Southern Alps 10 days - South Island New Zealand

Unspoiled New Zealand: glaciers, rainforests, lakes and snowy peaks.The Southern Alps cycling tour takes one on a breathtaking loop through some of the world's finest scenery. New Zealand still retains a rugged, pristine beauty - the "Lord of the Rings" was filmed here and the West Coast is recognized as a World Heritage Area. Enjoy friendly Kiwi hospitality, excellent local cuisine and charming inns and hotels. Walk on a glacier and experience the rainforest on a range of short hikes. Besides great biking you can try jet-boating, rafting, scenic flights and bungy jumping. This is one of our most popular trips, and the Southern Lakes region has just been rated eighth on Lonely Planet's list of the best regions to visit in 2012.

The Southern Alps tour can be taken as a 10-day tour, or with added locations a 15-day tour.

DAY 1 CHRISTCHURCH.
Meet in Christchurch, capital city of the South Island, for a shake-down ride.

DAY 2 ARTHUR'S PASS.
Start biking at Porter's Pass through Southern Alps wilderness to Arthur's Pass. Stay at the renowned Wilderness Lodge and enjoy a high country sheep farm tour or a bush hike.

DAY 3 HOKITIKA.
After a short walk to the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall, enjoy a fabulous descent of Otira Gorge to the sea and Hokitika on the rugged West Coast.

DAY 4 and 5 FRANZ JOSEF.
Time for a walk up the valley to the terminal ice and perhaps a scenic flight onto the snow. View the snowy peaks reflected in the waters of Lake Matheson.

DAY 6 LAKE MOERAKI.
Ride through lush rainforest to Lake Moeraki. Here we enjoy the comfort of the Wilderness Lodge, take a bush walk or canoe on the lake.

DAY 7 MAKARORA.
After a ride over the dramatic Haast Pass we reach the tiny isolated hamlet of Makarora.Take an optional jet-boat ride up the Wilkin River in Mt Aspiring National Park.

DAY 8 WANAKA.
To picturesque Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, famed for trout fishing. Time to visit a vineyard or take a hike up Mt Iron.

DAY 9 and 10 QUEENSTOWN.
Pass Arrowtown, a beautifully restored old gold mining town. In Queenstown try rafting, jet boating, a day trip to Milford Sound or a bungy jump