7-Day Central Otago

We will meet and greet at the depot in central Christchurch. This will give us the opportunity to fit and adjust bikes for the week to come. Once that is settled, we get underway with our first ride as a warm up in nearby Burwood Forest park. That gets the pedals churning before we transfer out to Godley Head tracks for a bit more technical riding and a bit more grunty up and down. Eventually all good fun comes to an end and we transfer to nearby accommodation and a BBQ dinner to follow.

Meals: L,D

Today we will do the first major ride of the trip. A vehicle transfer will deliver us to the Ashley Gorge and a stunning ride over the gorge and through to the start of the Wharfdale Track. This old stock route through the beech forest is enough to keep you on your toes with a long and a short option to ride. At grade 3+ the riding will test your new fitness and skill set as you first cross the riverflats of Townsend River and then start to climb through the beech, and Manuka forests towards the first main summit. Numerous small stream crossings test the riding skills and expect to walk a few of these. As the descents start to smooth out the riding improves and speeds up with a final blast out onto the pastures and the road end. A further 5 km ride takes us along the access road and eventually we can rejoin the vehicle. From here we drive south across the Canterbury Plains to Waimate for the night.

Meals: B,L

Beyond the Waimate gorge we head inland through rural farmland. We will cycle upwards on the remote backcountry unsealed road, crossing through high country farmland and rolling countryside. From Meyers Pass we descend into the remote Hakataramea Valley with the occasional farm gate providing temporary barriers for us. Down on the valley floor we will get in a sealed road that provides the chance to cycle through to nearby Kurow township. From here we drive down the Waitaki Valley and then through more backcountry gravel roads to the summit of Danseys Pass. Then we continue downhill to Naseby and we arrive at our historic accommodation. Naseby is a goldmining centre that has now become a mountain biking mecca, as we will discover tomorrow.

Meals: B,L,D

The old gold diggings of Naseby have been forested over and a series of awesome trails have been developed. This makes for a magnet for South Island riders. We will spend the day exploring and developing skills with a local guide.
As an added bonus, Naseby is also home of the only indoor curling rink – sort of indoor bowls on ice. In the evening you will have the opportunity for 2 hours of fun with this unique sport.

Meals: B,L

The Manitoto basin is home to the famous Otago Rail Trail and it is just too good to miss out on. From the summit of the trail we ride one of the best sections down into Oturehua and then over the viaducts and through the tunnels. The ride will finish at the hotel at Omakau. A short transfer from here takes us into Alexandra where set amongst the weird rock landscapes of Central Otago is yet another mountain bike fun park where we will spend the rest of the afternoon.

Meals: B,L

The Nevis valley sits high above the surrounding landscape, and has been the scene of various failed mining operations. Using our vehicle support the start of today’s ride via Duffy Saddle will be accessed before descending to the valley floor. The ride today is remote and will be unsupported as the vehicle is relocated to the rides end. For the riders, the 4WD road is straight forward with various stream crossings involved. A final pull out of the valley brings us to the start of the descent out of the high country down to the small township of Garston and our waiting vehicle. From here its a short drive along the lake to Queenstown and a dinner to celebrate this past amazing week full of adventures together.

Meals: B,L,D

All good things finish sometime and in this case today is about moving on after breakfast. The guides will be happy to assist with packing up bikes if required.

Meals: B