Around The Mountains Cycle Trail - Tuatara Tours

New Zealand Cycle Trail:

Around The Mountains Cycle Trail

Where

Queenstown to Queenstown

Duration

4 days / 3 nights

Fitness

NZ$2095

Only a few places left this summer!!

Missed out? Dates now available for next summer.

  • Start Date Status
  • Tue 02 Apr 2024Available
  • Tue 19 Nov 2024
  • Tue 14 Jan 2025
  • Tue 4 Feb 2025
  • Tue 18 Feb 2025
  • Tue 4 Mar 2025
  • Mon 17 Mar 2025
  • Mon 31 Mar 2025
  • Tue 8 Apr 2025
  • Tue 22 Apr 2025
Do you have another date in mind?
We can build a tour especially for your group, please enquire for a private tour for 10 or more friends
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No bike?
No problem!

We have a variety of e-bikes and manual bikes ready for hire.

Find Out More

The tour begins with a bus trip from Queenstown to Kingston, the little township on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu. 

You will circumnavigate the Eyre Mountains by bike finishing on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at Walter Peak Homestead.

Your adventure continues with a boat trip across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steam ship, the TSS Earnslaw, ending up back in the southern jewel of Queenstown.

Your fully guided tour starts and ends in the South Island’s largest tourist mecca: Queenstown, with all accommodation, meals, and support vehicles provided.

Tour Itinerary

NZ$2095

Day 1 Queenstown - Kingston to Five Rivers

Location: Historic Hotel

Distance: 48km

We leave from Queenstown and drive 40 km to the quaint little lakeside township of Kingston on the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu.

From Kingston you’ll cycle through gently rolling land past Fairlight Station – The Kingston Flier Steam Train destination( the train is not currently operating ).

From here it is on to Garston and Athol, through the farming communities in this lush rural  region before finishing your days riding at Five Rivers.

Your accommodation tonight will be in Lumsden in a delightfully restored historic country hotel.

Nestled in a picturesque and tranquil basin this small town revels in its role as the crossroads for travellers who choose to venture to this peaceful and restful part of Northern Southland.

Roads journey to Lumsden from all directions of the compass – Queenstown to the north, Gore to the east, Te Anau and Milford Sound to the west and Invercargill to the south.

Day 2 Five Rivers to Oreti River

Location: Modern Motel

Distance: 54 km

This morning you commence your riding for the day at Five Rivers .You ride downhill gently for 15 km  to Lumsden.

From Lumsden you ride west gradually up the valley alongside the Oreti river to New Zealand’s Deer Capital – Mossburn.

You continue on your ride for another 24km to the finish of Day 2 on the banks of the Oreti River.

From here we drive to Te Anau where we will spend the next 2 nights and relish the warm Southern Hospitality.

Sit back, relax and watch the sunset with Fiordland’s mountains creating the most beautiful backdrop.

Day 3 Te Anau

Location: Modern Motel

Te Anau township sits on the edge of Lake Te Anau, lying on the border of Fiordland National Park and Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

Te Anau is the town that connects Queenstown to Milford Sound by road.

The famously scenic Milford Road begins in the centre of Te Anau.

Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and largest in the country by water volume getting to depths of over 400m.

The lake sprawls at the feet of high rugged mountains.

Today’s itinerary includes the option of a bike ride from Te Anau to Manapouri and we also have time to visit Te Anau’s Wildlife Park where you can view the rediscovered Takahe a flightless alpine bird, along with other unique native birds such as the Kaka, Tui, Kea and the Parakeet.

Instead of the bike ride to Manapouri you may choose to journey to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves a rare example of a living cave that is still under formation. (optional, at your own cost). A beautiful cruise across the lake drops you off at The Grotto where a short walk and boat ride along water from a fresh water spring takes you deep into the (young) 15,000 year old cave, lit by thousands of tiny bioluminescent insects.

Tonight you stay again in Te Anau.

Day 4 Te Anau - Mavora Lakes to Walter Peak - Queenstown

Distance: 30 to 50km

Today we travel by vehicle through to the Mavora Lakes Park.

The North and South Mavora Lakes are located in an impressive landscape of mountains, forest and tussock grassland and recognised as part of the Te Wāhipounamu/ South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. The area is also home to multiple Lord of the Rings film locations.

Along today’s ride Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Chamois and Himalayan Tahr can be spotted on the slopes of Mt Nicholas, providing an extraordinary environment to cycle through.

The picturesque Von River also runs across the station providing some stunning photographic opportunities.

Mt Nicholas Station is a New Zealand family owned, fully operational High Country Sheep Station. At over 100,000 acres, Mt. Nicholas is the largest station on the lake. The 27,000 merino sheep produce some of the world’s finest quality wool fibre, the majority of which is used in the production of the iconic “Icebreaker” range of high quality, natural fibre garments.

The Station lies at the foot of the Southern Alps, with Fiordland National Park to the west and the spectacular, clear waters of Lake Wakatipu immediately to the east.

For the final afternoon of your Around The Mountains cycle experience you ride along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to the end of the trail at Walter Peak Station.

On conclusion of the cycling there is time for a wine (or beer) to celebrate a successful ride before boarding the TSS Earnslaw Steamship from Walter Peak to your final destination in downtown Queenstown.

  • Transport is available to take your to your local accommodation if required, please discuss with our office.

What’s Included

Accommodation

Each night you will stay in comfortable hotel, motel or bed and breakfast accommodation.

Rooms are double (one queen or king bed) or twin (2 separate beds). If you have a preference for a twin room, please let us know when you make your booking. All rooms have their own ensuite bathroom except for your accommodation Night 1 which has shared facilities.

If you are a single traveller, you can nominate to share a room with another single of the same gender or pay an additional single supplement to secure a private room for the duration of the tour.

The single room supplement for this tour is $545

Bike Hire
We have bikes for hire and recommend you use them as they are tried and true in the areas we operate. All of our bikes are fully maintained and serviced before they leave. Included in the cost of your cycle hire is a cycle helmet and safety vest. You may use your own bike, but please ensure it is well maintained and fully serviced before your tour starts. For The Around The Mountains Cycle Trail, bike hire is $225 for a mountain bike and $475 for an E Bike.
An experienced guide

Our guides are very experienced, friendly walkers and bikers who love to share their knowledge of New Zealand’s flora and fauna and local history. They all hold current first aid certificates, passenger driving licences and are the very best people to ensure your experience will be one to remember.

Food

You will enjoy great local cuisine; continental breakfasts and hearty packed lunches during the day, and either restaurant meals or wholesome home-cooked fare prepared by your host/hostess in the evenings. If you have any dietary issues or food allergies, we are happy to cater for these, please advise the office of details when you make your booking. Alcohol is not included in the tour cost, but is available for purchase most nights.

Safety and Risk Management

To ensure maximum safety for all, our guides are certified first aiders and fully qualified drivers. Tuatara Tours operate under a Safety and Risk Management Plan which is regularly audited and approved by a qualified and independent auditor.

Luggage & Transfers

Tuatara Tours transports all your luggage for the duration of the tour.

Tour Kit Bag Exclusive to Tuatara Tours

To ensure you get the very best out of your journey with the least of fuss, we provide you with a bag of useful goodies.

This will be given to you at the start of your tour.

All transport

Access and Concession fees paid to the Department of Conservation

NZ Goods and Service Tax (GST)

Testimonials

Very good! Beautiful scenery, great motels, lengths of rides good, everything catered for. Another fabulous Tuatara Tour!

Rita - NZ

A very memorable tour in an awesome part of NZ

John - NZ

Very good, all so easy, will book again

Di - NZ

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