9 Day Alps to Ocean Plus Self Guided

If you choose to stay in Twizel the night before, you will need to take our early morning shuttle to Mt Cook Village.

Take a heli-flight over the Tasman River and enjoy breathtaking alpine views from above before joining up with the rest of the trail and cycling to Braemar Station.

Stay the night at Braemar Station (Subject to availability).

Cycle the golden tussock and lakeside trails through the Mackenzie Country and along Lake Pukaki to Twizel.

Alternate Start Options

• 54km cycle from Tekapo to Twizel *

* Note: If you are starting your ride from Tekapo, this will be your first day of cycling.

Stay the night in Twizel.

Cycle the sealed canal roads from Twizel to edge of Lake Ohau before following the dedicated lakeside cycle trail around to Lake Ohau Lodge.

Stay the night at Lake Ohau Lodge.

If riders choose accommodation other than the lodge itself, they will need to reach the lodge in the morning to begin this day's ride.  Starting at the Lake Ohau Lodge, they will make their way along the cycle trail in an easterly direction along the face of the range.  The trail twists and turns across farm and conservation land for 18km.  Riders will make their way across the bush track at Freehold Creek and then on to the Quailburn stream complex.  The restored historic shearing shed located here gives visitors a glimpse into older methods of shearing and sheep handling.

Making you way down the valley along a road that is unsealed for the first 13km and sealed for the remaining 7km, the views are amazing.  Riders will pass Clay Cliffs on the right and continue on to the highway.  A dedicated trail around the Ahuriri River, riders will cross a bridge and continue along the road for 4km until they reach Omarama.  Here, many riders make the most of the opportunity to enjoy a soothing soak in the hot tubs, and stay a night in Omarama. 

Upon leaving town on Highway 83, riders will continue until a 2.7km dedicated trail takes them by Sailors Cutting.  This is a popular camping site near the lake.  The cycleway follows the road along the edge of the lake and begins to climb over a distance of 2,5km to Otematata Saddle.  From here, a 6km descent takes the riders down to Otematata township.

The sealed back road from the village takes riders to Benmore Dam and along a steady upward route to the lookout.  After crossing the dam, the road begins to descend back down to the lake and riders will continue along Te Akatarawa Road along the edge of Lake Aviemore.  Riders will notice some of the most scenic camping grounds as their travels take them across the Lake Aviemore Dam and along a scenic 30km stretch.

Below the dam, there is a dedicated cycleway that follows the edge of the lake for 5,5km before it returns to the road and reaching the Waitaki Dam after a total distance of 7,6km.

After enjoying the short cycleway below the dam, the trail continues on the road before diverting to the farmland and a 2,4km stretch away from the road.  The trail returns to the highway for one last flat ride into Kurow.  Riders should make the most of this time to enjoy a well-earned cup of coffee, stroll around and explore places like the historic bridge that crosses over to the Hakataramea Valley.

Upon embarking from Kurow, a 4,6km ride along a 4WD trail awaits.  This trail takes riders along the banks of the Waitaki River and through the Kurow Winery before joining up with Highway 83 again.  Riders will continue along State Highway 8 until they reach the historic Maori Cave Art site (to the right) and then continue on to Duntroon. Stay the night in rural Duntroon.

Once you leave Duntroon, riders will cross the Maerehenua bridge.  Here, the dedicated trail turns right for a short distance before rejoining the Livingstone - Duntroon road.  After reaching Island Cliff Road, the cycleway climbs for a distance of 2km to Elephant Road carpark before joining a 5,4km cycle trail through the farmland.  Hereafter, it rejoins Prydes Gulley Road.  The unsealed portion continues on Conlans Road and on to Tunnel Road where the trail includes 2,8km of an old branch railway line (including Raki's Tunnel).  The trail then climbs back up to Peaks Road and then riders are in for a downhill trip to Windsor.

A 1,5km dedicated trail takes riders out of Windsor, on the next metalled section (on Pig Island Road).  Riders must turn right onto Burnside Road and then continue to Whitestone (Five Forks Road).  Another right turn on the Weston – Ngapara Road and then the trail joins 2,1km of dedicated trail to the Lime Works.  It then takes riders into Weston.

From here, riders will follow Whiterocks Road before they turn left on Westview Drive (later becoming Weston Road), on the outskirts of the town.  After travelling for approximately 3km, the trail makes a left turn onto a new trail along Saleyards Road.  It continues into Oamaru and ends in the historic Victorian Precinct.