Nine of us met up at Christchurch airport on Monday morning for this luxury 7-day trip, with accommodation, some evening meals, and suitcase transfer between stops included. First, we got taken by minibus to Tekapo along with other clients of Cycle Journeys. Once at Tekapo we were allocated our bikes, regular for Rob and myself, electric for the others. We enjoyed a stunning vista from a lakeside restaurant where we had some pre-dinner refreshments.
Tuesday dawned with more good weather, and we cycled to the start-point for a photo, and then set off, largely alongside the hydro canal on a service road until Lake Pukaki, where we had lunch, continuing on to Twizel over a bike-only track. Hardly any time was spent on main roads.
On Wednesday we headed west to Lake Ohau, once again riding alongside a canal for quite a way and then on to Lake Ohau Lodge.
On Thursday the weather was less kind. As we set off over the high point of the trail at 900m, some light rain fell for a while. Then on to Omarama, getting there soon after lunch, and enjoyed being tourists for the afternoon, walking in heavy rain that evening to the Speights Alehouse for some very good food.
On Friday, we had some of the most challenging parts of the trail, alongside gorgeous Lake Benmore, culminating in the spectacular Benmore Dam. After many photo stops, we eventually cycled into Otematata.
On Saturday, we had to retrace our steps so to speak, and climb back up to the Benmore Dam, so as to ride the lovely and scenic road that passes various campgrounds along the Eastern side of Lake Aviemore. We then passed Lake Waitaki and admired the original dam of the same name in that region to create the lake in the 1920’s, finally arriving in Kurow for after lunch coffee, staying that night in a converted woolshed 3 kms further on. As part of the service we were bussed into Kurow for our evening meal.
Sunday looked to be fairly easy, so 6 of us elected to return to Kurow and enjoy the museum there (which was free) for an hour, before heading for Duntroon, where we stayed on a remote farm with a communal building for meals, and individual double bed cabins for sleeping which was very atmospheric.
Our last day would see us cycle to Oamaru, via some undulating countryside including travel in part along an old railway.