Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

Along the way, small towns and settlements provide atmospheric accommodation, friendly pubs and cafes, and easy access to shuttles and other services. There are plenty of off-the-bike activities, too, including wine tasting, penguin spotting, glider flights, star gazing, and soaking in hot tubs under incredible skies.

Highlights:

• New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook (3754m)
• Mackenzie’s turquoise lakes & golden tussock
• Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park walks
• intriguing hydro-dams & power stations
• craft breweries & Waitaki wine country
• limestone wonders including Elephant Rocks
• spectacular night skies in Tekapo & beyond
• country towns, pubs, cafes & shops
• Omarama’s alfresco hot tubs
• Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct & penguins

The Alps 2 Ocean (A2O) is divided into nine sections. A wealth of cycle-friendly visitor services make it possible to ride the whole trail pleasurably in 4–6 days or tailor a shorter ride to suit all levels of ability.

Aoraki/Mt Cook—Braemar Road

• 35 km
• Grade 2 / easy
• 3.5 – 4.5 hours

The trail starts at White Horse Hill Campground, 2km north of Aoraki/Mt Cook Village, offering riders the chance to soak up the stunning mountain scenery before setting off down a glacier-carved valley. It’s just over 7km to Mt Cook airport where a short helicopter-hop transports bikes and riders across the Tasman River to Tasman Point/Jollie River car park. The helicopter trip, which should be pre-booked ideally, is subject to weather and trail conditions (visit the A2O website for more details). 

The trail is a little bit lumpy as it winds alongside the Tasman River’s braided waters, which eventually empty into the surreal blue of Lake Pukaki.

After 10km of the lakeside trail, Jollie car park marks the start of a 17km gravel section to Braemar Road. Several creek crossings will keep you on your toes, but should not detract from the spectacular views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, towering above various ranges dominating the skyline in almost every direction. You wanted alps? You got ‘em!

Note: if you wish to avoid the helicopter crossing there are several alternative starts: Lake Tekapo (below), Tekapo B Power Station, or Jollie River car park.
 

Lake Tekapo—Twizel (alternative start)

• 54 km
• Grade 2 / easy
• 4 – 5 hours

The A20’s alternative start takes in the striking contrasts of the Mackenzie Country’s surreal blue lakes and canals, surrounded by golden tussock land and bound by majestic mountain ranges.

Leaving Tekapo township, the trail heads off on gravel tracks past Tekapo A Power Station, and on to the long but rather lovely Tekapo Canal Road, closed to vehicle traffic.

The big vistas just keep on coming as the road passes a salmon farm and reaches Tekapo B Power Station – one of the grandest lookouts along the whole A2O. The trail then drops down to Lake Pukaki and meets Hayman Road where riders join the Aoraki/Mt Cook section of trail following the shoreline to Pukaki Dam and across the tussock-covered flats to Twizel.
 

Braemar Road—Twizel

• 42km
• Grade 2 / easy
• 4 – 5 hours

The trail follows a quiet country road along the eastern shore of Lake Pukaki, with notable flora and fauna, and Tekapo B Power Station among the highlights. All eyes, however, will likely be latched on to Lake Pukaki and the Southern Alps, all the way down to the bottom of Hayman Rd where an off-road trail heads towards Pukaki Dam.

On the other side, riders will have their sights set on the laid-back little town of Twizel, an oasis of green streets amidst the desert-like Pukaki Flats.
 

Twizel—Lake Ohau Lodge

• 38 km
• Grade 2 / easy
• 3 – 4 hours

The next leg of the A2O heads out on a pretty country road to reach Loch Cameron at the 6km mark – a great place for a swim if time and temperature are on your side. Just ahead, across the canal bridge, a straight easy pedal leads to the edge of Lake Ohau.

The Ben Ohau Range dwarfs all and sundry as you follow the lake foreshore across Ohau Weir and onward along the lake towards Lake Ohau Village and its lodge – perfectly positioned for post-ride refreshments.

Note: there is no way across Ohau Weir when it is in flood, so be sure to check the Alps2Ocean website for updates if the weather’s been wet.
 

Lake Ohau Lodge—Omarama

• 45 km
• Grade 3 / intermediate
• 4 – 6 hours

It’s a gentle 6km warm up to Freehold Creek. The next section is as grunty as the A20 gets, with a 300m climb to conquer over a generous 5km – you should still be smiling at the top (Tarnbrae High Point), especially with the views from 900m above sea level.

The trail then winds through the golden meadow to quintessentially rural Quailburn Road, passing a historic woolshed along the way, and the turnoff to see the geological wonders, the Clay Cliffs (14km return). From the SH8 junction, Omarama (with its soothing outdoor hot tubs) is just a few miles away.
 

Omarama—Otematata

• 35km, Grade 2 & 3/easy & intermediate, 3–4 hours

  It’s a whole new world after Omarama. Over Chain Hills, it’s a big Welcome to the Waitaki Valley with its big blue hydro lakes and little country towns.

  Leaving Omarama riders head east down the Waitaki Valley, following the off-road Trail to the top of the Chain Hills 5km away. From here, the trail descends beside State Highway 83 then follows the edge of Lake Benmore to Pumpkin Point (10km). It continues along the lake edge on to Sailors Cutting Scenic Reserve (13km) – a popular boating, fishing and camping spot.

  Next up is the spectacular new section of off-road trail that follows the beautiful Ahuriri arm of the lake to Benmore Dam (29km). View-filled picnic spots en route offer a chance to pause and soak up the scenery.

  The trail then follows SH83 for the short climb to Otematata Saddle from where there are views of the next lake, Aviemore. It’s all downhill to Otematata (35km) from there – whoo hoo!

Otematata—Kurow

• 45 km
• Grade 2 – 3 / easy–intermediate
• 3.5 – 4 hours

Stopping for coffee is highly recommended before heading off towards Benmore Hydro Dam – the last 800 metres is a bit of a grind.

Even those without a keen interest in mid-century industrial architecture should find the dam pretty damn interesting. It's NZ's largest earth dam and holds back 1.5 times more water than Wellington Harbour! Follow the road along the shores of Lake Aviemore (swimming and camping possible) to the Aviemore Dam. Yes, another dam.

From across the dam, the off-road trail passes through the Wharekuri ghost town and the ruins of its hotel built-in 1865 before dropping down to follow the shoreline of Lake Waitaki. You’ll pass the Waitaki Dam (yes one more) – the first to be built on the Waitaki River and the last to be built largely by pick and shovel. Construction started in 1928 and the worker's camps and local community of the time are considered to be the birthplace of the modern world’s social-welfare system.

It's 8km of the trail to Kurow – a sweet little town with a gem of a museum and notable for producing former All Black captain Ritchie McCaw. Try some of the locally produced wines while you're here. This may be the centre of New Zealand’s smallest wine-producing region but their award-winning drops punch way above their weight.

Kurow—Duntroon

• 28 km
• Grade 2 / easy
• 2 – 3 hours

This section follows a smooth shingle path down the Waitaki Valley, traversing ancient alluvial plains and crossing three side rivers (flood detours in place). This is the heart of Waitaki wine country – tricky, unpredictable, often utterly sublime; taste it where you can.

The trail then hugs the highway as it gets closer to Duntroon, taking a minor detour to Takiroa Māori rock art site along the way. There are riverside and wetland scenes along the final few kilometres to Duntroon.
 

Duntroon—Oamaru

• 54km 
• Grade 3 / intermediate
• 5 – 6 hours

It’s just 7km from Duntroon to one of the A2O’s strangest sights – the huge limestone boulders scattered across a grassy paddock, aptly named Elephant Rocks although mammoths and even hippos may well be imagined.

More limestone oddities crop up as the trail leads onward on- and off-road through bucolic farmland to Rakis Railway Tunnel. The trail then hops on and off the railway line through the dots of Windsor, Enfield and Weston, and on to Oamaru.

The town’s magnificent public gardens are a fine prelude to the grand finale of gargantuan Victoria warehouses overlooking Oamaru Harbour and the Pacific Ocean.

Source: The New Zealand Cycle Trail