This self-supporting tour will take you
on 3 days of riding and sightseeing through
the Western and Central Otago region of
the South Island.
The tour will take you from the bustling
resort of Queenstown, the adventure capital
of New Zealand, through amazing scenic
countryside. On this tour you will ride
over the highest paved road in New Zealand,
the Crowne Range Road, to the picturesque
Lake Wanaka and its namesake lakeside
town with... More...
This self-supporting tour will take you
on 3 days of riding and sightseeing through
the Western and Central Otago region of
the South Island.
The tour will take you from the bustling
resort of Queenstown, the adventure capital
of New Zealand, through amazing scenic
countryside. On this tour you will ride
over the highest paved road in New Zealand,
the Crowne Range Road, to the picturesque
Lake Wanaka and its namesake lakeside
town with the Southern Alps as its dramatic
backdrop. From Wanaka the route will turn
south and will follow the Clutha River
valley through rural farm country along
Lake Dunstan to the town of Cromwell,
the processing center for many of the
fruit orchards that surround this fertile
and sunny climate valley. From Cromwell
you will ride south west through scenic
canyons of the Kawarau River back to Queenstown,
where this self-guiding tour ends. Less...
Any time between November and early April should be the most pleasant time of year to ride this tour, though be aware a fluky snow storm could shut down Crown Range Road (SH 89). Also note, during the high summer season, (December - January) traffic will be heavier than usual, especially around Queenstown and Wanaka. Less...
How to Get There
The tour begins and ends in Queenstown, which is serviced by buses and airlines. The Queenstown airport was upgraded in the 1990s to be able to handle jet aircraft, including international flights from Australia. The airport is serviced by regular domestic services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. International flights from Melbourne and Sydney also service the airport.
Several bus services serve Queenstown from many regions of the South Island. If you are planning on taking a bus to Queenstown, check the internet for bus companies and their schedules. If you are touring on a tandem without S&S couplers, check with the bus company ahead of time to make sure they can accommodate you.
If you are traveling by car, then the primary road access to the Queenstown area is via State Highway 6 (SH6), which runs from Cromwell through the Kawarau Gorge to Frankton, where a 9km section (SH6A) leads to the Queenstown city center area.
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Accommodations
Most of New Zealand's accommodations are clean, well serviced and relatively affordable. You can simply camp (if you prefer to carry your own tent), or stay in a basic hostel, or you can select a more comfortable option such as motel, hotel, private flat, or B&B (Bed and Breakfast).
You will find that many private and B&B accommodations in New Zealand offer shared bathroom (generally for lesser rate), which may have a shower but not bath, or vice versa. If you prefer a room with private bath or shower (or both), look for accommodations advertising "ensuite" and always ask if the bathroom has a bathtub. (There is nothing more soothing than a good bath after a hard day's ride).
The accommodations along this route are plentiful, especially around Queenstown. However, if you are traveling during high summer season, it is recommended that you arrange for reservations ahead of time. Check the web, or alternatively, pick up one of the many free accommodation guide books available from any tourist information center in New Zealand (mind you, they can add some weight to your bicycle load), which offer an extensive list of accommodations from camp grounds to hotels. Less...
The Roads
The quality of roads on this tour is good. However, you will find that the roads on this tour are "chip seal" (most roads in New Zealand are chip seal), and therefore somewhat less suitable for thin high pressure tires (too much vibration).
Some of the roads on this tour can be narrow in places with minimal or no guardrails. The road from Arrowtown to Wanaka over the Crown Range is New Zealand's highest paved public road and provides for quite a challenging ride. It can be closed during inclement weather. Less...
Recommended Gear
Besides
the standard
touring gear & spare parts, it is
recommended that you bring at least two
extra foldable tires with strong Kevlar
casing. Clothing layers and cycling rain
gear is absolutely essential for this
tour. Additionally, if you like to use
rearview mirrors, whether they are helmet
mounted or bicycle mounted, make sure
you bring one that can be switched for
riding on the left hand side of the road.
As previously mentioned, a cycling helmet
is required by law in New Zealand and
if you ride after sunset, your bicycle
must be equipped with rear reflective
lights and front headlight. Less...
