• TIMEFRAME

  • 6 Days
  • 5 Nights Accommodation

  • OVERVIEW

  • 5 cycling days
  • Aoraki or Tekapo to Oamaru

  • MEALS

  • 5 Breakfasts
  • 1 Lunch
  • 1 Dinner

  • LUGGAGE

  • Daily transfers
  • 1 x 15kg bag pp
  • Door to door

Aoraki Start

from $1,870
  • Your Own Bike $1,870
  • With Bike Hire $2,080
  • With EBike Hire $2,355

*includes helicopter flight

Tekapo Start

from $1,645
  • Your Own Bike $1,645
  • With Bike Hire $1,855
  • With Ebike Hire $2,130
ALPS 2 OCEAN CYCLE TRAIL

6 Day Discovery

The Discovery, like the Escape, has 5 cycling days. The main differences are in the locations you stay and the distances you cycle. With this option you will stay at Twizel, a town built to house workers constructing the Upper Waitaki hydroelectricity scheme and designed to be temporary however proudly still standing today. You’ll also stay in Omarama, nestled in a broad basin between mountain ranges, where you can watch gliders soar in the sky and have a relaxing soak in a private hot tub filled with pure mountain water under the starry night sky. Kurow is another spot where you’ll stay, well-known and popular for it’s wine and world famous (in New Zealand!) for being the town where Richie McCaw grew up.

All of this with friendly support provided along the way, should you need it. Begin your adventure from the official start point at Aoraki/Mount Cook or the alternative start at Tekapo. This experience has flexible start dates to suit your needs.

What’s Included

  • Transfer from our depot in Omarama to your designated starting point of Aoraki/Mount Cook or Tekapo.

  • Cycle hire – Merida Crossway 100 Hybrid Touring / Merida E-bike.

  • Cycle accessories – helmet, rear trunk bag with drop down sides, gel seat cover, puncture repair kit, bike lock, drink bottle holder and high visibility vest.

  • Five night’s accommodation of an excellent standard in double or twin share (additional cost of $575 for a single supplement).

    Accommodation Upgrades

  • Helicopter flight from Mount Cook Airport if you select Aoraki start.

  • A range of meals: breakfast provided in all locations – five in total; evening meal included in one location; lunch provided for one day.

  • Daily baggage transfer (1x 15kg bag per person) between all accommodation providers.

  • Tour itinerary, directions to accommodation and A2O trail map provided.

  • Cycle breakdown and rider support service.

  • Daily check-ins with Trail Adventures in person or by phone.

Itinerary

Day 1: No cycling today

At 12pm, we will meet you at our depot at 16 Chain Hills Highway in Omarama for a bike fitting (if required) before transferring you through some amazing scenery to Mt Cook Village or Tekapo where you’ll stay the night.

You are welcome to leave your vehicle at our depot while you ride the trail.

Meals included today: B

If you have selected the Aoraki start point:

From Mt Cook Village you will cycle roughly 2km to the trail start point at White Horse Hill Campground. From here it’s approximately an 8km cycle down to Mt Cook Airfield where you’ll board a helicopter for a short transfer provided by Southern Lakes Helicopters (scenic flights can be added) across the Tasman River to the Rotten Tommy landing area. After the transfer you’ll continue riding alongside Lake Pukaki enjoying the amazing view before heading across the Pukaki Flats to Twizel where you’ll spend the night.

If you have selected the Tekapo start point:

The alternative start begins just outside Tekapo township and follows the canals. Upon reaching Lake Pukaki, you’ll cycle along the side of the lake, enjoying the amazing view before heading across the Pukaki Flats to Twizel where you’ll spend the night.

Meals included today: B / D

Today you cycle along the edge of stunning turquoise coloured canals, and the southern edge of Lake Ohau along a beautiful trail.

NB: riding distance today may vary depending on accommodation availability.

Meals included today: B / L

It’s a steady climb up out of Ohau to the highpoint of the A2O trail at 900m above sea level. The destination is Omarama but make sure you take a look at the Historic Quailburn Woolshed and consider a side excursion to The Clay Cliffs along the way. 

NB: riding distance today may vary depending on accommodation availability.

Meals included today: B

Today’s ride is a little longer and will take you around the edge of hydro lakes Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki with you finishing your days ride in the quaint little town of Kurow.

Meals included today: B

After breakfast you will set off, riding through Pasquale Vineyard and alongside the mighty Waitaki River. Take a look at the ancient Māori rock drawings before arriving at the historic town of Duntroon. The Vanished World museum is located in Duntroon where you’ll be able to gather information about the geology of the next stage of your ride ahead. From here you’ll follow the trail through several farms to the unique rock formations known as Elephant Rocks. You’ll continue on and be surrounded by limestone escarpments before riding through to Oamaru taking in the beautifully manicured Oamaru Public Gardens along the way to the trail finishing point at Oamaru Harbour. We will meet you here by 2.45pm for luggage collection and/or bike return.

Additional extras:

  • Fancy staying the night in Oamaru after finishing your ride? Add a night for $140 per person double/twin share including breakfast.
  • Need to get back through to our depot in Omarama? Our shuttle leaves Oamaru at 3pm. The price is $50 per person for the shuttle and $15 per bike (doesn’t apply to our bikes). This needs to be booked when booking your experience with us as our shuttle only runs on demand. Please be aware there is a minimum cost of $200 for this shuttle to run.

Departure Dates

You can view all available season dates, check pricing and make a booking by using the buttons below.

BOOK NOW - AORAKI START
BOOK NOW - TEKAPO START

Although we’ve included as much as possible within your tour these are the things that aren’t included in the pricing:

Any meals not mentioned above.

Drinks and alcohol.

Single supplement: if you are travelling alone or would like your own room throughout the tour, this is an additional $575.

Add a night’s accommodation in Oamaru of excellent quality with close proximity to the finish, the harbour, restaurants and bars for $110 per person double/twin share. Continental breakfast can also be included for $25 per person. This provides time to explore the penguin colony, limestone architecture of the Victorian Precinct or many other activities that Oamaru has to offer.

A shuttle back through to our depot in Omarama. Our shuttle leaves Oamaru at 3pm (with 2.45pm the latest arrival time). There is also the option of a 10am shuttle the following day however this would require an overnight stay in Oamaru. The price is $55 per person for the shuttle and $15 per bike (doesn’t apply to our bikes). This needs to be booked when booking your experience with us as our shuttle only runs on demand. Please be aware there is a minimum cost of $250 for the 10am shuttle to run.

If you are bringing your own bike, please ensure it has recently been serviced and that you carry a personal repair kit that contains items such as an inner tube, pump and puncture repair kit. If you bring your own bike and you require repairs, we will do our best to help however it is likely there will be a cost associated with this and it is possible we won’t be able to carry out the repairs ourselves.