The excitement builds as we are collected from our hotel by Daryl, our guide for the next five days on our Alps to Ocean cycle ride. 300 kms in five days!
After a briefing at Tuatara Tours headquarters in Christchurch, we hit the road. Twelve intrepid travellers, with four Kiwis and eight Aussies.
Morning tea in Geraldine, lunch in Lake Tekapo township then we mount our bikes and are off. The ride to Twizel is 55kms, and the weather perfect. We check into our comfortable accommodation in the Lakes Motel, scrub up and dine at Poppies restaurant, which is excellent.
After a great breakfast, we are back on the bikes and make our way to Lake Ohau. The weather is perfect, and an idyllic ride around the lake to our destination, Ohau Lodge. After lunch, it is back on the bikes, and a 17km ride to the historic Quailburn Woolshed. A tough uphill ride .. thank heavens for e bikes! Daryl is there to meet us, and transport us back to Ohau Lodge for drinks, dinner and bed.
Day 3, and we awake to very strong winds at Ohau. Daryl decided the best course of action is to do Day 4’s ride today. It will involve a fair bit of driving, but so be it. After a visit to the nearby Clay Cliffs, we motor out past Otematata, and commence our ride. We stop at Kurow for lunch, then continue to our destination of Duntroon. The wind is very strong, but mostly at our backs, which is appreciated! It is then back to Omarama, and our very comfortable Sierra Motel. Dinner is at a local restaurant and is top quality.
Day 4, and with the weather now fine and calm,we can do the Day 3 ride through Omarama and around Lakes Benmore and Aviemore. These are lakes created on the Waitaki River by the hydro electric schemes of the 1960’s. The track around Benmore was steep, rough and quite spectacular! A great days riding, with some of the group opting for some tasting at a local winery. It was then on to our accommodation and dinner, at Waitaki Braids.
Another perfect day weather wise, although a tad cooler. This is our final day on this epic bicycle journey. It is from Duntroon to Oamaru, a distance of 54kms. We pass the Elephant rocks, ride through on old railway tunnel, across farmland and down into the attractive township of Oamaru.
This has been a really enjoyable tour. The weather, accommodation, food and fellow travellers were all excellent. Tuatara Tours do it very well, with a special mention for our guide and leader, Daryl. He was terrific .. very capable, nothing phased him and a great bloke.
