Welcome along! We leave Christchurch between 8:30am and 9am when your tour begins with a scenic coach journey from Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains and over Arthurs Pass to Greymouth.

Originally established as home for hundreds of gold and coal miners following the 1860’s gold rush , Greymouth today enjoys popularity as a base for fishing, hiking and other recreational activities with its wild river, rugged native bush-covered hills and pounding surf.

Today from Greymouth you’ll start your ride cycling 12km down a coastal path on a raised dune system. Along the way enjoy views over several small settlements and the surrounding countryside as you follow the spectacular coastline of the Tasman Sea.

The trail then continues on the scenic route south to Taramakau, between Greymouth and Hokitika. Turning inland from here, you’ll head to Kumara along a historic tramway. Kumara is a former gold mining town and home of one of New Zealand’s greatest early politicians, Richard Seddon.

Tonight your overnight stay is in a charming historic hotel in Kumara

The West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail continues this morning with a ride through rainforest as you head towards Milltown. 

This section of the route (and indeed the trail itself) is certain to become one of New Zealand’s most popular cycle rides, offering stunning scenery and fascinating local history. You will pass through some of the best stands of native forest left in New Zealand on your journey today.

Milltown overlooks the Arahura Valley, an area once rich in gold and still known as the source of the highly prized pounamu (greenstone). 

Tonight your stay is in Hokitika, a pretty seaside town known for its greenstone carving industry and home to many artisans and craftspeople.

Your ride today starts at the head of the Arahura River, which rises from the Southern Alps and meets the Tasman Sea just north of Hokitika. 

You’ll pass water raceways, rich dairy farmland and the tranquil Lake Kaniere, described by some as” the most beautiful lake in New Zealand”. Formed by glacial erosion in the last ice age, Lake Kaniere itself is only 8 km long and 2 km wide but can be as deep as 195 metres in places and is surrounded by verdant native bush, making it a popular spot for campers and holiday makers in the summer. You bike through a section of towering ancient rimu forest and tree ferns.

You will arrive in Hokitika early afternoon and weather permitting there is an optional excursion  by vehicle to the famous Hokitika Gorge.

Tonight, you’ll spend a second night in Hokitika.

Your day starts with an easy coastal ride, then follows the bush tramway past Lake Mahinapua. It is a great ride through typical West Coast bush and wetlands. 

We call into the West Coast Treetops walkway and cafe where you can walk amongst the treetops and get a birds eye view of the forest.

The final leg of the cycle ride follows a disused railway line with a number of distinctive wooden bridges and wild west coast coastal scenery to your next and final stop the gold mining, farming and forestry town of Ross.

From Ross we return you to Christchurch arriving between 5 and 6pm approximately.