ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL 2 OCEAN ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL Toilets8 TWIZEL E
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6 © AA Traveller 2018 Aoraki / Mount Cook MAP LEGEND WHITE HORSE HILL e CAMPGROUND 80 g open section n a R other route b AORAKI / MT COOK VILLAGE m u highway section h T JOLLIE RIVER CARPARK o start / finish point ekapo w e T g point of interest n a LakeT R Lake Pukaki i-SITE Visitor Centre u Dobson River a 80 Braemar Road LAKE TEKAPO h hill / mountain O n bridge e Geraldine ALPS B 8 Tekapo Canal Road helicopter79 shuttle PukakiCanal TEKAPO B POWER STATION Loch Cameron town LAKE OHAU Lake Pukaki café/restaurant ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL 2 OCEAN ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL toilets8 TWIZEL e Lake Benmore g Ohau Weir n car park B a TIMARU Quailburn R e R Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Cycle Trail a n © Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Marketing Woolshed n camping n m o g t o s 8 e i r l accommodation e k bridge ir 1 watching, star spotting, and relaxing K state highway OMARAMA in hot tubs beneath a dazzling 8 AORAKI MT COOK VILLAGE Milky Way. TRAIL INFO Lake Aviemore The trail starts at New Zealand’s OTEMATATA to OAMARU 83 Lake Waitaki highest mountain, Aoraki Mt Cook, Sailors Cutting before winding its way down KUROW 2000ft to the coast at Oamaru via S 6 Days Otematata Saddle t M DUNTROON 82 6 days 306km the Waitaki Valley. It’s the longest ar 83 306km ys 1 continuous ride in New Zealand, Ra nge W but there are plenty of food and Elephant Rocks aitaki River accommodation options en route The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is plus shuttle services if you need 83 a journey of epic proportions, them. Suitable for all abilities of TRAIL GRADES: Maerewhenua River cyclists, the trail includes a mixture AORAKI MT COOK TO Rakis Railway Tunnel from the highest mountains all the way of off- and on-road trail, which TWIZEL GRADE 2 (EASY) Weston OAMARU down to the Pacific coast. can be enjoyed in sections or in TWIZEL TO LAKE OHAU LODGE 1 its entirety. GRADE 2 (EASY) he expansive scenery along stunning doesn’t even begin to do It’s recommended that you start LAKE OHAU LODGE TO the way has to be seen to be it justice. from Aoraki Mt Cook Village (the OMARAMA GRADE 3 riding the trail Tbelieved: bright turquoise Amid the scenic grandeur, there Southern Alps) – although there are (INTERMEDIATE) lakes fringed by golden grassland, are plenty of off-bike activities numerous access points along the OMARAMA TO OTEMATATA braided blue rivers, wide open Aoraki Mt Cook Braemar Rd Twizel Lake Ohau Lodge Omarama Otematata Kurow Duntroon Oamaru to maximise your experience trail including Lake Tekapo and the GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) 1000m Village skies, majestic mountains, fields 800m 35km 42km 38km 41km 24km 43km 28km 55km including wine tasting, gliding flights, Jollie car park. OTEMATATA TO KUROW of flowers in full bloom – to say it’s 600m exploring Maori rock art, penguin GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) 400m 200m KUROW TO DUNTROON 0m GRADE 2 (EASY) AORAKI MT COOK TO BRAEMAR RD TO TWIZEL, TWIZEL TO LAKE OHAU, 38KM LAKE OHAU LODGE TO DUNTROON TO OAMARU BRAEMAR RD, 35KM 42KM From Twizel, head off on Mackenzie OMARAMA, 41KM look out for... Wines of Waitaki GRADE 3 (INTERMEDIATE) The trail starts at the White Horse Hill The trail continues along a quiet Dr then follow the signs. You’ll head This section traverses the lower slopes The Waitaki area is MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE: Campground, 2km north of Aoraki Mt country road that follows the eastern across a canal bridge just past Loch of the Ruataniwha Conservation Park, Aoraki Mt Cook & the rivers than you could shake a Cameron then follow the road until becoming increasingly Coverage is generally good along Cook Village. A 7.2km off-road trail shores of Lake Pukaki, passing the with views across the basin to the stick at. Explore the mountains takes you to Mt Cook Airport, where Tekapo B Power Station. Riders will the edge of Lake Ohau. From here the Benmore Range. After easy cycling to Tasman Glacier famous as a cool climate the trail, though it may be patchy on a walk or hike, take a scenic riders need to take a short helicopter enjoy outstanding views across Lake trail descends to the lake foreshore, Freehold Creek it’s a steady climb to Lording over the beautiful wine region, so take a in places. flight, go skiing or snowboarding break at a local winery flight across the Tasman River. If you Pukaki towards the Southern Alps. taking you to the Ohau Weir. Then skirt the high point, 900m above sea level Mackenzie region, Aoraki Mt DRINKING WATER: around the foreshore before heading (heli-skiing and glacier skiing to sample superb wish to avoid the helicopter crossing The off-road trail starts at the bottom (bring high-energy food, drinking water Cook Village takes advantage Water is available in the towns there are several different starts: from of Hayman Rd and follows the Lake for Lake Ohau Lodge. Note: When is available from various mountain available), take a guided boat Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, of some of the country’s most along the trail. Lake Tekapo, from the Tekapo B Power Pukaki shoreline before passing over the Ohau Weir is in flood, there is no streams). The trail then descends to tour on a lake and experience the Riesling, Chardonnay and stunning scenery. Big mountains Station or from the Jollie car park. the Pukaki Dam and heading across way across. See alps2ocean.com for Quailburn Rd. At the end of Quailburn mighty Tasman Glacier or visit meet big skies here with more Gewurztraminer. the Pukaki Flats to Twizel. alternative route. Rd, about 2km along, you will find the the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine turquoise lakes and braided blue Centre at the Hermitage Hotel. 104 105 Autumn reflections in Kellands Pond, near Twizel © davidwallphoto.com historic woolshed and toilets. On the way SH 83. You must check that there is no Around every bend Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail down Quailburn Rd you can take a side traffic behind you, or pull over to the © davidwallphoto.com trip to the Clay Cliffs (14km return) before shoulder of the road before crossing the is beautiful scenery, following the highway to Omarama. highway. a geological wonder OMARAMA TO OTEMATATA, KUROW TO DUNTROON, 28KM or a welcoming 24KM A gravel track takes you across to the township. Ride east down the Waitaki Valley, over Waitaki River which you follow down the Chain Hills and on past Pumpkin Point valley, traversing ancient alluvial plains to Sailors Cutting – a popular boating, through Kurow’s wine country. The off-road fishing and camping destination. The trail trail then follows alongside the highway then follows SH 83 (extra care is needed to the Maori rock art site. From there it’s on the highway). There’s a short climb back to the Waitaki River, and through the to Otematata Saddle with views of Lake wetlands into the township of Duntroon. Aviemore, then it’s downhill to Otematata. DUNTROON TO OAMARU, 55KM OTEMATATA TO KUROW, 43KM From Duntroon head to the rock From Otematata, take the sealed pathway formations known as the Elephant Rocks. beside Loch Laird RD, then follow the An off-road trail then takes you through gravel track beside the lake. This takes you several farms. You rejoin the road at Prydes through several camping areas. You then Gully before heading off-road again beside ride up Loch Laird Rd onto the massive Karara Creek. A series of gravel roads take TREASURED Benmore Hydro Dam 6km. It’s a steep road you to the Rakis Railway Tunnel. Then it up to the dam, so you may need to walk LANDMARKS ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL is on to Windsor and Weston where you ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL the last 800m. Follow Te Akatarawa Rd re-join the old railway line for a flat run to along the margins of Lake Aviemore to the Church of the Good Shepherd Saleyards Rd. Follow the cycleway downhill Church of the Good Shepherd Discover Lake TekapoOne of the country’s Aviemore Dam 28km. After crossing the to the Oamaru Gardens. Bike through the Lake Tekapo is about three hours drive south-westmost of Christchurch photographed in the Mackenzie Lake Tekapo is about three hours drive south-west of Christchurch in the Mackenzie dam the trail follows SH 83 to Lake Waitaki Basin. The township faces north across the remarkable turquoise coloured lake to gardens, across SH 1, then through the park Basin. The township faces north across the remarkablechurches, turquoise the Church coloured of lake to and the Waitaki Dam (36km). 1km after the the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky- to the main street (Thames St). Turn right the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. theLake GoodTekapo Shepherd’s gets its intense altar milky- turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in Awakino River, turn right onto the off-road into the far lane and ride south past the turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water. window frames breathtaking trail that links to Kurow. This section of trail i-SITE, turning left on Itchen St, right onto the water. views of the lake and has an interesting hydro history with dams Tyne, then left onto Harbour St. Go through mountains. The bronze dog and project towns.