Pedaltours

It still retains much extravagant Victorian architecture. We head west on a network of minor roads to stay on a vineyard on our way to the Grampians National Park , known for its diversity of wildlife, spectacular wildflowers and its aboriginal rock art. We then make our way south to Port Fairy where we have a rest day. The final part of our tour is along the magnificent Great Ocean Road and back to Melbourne.

Tens days of stunning scenery in one the most spectacular places on earth. Enjoy friendly Kiwi hospitality in a New Zealand cycling tour of the beautiful South Island. A superb scenic mix of mountain passes and easier coastal terrain that will delight cycle enthusiasts. Each evening, there is a comfortable lodge and excellent cuisine awaiting you so you will have a fantastic experience.

See the magnificent Southern Alps on this fantastic 10 day tour.  Experience the rainforest on a range of short hikes and meet friendly New Zealanders. Ride to Mt Cook and stay on a sheep farm. 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 been rated eighth on Lonely Planet’s list of the best regions to visit.

Unspoiled New Zealand – glaciers, rainforests, lakes and snowy peaks; the Southern Alps tour takes you  through some of the world’s finest scenery. New Zealand was one of the last places in the world to be settled by man and it still retains a rugged, incomparable pristine beauty. “The Lord of the Rings” was filmed here on the West Coast (or Te Wahi Pounamu to give it its Maori name) and is rightly recognized as a World Heritage Area.

The South Island is known for friendly Kiwi hospitality, excellent local cuisine and includes interesting history from the region’sgold mining days. The vibrant towns of Wanaka and Queenstown- both on the shores of beautiful lakes with an alpine backdrop – make for a wonderful experience.

Get fit before your Vietnam cycling tour with a fabulous leisurely 4 day ride through the pancake-flat Mekong Delta. Easy terrain, excellent hotels. Visit the fascinating floating market at Can Tho.

This varies from coastal canals to the highlands of the Western Ghats. It is extremely fertile and grows a huge range of spices and teas. You will see the occasional elephant, monkeys, deer and perhaps the elusive tiger. Highlights include the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and a night on a house boat.

In between, we will visit the delightful towns of Cambridge, Taupo and Napier. From these bases, you will enjoy scenic rides on quiet country roads taking in rolling farmland, glittering lakes, volcanic fields, vineyards and coastal vistas. Both longer and more moderate rides have been developed for each day to cater for all riding levels.

North Island is one of New Zealand’s two main islands, known for its volcanic activity, national parks, winegrowing regions and cosmopolitan cities. It’s home to about three-quarters of New Zealand’s population.

The Rural and Wine tour is based on the format of staying in one or more hubs and choosing scenic
rides out from the hub each day. We start this tour in the Northern city of Auckland which has two major harbours and is known as the City of Sails and finish in the tourist haven of Rotorua which is famous for its exciting geothermal activity including geysers and mud pools. In between we will enjoy riding around the rich rolling green pastures of the Waikato region, then through to the stunning Lake Taupo, a volcanic crater created by a super volcanic eruption which occurred 6,500 years ago.

From there we transition to Hawkes Bay on the East coast, recognised on the world stage for its award winning wines. The region includes scenic coastal land as well as a hilly interior stretching up into the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges with five major rivers connecting the two. Three days are spent exploring this delightful area, this includes a rest day. Time for both stunning rides as well as other attractions such as the wineries and the Art deco town of Napier. Leaving Hawkes Bay we travel to Rotorua which has a prominent Maori culture and a thriving adventure tourism industry. There is also a range of mountain bike rides around the area.

It takes in other superb beaches – the country has 3,450km of coastline – and the cooler Central Highlands, with a rest day at Dalat, once known as Le Petit Paris.

It starts at the seaside town of Nelson, a picturesque town at the northern tip of the South Island. The small city is known for local Arts & Crafts stores and has a number of Art Galleries. The surrounding region is dotted with vineyards and is the gateway to the very popular Abel Tasman National Park. This tour will delight with the array of wonderful local produce, including some incredible wines!

You will visit a number of local cellar doors to taste some gorgeous wines, and don’t forget those quintessential majestic mountain and ocean vistas. Fully guided, fully supported and heaps of fun, this stress-free escape will have you feeling refreshed, revived and alive!

We also take advantage of the pristine environment that surrounds us, with a full day visiting the absolutely stunning Abel Tasman National Park.  This is a tour highlight with optional activities including cycling, kayaking, trekking or dolphin spotting.  Your South Island Cycle Adventure will not disappoint with from its stunning scenery, amazing cycling and fantastic food and wine.

You will be cycling one of the ‘great cycling trails’ of New Zealand – or Nga Haeranga – as they are known locally.  The Great Taste Trail is graded as easy, with a couple of hill sections over the 4 days of cycling.  A combination of paved trails, quiet country roads and gravel tracks, the majority of cycling is on flat, scenic terrain and is a delight to ride.  Average daily distances are 30-40kms. The tour will complete the full Great Taste Trail loop and includes a short shuttle section to keep you off the steep dirt tracks.  

With its many ethnic minorities and 2,200 years of history, it is rich in culture and heritage. Enjoy bicycling on quiet country roads with the locals.

Included in the tour is a flight from Hanoi to the ancient capital of Hue, two nights in the lovely town of Hoi An, two nights by the sea at Nha Trang, the temperate Central Highlands with two nights at Dalat and the opportunity to ride an elephant at Buon Ma Thuot.

As with all our tours, we stay at very comfortable, character places and bike on minor roads. To avoid the highway, we drive part way most days.

Luxuriant forest and mountain backdrops set the scene. See a giant kauri tree and ride a bush railway at the quaint town of Coromandel . Bike by superb beaches and stop for a dip at lunch time. A farm stay will give you the opportunity to meet some real “Kiwis”. At the geothermal spa town of Rotorua with the opportunity to experience the local Maori culture.

We now head for Lake Taupo of trout fishing fame, with a visit to the dramatic Huka Falls a must.

The three volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu are the dramatic features of Tongariro National Park. Here we relax in style and comfort at the Grand Chateau. Make the most of the free day to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (optional).

We wind our way down to King Country, known for sheep farms and limestone formations, for a second farm stay.

Our hosts will show us a little of their lifestyle and then it is a short, easy ride to the old world charm of Waitomo Caves.

A visit to the world-famous  Waitomo caves is a must, with the option of blackwater rafting for the more daring. We then take delightful quiet country roads to Pirongia to drive to Auckland.

Your Guided Bike Tour finishes in Auckland and wishes you a safe and pleasant journey home.

From Thames to Waihi the path cuts through the heart of New Zealand’s dairy farm region and passes through the spectacular Karangahake Gorge. Remains of old gold mines can be seen in the Gorge; the town of Waihi has an open cast gold mine that still operates.

We will collect you in the morning and drive to Thames to commence cycling. If you wish you are welcome to cycle part way along the Firth of Thames from Kaiaua, known for its migratory birds.  Ride from Thames to Paeroa, the home of the World famous L&P bottle, and on to Waihi, a historic gold mining town, only 10 minutes from the beautiful Waihi Beach. Ride through the old rail tunnel (1100m) and pass old mining infrastructure such as the Victoria battery, the Blackpool Dam and Water Race and the Waihi-Waikino vintage railway.

After breakfast you have the opportunity to visit Waihi Beach, a 9km stretch of inviting sand and one of New Zealand’s safest surf beaches. Another attraction is the Athenree Saltmarsh Wetlands for a leisurely stroll, and take in the area’s rich history at the historic Athenree Homestead. After lunch we continue cycling on the rail trail. We retrace our steps through the gorge to Paeroa then on to Te Aroha, home to the luxurious, historic Te Aroha Mineral Spas and the Te Aroha Leisure Pools.

This morning we travel to Matamata for your tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set followed by lunch at Shire’s Café. After lunch we have the option of a cycle ride on terrain that is flat to gently undulating beneath the Kaimai Ranges or a bush walk to Wairere falls. The walk to the base of the falls takes approximately 75 minutes return and is highly recommended. We will then return to Auckland.