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Experience the best of New Zealand
Queenstown Otago Trail
This ride will take you to the most scenic landscapes in New Zealand. Encounter the majesty of New Zealand, riding alongside flowing rivers with towering mountains as your backdrop. #Lovevelo #LoveCycling #Ridefurther
Cycling Tour in New Zealand
What to Expect on This Trip
If you're looking for bucket list rides, epic scenery and the world's playground, then you've found it in New Zealand. The country is littered with old railways converted into cycle trails taking you into the heart of the country. Crystal clear lakes reflect the towering snow capped mountains, suspension bridges snake their way through golden forests and on either side of the island, you can ride along the shore of New Zealand's crisp blue waters.
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This is a trip that finishes where it started
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Your accommodation will be in boutique hotels and guesthouses, expertly picked for their locations and surroundings.
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We have a variety of bikes for you to explore the area including flat bar hybrid bikes and e-bikes.
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We will provide you with luggage transfers to take your belongings from hotel to hotel.
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Enjoy daily guided and supported rides, fully curated for your holiday through New Zealand.
Your Otago Rail Trail Guided Adventure
Your Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Christchurch to Clyde
22km total distance
Your adventure starts with a scenic drive across the Canterbury Plains, stopping for refreshments in the charming town of Geraldine. We continue through rolling farmland to Fairlie for lunch.
Crossing Burke’s Pass, you’ll be introduced to the stunning Mackenzie Country, with Lake Tekapo’s bright, blue waters soon coming into view. Here, hop on your bike for an easy ride along peaceful hydro-canals, framed by the majestic Southern Alps.
We then drive over the breathtaking Lindis Pass to reach Central Otago, arriving in the historic town of Clyde. Enjoy a leisurely stroll before gathering for our first group dinner.
Included:Lunch
Dinner
Hotel
Day 2 - Clyde to Lauder
44km total distance
Today you will start the Otago Central Rail Trail ride, as you leave town across flat rural countryside. From Chatto Creek the trail starts to rise, before leveling off to Omakau where you will stop for lunch. You will then take a drive around the quaint township of Ophir and to the top of the Raggedy Range to get a bird’s eye view of the trail and the surrounding region. After lunch, the remaining 9kms flow under the wheels until we arrive at Lauder. Late afternoon you will be driven to the historic gold mining village, St. Bathans, for a walk around the beautiful Blue Lake. This evening it is time for a relaxing beer and a game of pool at the local pub before dinner.
Included:Lodge
Bed & Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Fully Supported Guided Riding
Day 3 - Lauder to Ranfurly
47km total distance
Your cycle ride today takes you through the first two tunnels and two rail bridges on the trip. With the willow tree-edged gorge below the trail and welcoming pools beckoning you finally emerge into the scenic Idaburn valley. Here you stop for a visit to the Hayes Engineering works, where some of New Zealand’s first industrial farm equipment was invented. The stop is also perfectly located to fuel up with a hearty lunch at their cafe before our afternoon ride.
One last short easy climb will take you to the highest point of the trail and the beginning of the downhill descent that takes you to the art deco township of Ranfurly. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to relax, stroll around Ranfurly or catch up on some washing. Around 4:30pm you will be driven out to Naseby, a small foresting township, just off the trail. Here we have the option of trying our skills at curling: bowls on ice. This is a lot of fun and is the only dedicated curling rink in the Southern Hemisphere. If curling doesn’t appeal, a relaxing pint at the iconic Royal Hotel, or a walk around the village or in the forest plantation are alternatives. After the afternoons activities we head back to Ranfurly for dinner and overnight.
Included:Lodge
Bed & Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Fully Supported Guided Riding
Day 4 - Ranfurly to Dunedin
59km total distance
Today is your longest ride, but it is some of the best cycling on the trip. From Waipiata, the trail follows the edge of the old lake before entering the Taieri Gorge. The trail crosses through tunnels and across bridges before a fast downhill to the old hotel at Hyde. From here, a final 27kms takes you out onto the rolling plains slowly descending into Middlemarch. This is the end of the trail and time for a celebratory drink at a local cafe. However, the day is not yet finished as you board the famous Taieri Express for a spectacular train ride through the gorge to Dunedin, the Edinburgh of New Zealand.
Included:Hotel
Bed & Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Fully Supported Guided Riding
Day 5 - Dunedin to Christchruch
24km total distance
This morning you will visit Baldwin Street, reputedly the “steepest street in the world”, for a short but challenging early morning stroll. Then you'll begin the drive northwards, stopping enroute to visit the Moeraki Boulders. Shortly afterwards you enjoy a final quiet coastal ride, past farms that takes you into Oamaru. You can wander around the old Victorian Precinct where the historic buildings have been restored creating a fascinating opportunity to explore the past and relax at local cafes. After lunch, we continue north across the Canterbury Plains, arriving in Christchurch for a central city drop-off around 6pm.
Included:Breakfast
Fully Supported Guided Riding
Your Next Cycling Adventure
We are the cycling holiday experts.
Whether you're a keen road cyclist, enjoy riding an e-bike or hybrid bike, or want to get your family more active, we have the perfect cycling holiday for you.
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Awesome customer Service like it used to be. I admit that I'm one of many people who have taken to booking holidays and flights direct to save a few quid. But when planning my husband's 50th birthday and knowing very little about cycling I decided to try Love Velo and I can't recommend them, and the service I've received from James Danvers highly enough.
Read full reviewAbby
I booked through Love Velo because the reviews were so good. I wasn't disappointed. Right from my first contact with LV they were easy to talk to and although I dithered (my first cycling trip abroad) they didn't press me. When I eventually confirmed my booking they took care of everything.
Read full reviewStephen
Everything about Love Velo has been faultless. From the initial notification of them teaming up with Le Col and to the pricing being unbelievable and then the customer service, top class. James, if all the staff are as attentive to every detail as you are then everyone will be as lucky as I have been. 100% at some point, hopefully in the near future I will be booking again with you guys. Thank you again
Read full reviewIan
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