Travel ALPS 2 OCEAN
DISTANCE: 322kmASCENT: 1417mDIFFICULTY: 2/5
A fun, beginner-friendly trip, the relatively easy Alps 2 Ocean descends from New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook, to the east coast of the South Island on graded gravel paths, with incredible alpine scenery, lots of stops and hot tubs along the way.
If you book your bike on a prearranged chopper, you’ll start at White Horse Hill Campground, just north of Mt Cook Village, or otherwise begin at Lake Tekapoā, pedalling along the eastern shore of Lake Pūkaki, toward Twizel, an excellent spot for stargazing and guided astronomy experiences.
Continuing the ride, descend through meadows into Ōmarama, where you can soak in outdoor cedar spas, before exploring the Waitaki Valley, one of the world’s most southerly wine regions. Passing…