New Zealand - South island - Christchurch Cycling Getaway (5 days)
South Island Self-guided Road Bike Tour
You can ride by yourself, in a small, guided group or we could hook you up with one of the local bunch rides that are rolling around the Garden City every weekend throughout the summer months.
You will stay in a quality hotel in the centre of Christchurch and the rides on Day 2 and 3 will commence from your doorstep. For the ride on Day 4 we will provide you with a shuttle service to the start location. The hotel's central location gives you all the opportunities to spend your evenings at your own leisure. You can either relax or partake in the nightlife.
The Christchurch weekend Getaway introduces you to three of the four landscapes characterising cycling in Canterbury:
- Undulating rides with coastal scenery, along the beach and around bays and harbours.
- Rides with longer climbs on Banks Peninsula with its mix of hills, farmland and patches of native bush
- Flat rides in the Canterbury Plains, with the mighty Southern Alps in the background.
If you also like to experience the Canterbury's Alpine environment, we recommend you stay on for a few more days and ride the 'Coast to Coast' from Christchurch to the West Coast and back!
On our 3 riding days we will climb approx. 3200 - 4000 meters and cover a distance of 350-400km.
- Day 1. Arrival to Christchurch
Please plan your arrival in Christchurch for the late afternoon or evening. At 18:00 we will have a short tour briefing at the hotel, hand out the tour documentation to you (route maps and ride descriptions) and will also do the bike fit for all those customers who hired a bike (seat height, saddle and handlebar positions, etc.). No Cycling
- Day 2. The Christchurch Classic: Long Bays Circuit
Your first ride is the classic Christchurch cycle route. From the centre of
the city you make your way to the foot of the Port Hills and circumnavigate
this Christchurch landmark in anticlockwise direction. You will ride over
Gebbies Pass into Lyttelton Harbour and continue around the northern side
of the harbour to Governor's Bay. You 'roller-coaster' on to Lyttleton and
over Evan's Pass back into Christchurch.
On our tour notes we suggest a number of interesting excursions, depending
on your preferences. For example the hilly 'out and back' ride to Diamond
Harbour and Purau Bay on the 'other side' of the harbour are well-liked
local 'add-ons' to the 85 km standard loop. For the adventurous the road
even continues past Purau Bay up a steep climb (approx 400m of climbing) to
Port Levy Saddle and down to Port Levy.
The entire circuit - including the excursions - is dotted with lovely cafes inviting you for a stop to refuel and enjoy the atmosphere in the bays.
Cycling: 85-110-134km / 53-68-83mi, 3-5-7hrs riding. Climbing: 980-1200-2000Am
- Day 3. Canterbury Plains: The Three Gorges Trip
Today's ride is a well-know long ride in the Christchurch cycling scene. Although the landscape suggests this is a completely flat ride, there is some elevation gain when going out towards the foothills of the Southern Alps. You start the ride from the hotel, travel out of Christchurch to Rangiora, cross the Ashley River and make our way past the Okuku River and the nearby Okuku Gorge. Along the foot of the mountains the ride turns into a 'roller coaster' past the Ashley Gorge into Oxford, the halfway point and only village with shops and cafes on this ride. The second part of the ride takes you to the Waimakariri Gorge bridge, which is the place of the last transition for the annual and legendary 'Coast to Coast' Multisport Race. From the bridge you follow the 'Coast to Coast' bike route beside the Waimakariri River on the Old West Coast Road back into Christchurch. On a normal Canterbury 'Norwest' day, the wind will be in your back, the road downhill and you will be flying back to town.
Cycling: 170km / 105mi, 7hrs riding. Climbing: 800Am
- Day 4. Christchurch to Akaroa: The 'Le Race'Route
We have left the best to last. This is the ride with the best scenery, the most hill climbs and the most history around Christchurch. It is the course for the annual 'Le Race' bike event, which is held at the beginning of March. The route takes in sections of the Christchurch and Akaroa Summit Road with spectacular views around each corner. It has got a flat section along Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth. At 8:00 am we will provide a shuttle service from the hotel to Akaroa and plan to arrive there around 10:00 am, leaving you plenty of time to get back to Christchurch.
With starting your day in Akaroa, you will ride the 'Le Race' -course in
reverse direction. You should also have enough time to explore the village
before starting your bike trip.
The French settlement of Akaroa is a destination in its own right. There
are many Arts & Craft shops and many other tourist attraction, such as
wine & cheese tasting, harbour cruises, and for the more adventurous a
swim with the local and very friendly Hectors Dolphins (provided by Black
Cat Cruises).
Cycling: 100km / 62mi, 5-6hrs riding. Climbing: 1500Am
- Day 5. Departure from Christchurch
This morning our services end. The hire bikes will be picked up from the hotel at 9:00 am or at another pre-arranged time. We hope you have enjoyed the short break in Christchurch. No Cycling
Please note that your trip may differ from the above itinerary either to better suit the needs of the group, or due to circumstances beyond our control such as the weather.
Operated by Global Adventure
Departures: all year round
Contact us for more information and prices.