NZ Tours
BoardmanFox
Posts: 2
Hi there,
just wondering if anyone could recommend a good company to help me organise my cycling holiday in New Zealand later on this year? Or if anyone has been, any tips or advise would be much appreicated.
Cheers.
just wondering if anyone could recommend a good company to help me organise my cycling holiday in New Zealand later on this year? Or if anyone has been, any tips or advise would be much appreicated.
Cheers.
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Comments
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Are you looking for an organised, supported, cycle touring holiday, or just advice and recommended routes, places to see, etc?
There are several companies that do fully supported tours, Pedaltours, Adventure South, Hooked on cycling, Backroads Bike Tours, to name a few. No experience of them so can't really recommend any one in particular.
I have cycle toured in NZ several times and lived there for four years a few years ago, so can advise on routes etc if you want to give me an idea of how long and when you are going? Also are you happy cycling on gravel roads?0 -
I live in NZ and am happy to help if I can. Like Ralex no experience of the cycle tour companies.0
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Hi ralex/gelbvieh - Sorry to hi-jack the thread but Me and my wife are cycling in NZ, starting in ChristChurch about the 20th Feb - we're buying bikes in ChCh and other than getting a map and the Kennett Brother book not sure what else to use as guidance.
We'll be on mountain bikes with slicks for long road days and a trailer - would be very interested to hear of any long distance off and on-road routes you can recommend in both North and South Islands
Many thanks
Jim0 -
jimfrandisco,
In the South Island, I would say the best gravel road routes are the circular combination of the 'Molesworth road' and the 'Rainbow road', and also the 'Mavora Lakes' road.
Molesworth/Rainbow can be done starting from Hanmer Springs, St Arnaud, or Blenheim. Molesworth has restrictions on access at certain times so check with DOC (Dept of Conservation) first.
Mavora Lakes is accessed by taking the steam boat from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu.
You might also like the Otago Central Rail Trail.
On sealed roads, the West Coast road from Wanaka right up the coast then up the Buller Gorge and over to St Arnaud or Nelson is great in either direction.
The North Island is busier, but can still be great cycling, especially the East Cape, and in the Wairarapa east of the main highway there are several reaonably quiet scenic roads. There is a great gravel road called 'Gentle Annie' between Napier and Taihape.
Thats just a few suggestions to get you started!0 -
The best NZ guides are the Pedallers Paradise books , one for the Nth Is and one for the Sth Is, available at just about any bike shop or bookstore. They are full of good info on camping facilities and what you will encounter on your trip.
I have toured the Sth Is only ( 3 different trips, 5 months in total) mainly on road but also quite a bit of gravel.0 -
ralex wrote:jimfrandisco,
In the South Island, I would say the best gravel road routes are the circular combination of the 'Molesworth road' and the 'Rainbow road', and also the 'Mavora Lakes' road.
Molesworth/Rainbow can be done starting from Hanmer Springs, St Arnaud, or Blenheim. Molesworth has restrictions on access at certain times so check with DOC (Dept of Conservation) first.
Mavora Lakes is accessed by taking the steam boat from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu.
You might also like the Otago Central Rail Trail.
On sealed roads, the West Coast road from Wanaka right up the coast then up the Buller Gorge and over to St Arnaud or Nelson is great in either direction.
The North Island is busier, but can still be great cycling, especially the East Cape, and in the Wairarapa east of the main highway there are several reaonably quiet scenic roads. There is a great gravel road called 'Gentle Annie' between Napier and Taihape.
Thats just a few suggestions to get you started!
I couldn't imagine riding the Gentle Annie on a push bike, especially when you meet a stock truck. You'd be coughing up dust for the rest of your trip to NZ. Wanganui River Road (forgotten highway) is good for a ride, and maybe a jetboat ride too. The entire Taranaki coast would be nice (although it gets windy).Lapierre Zesty 514 - 20100 -
dynastarg9 wrote:I couldn't imagine riding the Gentle Annie on a push bike, especially when you meet a stock truck. You'd be coughing up dust for the rest of your trip to NZ. Wanganui River Road (forgotten highway) is good for a ride, and maybe a jetboat ride too. The entire Taranaki coast would be nice (although it gets windy).
You might not be able to imagine it, but i've done it. It's a great ride and there were no significant problems with stock trucks or dust, no more than any other gravel road anyway. I did it over two days from Napier to Taihape, stayed the night in a deserted farmhouse around half way. Good trip!0 -
ralex wrote:dynastarg9 wrote:I couldn't imagine riding the Gentle Annie on a push bike, especially when you meet a stock truck. You'd be coughing up dust for the rest of your trip to NZ. Wanganui River Road (forgotten highway) is good for a ride, and maybe a jetboat ride too. The entire Taranaki coast would be nice (although it gets windy).
You might not be able to imagine it, but i've done it. It's a great ride and there were no significant problems with stock trucks or dust, no more than any other gravel road anyway. I did it over two days from Napier to Taihape, stayed the night in a deserted farmhouse around half way. Good trip!
Sounds nice.. much nicer than being stuck at work in London anyway. I'd much rather be at home in Taranaki thinking about all of those great rides waiting for me.Lapierre Zesty 514 - 20100 -
I rode it last summer. It was in the process of being destroyed, straightened steepened and sealed.It is still a better option to get in and out of the Hawkes Bay than SHW 2 Taupo to Napier Though.
Take care Brian0
