Bike Molesworth Station

4 days  |  starts/finishes in Christchurch

Experience a bike ride through one of the country’s most mysterious and rugged places, the iconic Molesworth Station, featuring vast tussock landscapes and open river valleys. Learn the stories of those who have worked this land over the decades and catch glimpses of its highly regarded stock. As well as biking Molesworth, our itinerary also includes cycling in North Canterbury and the Marlborough’s grape growing Awatere Valley. A stay at Hanmer Springs brings a well deserved chance to soak in the villages' thermal hot springs, and a night spent hosted by the Stevenson family on the remote Upcot Station is a special highlight of the Molesworth experience.

See the complete itinerary below...

Day 1 Christchurch to Hanmer Springs

We collect you from your central city accommodation before heading to our bike depot on the city fringe to fit you out with your hire bike. Once we have our gear sorted, we head north across the plains through the Waipara wine growing region and into North Canterbury. We make a morning tea stop in the small hamlet of Domett, before continuing on to the start of our bike ride. The biking begins on a secondary road offering superb views of the Amuri Range (≤30km). We drop into the picturesque village of Waiau where you can enjoy a refreshment at the historic hotel, before we continue on our bikes along the flats beside the Waiau River (25km). At the end of the days riding, we continue on a short distance in our vehicle to the alpine resort of Hanmer Springs, where we spend the next two evenings. Eat out at a local restaurant. (L)

Day 2 Hanmer Springs

Today we head over Jacks Pass on the outskirts of Hanmer Springs and into Molesworth. We travel north to the beautiful Lake Tennyson scenic reserve on the western side of Molesworth Station, where we enjoy a morning tea beside the lake before the days biking begins. Cycle the scenic river flats of the Clarence River, bordered by the St James Range to the west (35km). After a picnic lunch continue your bike ride following the Clarence to the historic Acheron Accommodation House (16km). Spend some time looking around these historic buildings, before travelling back to Hanmer Springs in our vehicle. Relax with a long soak in the thermal hot pools, before our evening meal in our lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 3 Hanmer Springs - Upcot Station (Upper Awatere Valley)

Today's journey takes us through the largest station in the country (182,000 ha) on the historic Acheron Road. We travel into the Station a short distance to the start of our first ride of the day. Bike the river flats of the Acheron River, admiring the crops and famously healthy cattle herds, not to mention the surrounding rugged peaks, as you bike (16km). We continue by vehicle over some of the more challenging passes on the road to the historic Molesworth Cob Cottage. Here we enjoy a wholesome picnic lunch and the opportunity to explore the cob cottage and learn about the history of the area. This is also the starting point for our second ride of the day, which takes us into the top of the beautifully scenic Awatere Valley to our accommodation at Upcot Station (37km). We stay in the comfortable and characterful shearer's quarters where a hot shower awaits. Upcot Station is a working farm and we are fortunately to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of this 3rd generation family with a traditional farming meal. Hear stories of the musterers and farmers who have worked to tame this land since 1858. (B/L/D)

Day 4 Upcot Station - Christchurch

Our final ride of the tour takes us down the Awatere Valley, through a combination of vineyards and sheep country set amongst the river terraces of the Awatere River and the Black Birch Mountain Range, with the imposing view of Mt Tapuae- o-uenuku ever present (≤61km). We enjoy a celebratory lunch at a local cafe in Seddon and time permitting, visit a prominent winery in the region. In the early afternoon board the TranzCoastal train, sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery on your way back to Christchurch via the Kaikoura coast, arriving in the city at approximately 6:30pm. (B/L)

Included in the tour package:

All prices are in New Zealand dollars and include New Zealand Goods & Services Tax of 15%. The fare includes just about everything including: 3 nights accommodation; 2 evening meals, 4 lunches, 3 breakfasts and plenty of healthy snacks in between (as indicated on the itinerary - B/L/D); TranzCoastal train fare; a friendly knowledgeable guide; all transport and vehicle support; and bike repair support.

Not included in the tour price is wine and beer (you are welcome to BYO where permitted - 2 nights out of the 3); evening meal on day 1; optional bike hire ($150); Hanmer Springs hot pool entry fees.