Sidetracks Women

The Explore Otago Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women, starting in Queenstown and finishing in Christchurch. Riders cover the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail (including a 12km jetboat section), Clutha Gold Trail and a scenic Hāwea to Wānaka route, passing through gold-mining history, tunnels, viaducts and remote gorges along the Clutha River.

The route now includes an added cycle day in the Wānaka region, plus stops at Oamaru's Victorian Precinct and the Moeraki Boulders. Terrain is varied but easy-surfaced throughout, with some climbs and descents, and an optional hot tub soak in Omarama on Day 6.

The tour can be combined with the Lakes, Fiords & Mountains tour, which ends in Queenstown the same morning this one begins.

Highlights:

• Ride the Otago Central Rail Trail through Ida Valley and Poolburn Gorge
• Jetboat through the remote Roxburgh Gorge Trail
• Cycle the Clutha Gold Trail's tunnels, viaducts and gold-rush towns
• Explore Lawrence, Otago's first gold rush town
• Ride the Hāwea to Wānaka trail beside Lake Hāwea
• Visit Oamaru's Victorian Precinct and the Moeraki Boulders en route to Christchurch

Surface and terrain:

Mostly off-road gravel with gentle gradients (Grade 2), with some steeper, narrower Grade 3 sections requiring more confidence. Includes tunnels and viaducts.

Weather:

Tour dates run November to May, spanning NZ spring to autumn, noted for wild thyme scent in spring and autumn colours.

Suitable for:

E-Bike beginners building confidence, as the tour starts easy and gradually adds more varied, technical sections.

Backroads, Rivers & Ranges is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women through three of the South Island's less-travelled regions. From Christchurch, riders head into the Mackenzie Basin near Lake Pukaki, through the remote Ahuriri Valley, around Wanaka's lakes, and into the gold-rush country of St Bathans and Danseys Pass, finishing with a classic Alps to Ocean section near Sailors Cutting.

Along the way there's curling at Naseby's indoor rink, a visit to the historic Hayes Engineering Works, the ghost town of St Bathans, and the limestone country of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, with an overnight stop at the historic Danseys Pass Hotel.

This is a Moderate tour on quiet gravel roads and back-country trails, with several rougher Grade 3 sections requiring confidence on the bike.

Highlights:

• Ride gravel roads through the wide-open Mackenzie Basin near Lake Pukaki
• Explore the remote Ahuriri Valley and Ben Avon Wetland birdlife
• Cycle Wanaka's lakeside trails and the Hawea River Track
• Visit the gold-rush ghost town of St Bathans and its Blue Lake
• Curling session in Naseby and a visit to Hayes Engineering Works
• Ride a classic Alps to Ocean section near Sailors Cutting and the Earthquake Rocks

Surface and terrain:

Mix of quiet gravel and sealed roads, with some rougher, narrow, rocky or steep Grade 3 sections. Climbs to around 900-935m on two days.

Weather:

Tour runs in late February, NZ late summer.

Suitable for:

Confident e-bike riders with some gravel road experience; not ideal for complete beginners given the Grade 3 terrain.

The West Coast Wilderness Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women, running from Christchurch and back. The route crosses Arthur's Pass National Park before reaching Hokitika, the base for three nights of riding on the West Coast Wilderness Trail, taking in gold-rush history, native rainforest, Lake Kaniere and a treetop walkway.

The tour also includes a day on the newer Kawatiri Coastal Trail between Westport and Charleston, riding beside rivers, rainforest and coastline beneath the Paparoa Ranges. Extras include an Eco Adventure sunset boat cruise on Lake Mahinapua and a stop at Pancake Rocks on the return leg.

Riders can choose each day whether to join the group ride or take a rest day in Hokitika, with the option of returning to Christchurch via the scenic TranzAlpine train.

Highlights:

• Ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail through rainforest, past gold-rush relics and Lake Kaniere
• Explore the new Kawatiri Coastal Trail between Westport and Charleston
• Treetop Walkway among West Coast rainforest giants
• Eco Adventure sunset boat cruise on Lake Mahinapua's wetlands
• Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Dolomite Point
• Scenic drive over Arthur's Pass, with optional TranzAlpine return train

Surface and terrain:

Mostly off-road on gravel trail with gentle gradients, plus a few short quiet-road sections. Wide, well-maintained in parts, narrower forest paths elsewhere. Graded Easy (Grade 2).

Suitable for:

Women new to e-biking wanting a relaxed, supported small-group ride; hairpin bends can be walked if preferred.

The Lakes, Fiords & Mountains Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women, starting and finishing in Queenstown. Riders cover the Around the Mountains Trail, the Lake2Lake Trail between Te Anau and Manapouri, a free day to explore Fiordland, and the Gibbston Valley wine region, finishing with New Zealand's celebrated Lake Dunstan Trail between Cromwell and Clyde.

Highlights include a scenic cruise back to Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu, the Mavora Lakes (a Lord of the Rings filming location), historic suspension bridges over the Arrow River, and optional Milford or Doubtful Sound day trips during the Fiordland free day.

Three nights are spent in historic Arrowtown, giving a settled base for the wine region and Lake Dunstan cycling days.

Highlights:

• Ride the Around the Mountains Trail through the Von Valley and Mavora Lakes
• Cycle the Lake2Lake Trail with an optional water taxi and bush walk at Brod Bay
• Free day in Fiordland, with options for Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound or the Kepler Track
• Scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu back to Queenstown
• Cycle Gibbston Valley wine country and cross historic Arrow River bridges
• Ride the celebrated Lake Dunstan Trail between Cromwell and Clyde

Surface and terrain:

Mostly off-road gravel (Grade 2) with gentle climbs, plus some steeper, narrower or exposed Grade 3 sections.

Weather:

Tour dates run November to April, spanning NZ spring, summer and autumn.

Suitable for:

Women with some prior trail cycling experience; not recommended for complete e-bike beginners due to winding, narrower gravel sections.

The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women, travelling from Christchurch to the foot of Aoraki/Mt Cook and on to the Pacific Ocean at Oamaru. Over five cycling days, riders pass turquoise lakes (Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau, Benmore, Aviemore), high-country canals and dams, and finish through the limestone formations of Elephant Rocks and the Victorian precinct of Oamaru.

Terrain varies from wide open plains and sealed cycleways to 4WD tracks and remote backcountry trails, with one steady climb of around 300m and a couple of rougher off-road sections. A support vehicle is available throughout, so riders can skip any section that feels too challenging.

The tour finishes with a relaxed morning in Oamaru before the drive back to Christchurch.

Highlights:

• Ride beside Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo with Mt Cook and the Southern Alps as backdrop
• Cycle the Lake Benmore shoreline and Grade 2/3 Kurow section, one of the trail's newest highlights
• Visit the Clay Cliffs by van detour
• Explore the fossil-rich Elephant Rocks and Island Cliff limestone formations
• Finish at the Pacific Ocean in Oamaru's Victorian Historic Precinct
• Explore Oamaru's Steampunk heritage on the final relaxed morning

Surface and terrain:

Mix of gravel trail, 4WD track and sealed tarseal. Mostly Grade 2 (Easy) with two ~15km Grade 3 (Moderate) sections and one steady 300m climb.

Weather:

Tour dates run October to March, spanning NZ spring, summer and early autumn.

Suitable for:

Riders with basic e-bike experience and reasonable confidence; support vehicle available for skipping harder sections.

The Upolu Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women around Samoa's main island, run in partnership with Cycle Journeys/Outdoor Samoa. Starting and finishing at Faleolo Airport near Apia, riders cycle the coastal roads on five riding days, taking in a village ride, the Giant Clam Sanctuary, Togitogiga Waterfalls, and a big loop over Le Mafa Pass to the famous To Sua Trench.

A non-cycling day is spent kayaking through mangroves on a guided Turtle Kayak Experience, with a chance to see hawksbill turtles. Accommodation is at resort level throughout, with luggage transferred daily so riders carry only day gear.

The tour finishes with two nights in Apia, including a free day for museums, markets and snorkelling at Palolo Deep Marine Reserve.

Highlights:

• Cycle through a Samoan village with local guides on the Cultural Village Ride
• Snorkel with giant clams (and possibly turtles) at Le Faga Bay
• Guided Turtle Kayak Experience through mangroves and lagoon
• Swim at Togitogiga Waterfalls and the 30m-deep To Sua Trench
• Ride the Big Loop over Le Mafa Pass with east coast views
• Explore Apia's markets, cathedral and Robert Louis Stevenson Museum

Surface and terrain:

Mostly sealed island roads with light traffic, a few gentle to moderate climbs (including two mountain pass crossings) and one unsealed descent section.

Weather:

September departure falls in Samoa's dry season, warm and tropical throughout.

Suitable for:

Riders new to e-biking or comfortable on a standard bike; steeper sections can be walked if preferred.

The Savai'i Cycle Tour is a guided, small-group e-bike journey for women, run in partnership with Cycle Journeys/Outdoor Samoa. Starting and finishing near Faleolo Airport on Upolu, the tour crosses by ferry to Savai'i and circles much of its coastline over six riding days, passing lava fields, blowholes, waterfalls and traditional beach fale accommodation.

Highlights include the Saleaula Lava Field where a 1905-1911 eruption buried five villages, the Falealupo Peninsula (Samoa's westernmost point), the Taga Blowholes, and a traditional umu earth-oven cooking demonstration in Lano. Accommodation moves nightly between resorts, lodges and beach fale, with the most demanding day (Day 4) including around 500m of climbing.

The tour finishes back on Upolu with a final night near the airport before departure.

Highlights:

• Cultural Village Ride on Upolu before the ferry crossing to Savai'i
• Traditional umu cooking demonstration at Lauiula Beach Fales
• Explore the Saleaula Lava Field and Lava Church
• Visit Falealupo Peninsula, Samoa's westernmost point, and the Cyclone Church ruins
• Taga Blowholes and a swim at Afu Aau Waterfalls
• Beachside stays under giant banyan trees, with snorkelling and whale-watching potential

Surface and terrain:

Mostly sealed island roads with light traffic, one gravel coastal stretch, and several gentle to moderate climbs, including one day with around 500m of elevation gain.

Weather:

September departure falls in Samoa's dry season, described as warm and tropical throughout.

Suitable for:

Riders new to e-biking or comfortable on a standard bike; steeper sections can be walked if preferred.