South Island West Coast Tour (Tourzplus™)
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Overview Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) OVERVIEW Bicycle past picture-perfect West Coast glaciers and lakes, over Haast Pass and down to Wanaka and Queenstown, the bungy jumping capital of New Zealand. Learn more about our TourzPlus™ partner tours and how they differ from regular ExperiencePlus! bicycle tours. HIGHLIGHTS The, Southern Alps A, night on a sheep station 3, national parks Queenstown, Christchurch TOUR FACTS Tour Style : Learn more about our tours at https://www.experienceplus.com/tours/bike-tour-styles/-tours 10 days, 9 nights accommodation, 7 dinners, 5 lunches, & 9 breakfasts. Hybrid and Road bike Includes rentals are available for an additional fee Countries New Zealand Begin/End Christchurch/Queenstown Arrive/Depart Christchurch Int'l Airport (CHC) / Queenstown Airport (ZQN) Total Distance 282-594 km (176-321 miles) Avg. Daily Distance 30-117 km (19-73 miles) per riding day Tour Level We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique Keep in Mind differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour. Some long days with shuttle options for those who want shorter or intermediate mileage. Please Note: We may have small itinerary changes to this trip after you download this PDF document. If you have booked this trip and there are major changes, including changes to towns or activities, we'll email you directly. However, you should always be sure to refer to the online itinerary for the most up-to-date trip information including arrival and departure tips before you depart for your trip: https://www.experienceplus.com/guided-bike-tours/new_zealand/biking-new-zealands-south-island-west-coast 1 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Dates & Prices Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) DATES & PRICES Dates Price Single Supplement* *We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a DAILY RIDE SUMMARY roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour. Day Distance/Gain Terrain Day Level Notes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Day to Day Itinerary Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) Meet in Christchurch DAY 1 Highlights Pancake Rocks & blow holes Meals Dinner We meet in Christchurch and transfer by van to Punakaiki mid-afternoon. There will be time for a short ride along the way and to explore the fascinating Pancake Rocks and watch the sea surge through blow holes. Punakaiki to Hokitika DAY 2 Highlights Jade and glass-blowing shops in Hokitika, coastal views We head south to Greymouth, the principal town of Westland. Named after Sir George Grey, New Zealand's first Governor, it was the site of Mawhera, the largest Maori settlement on the West Coast. From here it is a flat run to Hokitika, a town famous for its goldrush in the 1860's. It is now supported by timber milling, greenstone (jade) and glass-blowing factories. Bicycling Options:Punakaiki to Greymouth: 44 km / 28 mi.Punakaiki to Hokitika: 84km / 52.5 mi. Hokitika to Whataroa DAY 3 Highlights Lake Ianthe, Mt Hercules Much of the ride today is through native bush. The tavern at Lake Ianthe is well worth a stop, as is beautiful Lake Ianthe, renowned for trout fishing. Harihari is a small logging town and has an excellent craft shop. Shortly after leaving Harihari we tackle Mt Hercules, a far easier climb than the name suggests.Bicycling Options:Hokitika to Lake Ianthe tavern: 49km / 31 mi.Hokitika to Whataroa: 85.5 km / 53 mi. 3 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Day to Day Itinerary Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) Whataroa to Fox DAY 4 Highlights Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Westland National Park It is a flat run into Westland National Park and Franz Josef Glacier where you will have superb views of snowcapped peaks. From Franz to Fox (24 km) there are three climbs (and descents) through beautiful native forest, a spectacular way to finish the day.Bicycling Options:Whataroa to Franz Josef: 50km / 31 mi.Whataroa to Fox Glacier: 74 km / 46 mi Rest Day in Fox DAY 5 Highlights Glacier walks, Okarito Beach and seal colonies A walk up the glacier valley gives spectacular views of the terminal ice, while the Westland National Park Visitors Centre houses a wealth of information. (Thirteen percent of New Zealand is national park.) Also highly recommended are ski-plane or helicopter flights over snowfields, forests and glaciers. Okarito Beach, site of Abel Tasmans landfall and once a thriving town, is a further option, as is the seal colony at neighbouring Gillespies Beach. Fox to Lake Moeraki DAY 6 Highlights Views of Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps From Fox to Lake Moeraki the road passes through lush rain forest of rimu and rata, flax filled swamps and past rugged hills. The many rivers become raging torrents after rain. With fine weather there will be superb views of Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps.Bicycling Options:Fox Glacier to Bruce Bay: 48km / 30 mi.Fox Glacier to Salmon Farm: 65km / 41 mi.Fox Glacier to Lake Moeraki: 90 km / 56 mi. 4 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Day to Day Itinerary Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) Lake Moeraki to Makarora DAY 7 Highlights Basking seals, Haast River valley, native birds & waterfalls Just south of Lake Moeraki, Knights Point affords excellent views of the rugged coastline where seals can often be seen basking in the sun. From Haast we head inland, following the Haast River towards the snowcapped peaks. We pass innumerable waterfalls and much bird life, notably keas, fantails and bellbirds. After lunch at Depot Creek the stiff climb through the Gates of Haast is negotiated before the gentle descent to Makarora.Bicycling Options:Lake Moeraki to Haast: 30 km / 19 mi.Lake Moeraki to Haast Pass: 81km / 51 mi.Lake Moeraki to Makaroa: 112 km / 70 mi. Makarora to Lake Wanaka DAY 8 Highlights Views of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka The country is now dramatically drier, dense bush giving way to open sheep paddocks. The road closely follows Lake Wanaka, crosses the Neck to Lake Hawea and then recrosses to Lake Wanaka.Bicycling Options:Makarora to Hawea: 50 km / 31 mi.Makarora to Wanaka: 66 km / 41 mi. Lake Wanaka to Queenstown DAY 9 Highlights Views of The Remarkables, the Crown Range and Queenstown Our route today takes us up the Crown Range, over the Cardrona Road. We climb past the historic Cardrona Hotel; on reaching the top there will be amazing views of The Remarkables mountains and Queenstown. We descend the exhilarating hairpin bends down to Arrowtown, with its quaint old cottages and avenues of elms. A short leisurely ride beneath Coronet Peak, a winter ski field, takes us to Arthur's Point where we cross the Shotover River on our way to Queenstown. Surrounded by mountain peaks (including the famous Remarkables), and set on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown has much to offer. Bicycling Options:Wanaka to Cardrona Hotel: 27km / 17 mi.Wanaka to Queenstown via Cardrona: 78km / 49 mi. 5 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Day to Day Itinerary Bicycle Tours in New Zealand: South Island West Coast Tour (TourzPlus™) Tour ends in Queenstown DAY 10 After breakfast we must say farewell, a safe journey home and hope to see you again. 6 © ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours 1-800-685-4565 ExperiencePlus.com Included INCLUDED WHAT'S INCLUDED You'll receive a highlighted route map each day or a briefing with the GPS tracks. On Classic, Bike and Boat, When you book a tour with ExperiencePlus! our goal is to Spotlight and Expedition tours we also navigate using our ensure your only focus each day is to hop on your bike and signature chalk dust arrows. Our arrows make navigating explore scenic cycling routes in new destinations. very easy—you may never need to look at the map. On Inclusions may differ depending on which tour style you Explorer tours the terrain and destinations are not always pick but all ExperiencePlus! tours include the three most conducive to using chalk arrows so we'll ride as a group or important aspects of a guided bike tour. you can navigate on your own with the GPS tracks. Superb tour leaders who are fun and multilingual, bi- Before each tour we offer the opportunity to download GPS cultural experts, and cycling enthusiasts. They will tracks of most tour routes to your personal GPS device or support you and help you navigate confidently on and off smartphone using RideWithGPS.com. We do not provide the road. GPS tracks for tours in South America. High quality bikes selected for the terrain you are cycling on and correct bike fitting to ensure comfortable cycling. On tour you will have a support van providing water and More details on our bikes page. snack resupply, mechanical assistance, a lift for tired cyclists, and luggage transfers. On some itineraries the van Thoughtfully designed itineraries and routes that take will not be able to follow sections of the route that stray advantage of stunning cycling destinations and the from the road for example onto cycling paths.