Tekapo Canal Trail
Tekapo
Tuatara Tours will take you from Christchurch (which has an international airport) right into the heart of the South Island of New Zealand. You will soak up the magical views and discover the history of the Mackenzie Country in four leisurely paced days of pedalling. Join us for an unforgettable cycling adventure alongside the picturesque glacial lakes, under the watchful eye of the mighty Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest mountain).
An intrinsic characteristic of canals is that they are especially built so that the water flows gently downwards. This gradual decline, alongside canals that start from Lake Tekapo, exists in the wonderful Mackenzie Country.
Hydro canals also tend to flow from lake to lake – moving through turbines to generate power. This means that you will ride alongside five beautiful southern lakes – namely Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, Lake Ruataniwha, Lake Benmore and Lake Ohau.
And if that won’t test your eyesight, then there is the continual backdrop of the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps (including Mt Cook)….…which are longer than the Swiss Alps. The scenery is mind blowing…….and we suggest that you look at the video on our website!
Guided tours from Tuatara Tours are all about camaraderie. To this end, the ambience continues at night with good quality lodge accommodation and splendid meals. Excellent New Zealand wines and other refreshments are also available to suit your choice.
The distance is approximately 140kms, but you can do more (or less) if you wish – due to the flexibility of being supported by an accompanying vehicle and guide.
Features of the cycle trail include:
- Quality lodge accommodation on all three nights.
- All meals for the duration of the trip (alcohol at your expense).
- Safe quiet canal roads.
- Flexible biking options so that you can make use of the support vehicle whenever you choose to. You can ride at your own leisurely pace with the usual option being to cycle approximately 40kms per day.
- All your bike maintenance taken care of.
- Bike hire is available
- Your trip is fully guided and your bags are transported for you. All you will need each day is a small day pack, with your camera and a water bottle.
- The tour begins and ends in Christchurch with all your transport over the four days included
- You receive four days of fun cycling, incorporating five beautiful lakes and the mighty Mount Cook…… and of course great company!
Trip Itinerary:
You will depart from Christchurch and enjoy a scenic and informative drive through to Lake Tekapo, the centre of the South Island. At Tekapo the astounding panoramic views from the top of Mt John Observatory will take your breath away! It is reputedly an area that enjoys the world’s clearest night sky.
As your cycle experience unfolds you are immersed in the incredibly scenic landscape of turquoise coloured glacial lakes and tussock-clad hills, with the stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
You will pedal past the world famous Church of the Good Shepherd (which offers awe-inspiring views of Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps through its altar window). You will proceed alongside Lake Tekapo, taking in the views of the magnificent lake and mountains, as well as hectares of Russell Lupins in attractive shades of pinks and purples.
This evening you will relax at a resort hotel that has unbelievable panoramic views across the turquoise waters of the lake. Optional extra’s include a soak in the hot pools close by, or an evening excursion to the Mt John observatory.
After breakfast, you will cycle along the emerald blue canals towards Lake Pukaki, with a brief visit to the Mount Cook Salmon Farm. Travel around the end of Lake Pukaki and (depending on how long you want to cycle) up to the Mt Cook Village at the base of Mount Cook itself. You will also pass New Zealand’s largest letterbox at Irishman Creek, an area also well known as the farm station where the world’s first jet boat was built and tested.
While travelling up the rambling road towards Mount Cook you can enjoy stops at Peter’s Lookout, Boundary Stream and Glentanner. The Mount Cook National Park carries World Heritage status and contains almost all of New Zealand’s major mountain peaks - stretching approximately 70kms along the Southern Alps.
On your arrival at Mt Cook there will be time for a look around the Village before heading off by coach to your lodge for the evening, right in the heart of the Mackenzie Country.
The evening is spent in a quality lodge, right in the heart of the Mackenzie Country.
You will wake up with a wonderful view of the snow capped mountains, and after breakfast you will cycle leisurely along the canal road to Lake Ruataniwha Lake Ruataniwha. This is an interesting man-made lake and you will enjoy the local tale of how it was created. A project engineer spent millions of dollars supposedly getting the ‘shoreline redeveloped’…….but instead built a world class rowing course.
You will then join the Twizel River Trail between Twizel and Lake Benmore. This trail runs for 12km, parallel to the Twizel River, and offers wonderful views of the Mackenzie Basin. The trail ends overlooking the beautiful Lake Benmore, which is New Zealand’s largest man-made lake – famous for its fishing.
Your next experience is to travel a short distance to the start of the Lake Ohau road. From there you will enjoy a relaxed cycle along gradually sloping downhill roads to the magnificent Lake Ohau. A leisurely pedal along the south side of the lake also offers you another opportunity to experience the wonderful views of the snow-capped mountains in the background.
You overnight at the beautiful Lake Ohau Lodge, which provides stunning panoramic views of the lake, mountains and surrounding countryside.
On the final day, you will enjoy a ride to the head of Lake Ohau and into the Ruataniwha Conservation Park. This park consists of over 36,800 hectares of rugged mountain landscapes, encompassing beech (Tawhai) forest, sparkling clear rivers, and the Ohau and Ben Ohau ranges.
Your final group lunch is alongside the shoreline of the lake where you will celebrate the conclusion of your four day biking experience - before departing by coach back to Christchurch.
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