Our South Island Tour of Aoteroa journey begins with a climb out of Picton, rewarded by sweeping views over the Marlborough Sounds. The road winds through native forest and farmland before dropping us into Havelock, the “Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World.” From there we pass through the historic Canvastown goldfields and follow the Pelorus River to Pelorus Bridge. Surrounded by towering beech and podocarp forest, this spot is famous for its swimming holes, short bush walks, and even a The Hobbit film location. We finish the day with a shuttle over the hills into vibrant Nelson.

We roll out of Nelson and join the Tasman Great Taste Trail, pedalling beside the fertile Moutere valley and hop country. Passing through Richmond — home of Pic’s Peanut Butter (1hour tour available by appointment) — we continue to Brightwater, where the Ernest Rutherford memorial honours New Zealand’s Nobel-winning physicist. Further along after Wakefield, headlights are a must for the 1.4 km Spooner’s Tunnel, the longest decommissioned rail tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere. We regroup at the Kohatu Flat Rock Café before tackling the quiet backroads of the Tadmor Valley, climbing steadily over the Tadmor Saddle, and descending towards the tranquil setting of Lake Rotoroa, ringed by beech forest and rugged peaks.

The day begins with a breathtaking view across the still waters of Lake Rotoroa — a picture-perfect start. A quick stop at the wharf to spot the longfin “tuna” (eel) is a must before we climb the Braeburn Track to the Braeburn Saddle. The descent is steep and scattered with fords, so caution pays off here. Rolling into Murchison, we break for lunch in this riverside town, known as the white-water capital of New Zealand (and leap off point for the Old Ghost Road). From there, we follow quiet country roads along Fairfax Street and tackle the ascent over the Maruia Saddle. A rewarding downhill run brings us into Springs Junction, nestled amid mountain ranges and native forest.

Starting at Rahu Saddle (696m) west of Springs Junction, our ride is surrounded by moss-draped beech forest of the Victoria Forest Park. We descend form the saddle to Reefton, New Zealand’s first town with electric street lighting. Near the bottom, a roadside sculpture honours Jack Lovelock, the 1936 Olympic 1500m champion. On Broadway in Reefton, the local bakery is perfect for a pie stop, and the town itself — once a bustling gold-mining centre — offers a dose of history. After lunch we roll down SH7 to Ikamatua, skirting the rougher Big River route. Further west we pass the Pike River Memorial before the final stretch delivers us to Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast and a hub of coal and jade (pounamu) heritage.

What a day! We roll south out of Greymouth along the coast, passing whitebait stands before crossing the Taramakau River Bridge — the last road–rail bridge in New Zealand until recently. A short climb brings us into the beech forest near Kumara, home to the final coffee stop before the famous West Coast Wilderness Trail begins. From here the ride is pure magic: skirting the Kawhaka Reservoir, winding through beech forest, and pausing at the quirky, bullet-riddled Cowboy Paradise. The trail continues past the historic Lake Kaniere Water Race before descending into Hokitika, a lively town of gold-rush history and the setting for Eleanor Catton’s Booker Prize–winning novel The Luminaries.

We farewell Hokitika and The Luminaries as the road hugs the rugged coastline south. Our first stop is Ross, once the heart of one of New Zealand’s richest goldfields — a boomtown of the late 1800s where underground mines and giant sluicing operations once dominated. Today it marks the southern end of the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Beyond Ross we pass the serene waters of Lake Ianthe, a favourite spot for boating and fishing, before reaching Harihari, where history recalls Guy Menzies’ daring first solo flight across the Tasman in 1931. From here the road leads us deeper into glacier country, finishing the day in Franz Josef beneath the towering Southern Alps.

No riding today — it’s time to rest the legs and take in one of New Zealand’s great natural wonders. Nestled beneath the Southern Alps, the twin glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox spill dramatically from the mountains almost to sea level, a rare phenomenon worldwide. Walk to the glacier viewpoints, join a guided heli-hike, or simply soak in the Franz Josef hot pools. With cafés, galleries, and short rainforest walks nearby, today is all about catching your breath, exploring at leisure, and recharging for the days ahead.

We leave Franz Josef and follow the winding highway south through lush rainforest and river valleys towards Fox Glacier township. From here the road turns wilder and more remote, skirting sheer cliffs and pounding surf as it traces the rugged West Coast. A climb to Knights Point rewards us with sweeping views of the Tasman Sea, before we descend past countless waterfalls and isolated beaches. The final stretch carries us into Haast, a World Heritage area of raw, untamed landscapes where rivers meet sea and mountains plunge straight into rainforest. Tonight we stay in Haast Village, on the edge of the great Southern Alps.

Today we tackle the famous Haast Pass, rising to 564 metres, but the first 50 km are gentle, with only about 100 metres of ascent — a perfect warm-up. The road winds through the dense beech and podocarp forests of Mount Aspiring National Park, with rivers and waterfalls punctuating the scenery. Pause to reflect on the pioneering explorer A.P. Harper, who in 1900 became the first person to traverse the pass by bike and on foot, half a century before the road was built. The ride finishes in Makarora, a quiet settlement tucked at the head of Lake Wanaka, where mountains, forest, and river converge.

We roll south alongside the upper reaches of Lake Wānaka, enjoying sweeping views before threading through The Neck — the narrow pass that separates Wānaka from Lake Hāwea. Skirting the lake’s shoreline, we follow the Hāwea River Track, where on a good day you might spot adventurous surfers riding the standing river wave.

Rather than heading into bustling Wānaka, our route turns east toward Cromwell, positioning us perfectly for tomorrow’s ride through the Kawarau Gorge (if completed).

Today’s ride is provisional on the new section of the Kawarau Gorge trail being completed by February 2026. If it isn’t ready, we’ll instead take the spectacular Crown Range route — New Zealand’s highest main road.

When open, the new trail section delivers us to the northern end of the Gibbston Valley, world-renowned for its Pinot Noir. This is wine country at its finest, with vineyards tucked between rugged hillsides and the Kawarau River.

From here we cross the historic Kawarau Bridge — birthplace of bungy jumping — though we’ll resist the urge to leap off and keep our wheels firmly on the trail. The ride continues along the Queenstown Trail network, winding through Arrowtown, past tranquil Lake Hayes, and over the graceful Shotover Bridge before rolling into Queenstown.

We begin the day with a boat trip across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown Wharf to Walter Peak Station, a classic journey in itself. From here the ride heads south into vast high country landscapes. Sweeping views open up from Mt Nicholas Station across to Glenorchy, before the route crosses a couple of fords and up and over Von Hill.

The Von Valley stretches ahead in dramatic scale, with the Eyre Mountains towering on our left and the hidden gem of the Mavora Lakes tucked away to the right. The sense of space is immense — you feel as though you’ve entered the land of giants. It’s no surprise that Mavora Lakes was chosen as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings, adding to the magic of this wild and remote setting.

The finish line is almost in sight. From Mossburn, sitting at 300 metres above sea level, the route gradually loses altitude as we roll south through the towns of Lumsden, Winton, and Invercargill. The countryside opens into the wide, flat plains of Southland, with dairy farms stretching to the horizon.

As the roads straighten, anticipation builds. The final push takes us along a dedicated cycleway into Bluff, where we reach Stirling Point — the iconic signpost marking the southern tip of the South Island. After nearly two weeks on the road, it’s a fitting end to a truly epic journey.