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6 Must-See Places When Cycling in New Zealand’s South Island

Are you thinking of cycling on the South Island of New Zealand? Discover the must-see stops during your cycling trip on the South Island of New Zealand.

New Zealand West Coast

The South Island of New Zealand is a nature lover’s dream.

With mild temperatures in most of the island due to its closeness to the sea, it is a great place to walk, hike, and cycle.

Even the Alpine region of New Zealand is beautiful and has some enchanting scenery and unique things to see.

For several years New Zealand has been working on developing more cycling trails.

These trails cater to all types of cyclists, from beginners to experts.

Some trails are great for families while others are great for a ride with friends and even solo travel.

For our cycling trip in New Zealand’s South Island, we traveled on an organized tour with VBT Bicycling Vacations company.

We highly recommend them, the experience of traveling with VBT was excellent.

We stayed at great places, our meals were fresh and the variety of experiences was well-balanced.

The Advantages of Cycling Using an Organized Tour:

  • Bikes and helmets – no need to worry about renting bikes or helmets these are typically part of the service provided by the tour operator. Many of them have e-bike options. Before booking read the tour information and services provided by the cycling tour company.
  • Support Vans – these are lifesavers when you have a flat, or mechanical problems with your bike, when you’re not feeling well, or if you’re exhausted. These vans will also shuttle you directly to your hotel at the end of the day.
  • Snacks and drinks – Although we always recommend having snacks and water with you at all times the van provides additional snacks and drinks along the way.
  • Lodging – no need to investigate where to stay, how far you have to ride, or the hassle of making reservations. This is all taken care of, you only have to ride, hike, kayak, and have a great time.
  • Tour guides – these tours have a physical person who can answer your questions and give recommendations based on their experience in this area.
  • Meeting new people – typically cycling tours have no more than 20 people, making it a great way to meet like-minded people. Even if you go by yourself there will be others with whom to have dinner and enjoy the trip.

Getting to the South Island

Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand.

It is also the starting point for many tours on the South Island.

When coming from America you must travel through Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand or via Sydney, Australia.

From Auckland:

The best way to get from Auckland to Christchurch is to fly. JetStar and Air New Zealand have direct flights with a duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes.

You can travel by train and ferry but it is more expensive than flying and takes over 22 hours. In addition, train and ferry services are not daily.

From Sydney:

Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand have direct flights to Christchurch International Airport (CHC). The flight has a duration of 3 hours and 5 minutes.

Must-See Places When Cycling in New Zealand’s South Island

1. Christchurch

Plan to spend a day or two in this lovely walkable city. Visit Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens with its huge variety of roses.

When we visited, the roses were in full bloom and the smell could be appreciated as you approached the rose garden.

If you’re ready to start cycling, the city of Christchurch has 13 cycling routes in different stages of development.

So it provides plenty of spaces to cycle safely inside the city.

This is a great warm-up run before tackling routes in the rest of South Island.

Christchurch also has several art museums and lovely shops in the center of town.

Whether you’re starting your active vacation or need a day to adjust to the new time zone, Christchurch offers plenty of options.

Cycling South Island NZ
South Island New Zealand
New Zealand

2. Hokitika

To cycle the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island you’ll need to cross the Southern Alps.

You can do this by cycling or if you’re a beginner-level cyclist you can take the Tranzalpine train to Arthur’s Pass.

Even if you’re not a beginner, the train ride offers stunning scenery with breathtaking views at every turn.

Once you reach Arthur’s Pass you can cycle the West Coast Wilderness Trail towards the Tasman Sea for 18 miles.

As part of the tour, we were shuttled to Hokitika where we stayed the first night.

If you’re planning this trip independently you can stay in Greymouth for the night.

Hokitika was once a bustling gold mining town.

Today it has transformed into a laid-back coastal retreat, known for its arts scene, jade carving, and beach-loving community.

When we arrived we took the time to walk on the beach where we enjoyed some of the sculptures that were still up from the Hokitika Driftwood and Sand Festival.

The Hokitika Driftwood and Sand Festival takes place every January at Hokitika Beach.

Artists and amateurs make sculptures using driftwood, sand, and other materials they find on the beach.

Returning from the walk we ordered pizza and bought a bottle of New Zealand Riesling.

We watched the sunset while enjoying the pizza and wine on our room’s balcony.

Get ready to ride the West Coast Trail the next morning, a highlight of New Zealand’s Cycle Trail.

This trail will take you near attractive beaches, through native bush and forest.

At the end of the day, we rode our tour shuttle to spend the night at Franz Josef.

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3. Franz Josef

The village of Franz Josef lies at the foot of a 7000-year-old 12-kilometer-long temperate maritime glacier.

Though Franz Josef is close to the sea, its proximity to the Alps means that nighttime temperatures can cool down significantly.

The village is connected to the Franz Josef Glacier Valley via walking tracks.

The town of Franz Josef is targeted for adventure lovers. You can take helicopter rides from the heliport in town to the glacier.

If you choose to do the heli-ride you’ll be able to land and walk on the glacier.

If you choose to hike you will not be able to walk on the glacier only to photograph and see it from afar.

The town of Franz Josef is well-prepared for visitors. In addition to hotels and motels, there are camping grounds and backpacker facilities.

There are many restaurants and shops and even a couple of SPAs.

4. Okarito

A non-cycling activity in our tour was an early morning visit to Okarito Lagoon to watch the sunrise.

Okarito Lagoon serves as a bird sanctuary, hosting over 70 species of local birds.

Choose to be ferried in a small boat across the lagoon, or kayak at your own pace and explore on your own.

Arriving early in the morning lets you enjoy calm, windless conditions at Okarito Lagoon, with stunning reflections of the Alpine range on the still water.

Walk around the very small village or hike the Okarito Trig walk.

5. Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moreaki

There are several options for cycling after leaving Franz Josef.

One of the best options is a stop at Fox Glacier southwest of Franz Josef.

You’ll find Lake Matheson and several nearby hiking trails waiting to be explored.

In our case, we were shuttled from Franz Josef and cycled 62 km through amazing forests to the South Westland Salmon Farm where we had lunch.

After a fresh and satisfying lunch, we were again shuttled to the Wilderness Lodge.

The Wilderness Lodge was one of our favorite stays of the whole trip.

Surrounded by a 1,000-year-old rainforest and pristine seacoast, the lodge offers hiking trails, kayaking, and peaceful spots to relax or read in the gardens.

Explore several well-maintained, clearly marked hiking trails on your own, or join one of the daily guided nature walks.

The lodge has a restaurant with views of the lake and forest. The food was delicious and they had a good wine selection.

But one of the best things to do in Wilderness Lodge is take advantage of the dark skies.

Since there is no light pollution it’s easy to appreciate the stunning view of the stars and the Milky Way.

If you’ve never seen glow worms, join a night tour where a knowledgeable guide will take you to see them up close nearby.

Monro Beach is an hour hike away from Wilderness Lodge.

This beach has some beautiful rock formations worthy of this hike.

Nevertheless, take into consideration that you may encounter sandflies as soon as you leave the forest.

These nasties bite hard and can make your short time at this beach miserable.

6. Lake Wanaka

It was sad to say goodbye to the Wilderness Lodge but the sadness soon disappeared as we made our way to Lake Wanaka.

This bike ride featured breathtaking waterfalls and rainwater cascading down the cliffs.

You’ll cycle close to rivers and creeks with water so clear that you can see the stones on the bottom from your seat on the bike.

The way to Lake Wanaka is magical and even more so when you arrive at the lake with blue water from the nearby glacier.

In Wanaka, visit a sheep and cattle station to experience local farming life.

Watch farmers use sheepdogs and helicopters to manage their grazing sheep.

The town of Wanaka has some charming stores and cafes where you can spend an afternoon.

As an alternative, you can enjoy the beautiful walking trails along the edge of the lake.

Wanaka and the Lake Wanaka region is one of the prettiest in the South Island of New Zealand.

Cycling New Zealand’s South Island Resources

When you’re ready to plan your cycling trip in New Zealand’s South Island here are a few resources you might find useful:

Whatever way you choose to cycle in New Zealand: independently or on a tour.

Solo, with family or friends, the experience of hiking and cycling on New Zealand’s South Island is unique and not to be missed.

So do some planning, pack your bag, and enjoy the beauty that is New Zealand’s South Island.

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