes and through the beech forest before continuing on to the colourful Von Valley. There is a real sense of isolation and the huge mountain and tussock landscape is vast. We farewell our supporting coach as we cycle downhill to the shores of Lake Wakatipu and Mount Nicholas station. Here we are greeted with stunning views of alpine peaks and snow covered Mount Earnslaw at the head of the lake. We then follow the lakeside trail to Walter Peak Station where we board the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamer and cross Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown. A celebratory drink and platters at a local restaurant brings an end to our journey. It's time to say a sad farewell as we drop you off in the central city. Cycling Distance: Mavora Valley to Walter Peak Station - 55km Meals: B,L Inclusions
About Your LeaderOur guides are one of our biggest assets. We pride ourselves on the standard and quality of these great people who you will be spending your holiday with. They come from all walks of life but they all have a common desire to give you the best possible experience, heaps of fun and lots of fond memories to take home with you. We provide you with the services of two guides for many of our trips, (this may depend on the size of the group). All are certified in first aid and CPR and many are trained bike mechanics. To check out more about our guides see our ‘About us’ page on our website (www.advsouth.com). Accommodation MotelsOften family run, motels range from 3 to 4 stars and provide access to local living thanks to your hosts. The hospitality is generous and their local knowledge is invaluable. Rooms are spacious, warm and comfortable and they have ensuite bathrooms with tea and coffee making facilities. Where possible, we choose locations that add to your experience. Royal Mail HotelDating back to 1875, this historic hotel in Lumsden has been renovated and refurbished to provide comfortable and stylish rooms. Admire the view over the town and beyond to the banks of the Oreti River and relax in the cosy communal lounge. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, some rooms have shared bathrooms. Bike informationElectric BikesOur fleet of new Sinch ebikes, made and designed in New Zealand for New Zealand trails, are perfect for cyclists looking to enjoy a little assistance on their travels. Pedalling our ebikes takes away the strain of a traditional bike, particularly on the hills. The powerful Shimano batteries provide up to 100kms of pedal assistance before requiring recharging. The bikes are very simple to operate and they provide people with varying levels of fitness or cycling experience the opportunity to really enjoy our cycling holidays. The extra small, small and medium sized bikes all have a low step frame making it very easy to get on and off, hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable braking and 80mm of air suspension travel is designed to make every ride comfortable. Hybrid Mountain BikeJust like our Avanti Discovery hybrid mountain bike, the low-step version of combines the best characteristics of a hybrid bike and a mountain bike to give you a great ride and comfort on gravel cycle trails. The low step frame, makes it easy to get on and off - particularly handy when you stop for a coffee or take a photo! Hybrid Mountain Bike (Low-step)Just like our Avanti Discovery hybrid mountain bike, the low-step version of combines the best characteristics of a hybrid bike and a mountain bike to give you a great ride and comfort on gravel cycle trails. The low step frame, makes it easy to get on and off - particularly handy when you stop for a coffee or take a photo! Trail SurfaceCompacted Gravel & Gravel RoadsMajority of the Around the Mountains trail is compacted gravel with a range of wide and narrower trails. Cyclists need to be confident riding on uneven surfaces and aware that riding on this surface will reduce cycling speeds. GradingIntroductory to ModerateThe Around the Mountains Trail is graded introductory to moderate. You will be cycling on a mix of wide designated trails, some gravel roads with traffic with some undulating hills. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and we suggest 2 hours of cycling per week for the three months leading up to your trip. We recommend training on compacted gravel trails, and completing a multi-day ride prior to your trip to get used to being in the saddle for long periods of time. The more training you have done on hills and on compacted gravel, the more enjoyable your trip will be. Departure dates
NotesWant to organise a private group?Fundraising events, sporting groups, family treats; learn how you can organise a Private Group from just 6 travellers. Priceper person from $2095NZD Options & Supplements*
*Prices listed are per person Essential informationReady to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed Around the Mountains Cycle Trail trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead. Is mountain biking popular?In 2022, the number of participants in mountain/non-paved surface biking reached over 8.9 million. While this represented a 2.6 percent increase from the previous year, it was still less than the 2020 figure, when approximately nine million cyclists took part in the activity. Can you cycle around Lake Wakatipu?Cycling around Lake Wakatipu. With so many potential routes for a bike ride around Lake Wakatipu, it's tough to know where to start. That's why we've collected our top 12 routes for you; to help you easily experience the best of this lake. Where is mountain biking in India?Bike & Skill Parks. |
