Whirl through the myriad landscapes of New Zealand, on this bicycle tour that spins from sheep country to jungle to the coastlines and wine regions of the unforgettable South Island.

Our tour, for all ability levels, begins on a Wednesday. We'll shuttle about 15 minutes north of Christchurch to the agricultural town of Rangiora, where you’ll start cycling through the ancient Maori lands and fertile farmland of Canterbury. You'll ride through Weka Pass gorge, where the natural limestone has weathered into unusual shapes, and on to Hawarden, gateway to the pristine Hurunui Lakes Wilderness. You’ll spend tonight at the Heritage Hotel in Hanmer Springs, a resort town famous for its natural hot springs. We’ll enjoy a visit to the hot pools and spa before dinner. You might even be able to fit in a massage.

Thursday we’ll bicycle beside bucolic sheep ranches and farms, into the evergreen forests along Lewis Pass, then down again to the rolling hills of the gold-rush town of Reefton. Have a gourmet picnic lunch just outside town near a hanging bridge. We’ll spend the night here, in this town that is as famous for its decision not to sell out to the mining companies as it once was for the gold panned in its streams and rivers.

Today your bike route takes you through the Buller Gorge, where a working gold claim has been producing for over 120 years. The Gorge’s pink granite walls play host to New Zealand’s longest swing bridge, and are also the gateway to Paporoa National Park and the spectacular pancake rocks and blowholes of Punakaiki. Tonight we’ll stay at Punakaiki Resort, with its incredible views of both rainforest and ocean.

Saturday finds us heading south beside the coast. We cross the Hokitika River through native rimu and white pine and enter the town of Hokitika, famous for its jade (Pounamu or Maori Greenstone) jewelry. Continuing south into Westland National Park you’ll see dazzling views of snow-capped peaks surrounding Lake Mapourika. With its stunning scenery and next-to-no traffic, the remote west coast of New Zealand is considered one of the best places on earth to ride. You’ll spend the next two nights in the town of Fox Glacier, nestled at the toes of the glacier whose name it bears.

This morning you’ll go for a guided hike on the glacier. Ice-gripping boots and walking poles are provided for good traction on the trails carved into its sides. In the afternoon you’re free to explore this stunning national park by helicopter, get a massage, kayak and search for white heron and royal spoonbill on the waterways of Okarito Lagoon or walk to several historical gold mining sites.

Monday you’ll bicycle through a forest of feathery rimu and rata trees beside the Tasman Sea. Sunny weather provides spectacular views of the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook, training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest climb. We spend tonight and the following night at the Wilderness Lodge on Lake Moeraki, famed for its fine food and gracious accommodations.

Tuesday presents plenty of options. The lodge provides canoes for exploring the lake and guided hikes through tropical forest to the wild coast. The ocean around New Zealand is a rich turquoise, thanks to deep, clear water and zero pollution. Go for a terrific bicycle ride - often a guest favorite - along a flat, deserted stretch of coastline that ends at Jackson's Bay, where a tiny fishing village perches at the end of a spit. Back at the lodge, take a post-dinner walk to see glowworms on the hillside and gaze at the Southern Cross.

Today’s ride takes you past Knight’s Point, with views of the rugged coastline and seals basking in the sun, to Haast Village. You’ll turn inland here to bicycle beside the Haast River, winding toward snow-capped peaks, passing countless waterfalls as you climb up to Haast Pass at 1,860 feet. On the descent to Makarora, the countryside becomes dramatically drier: dense foliage gives way to open countryside dotted with sheep and sunny vineyards. Wine lovers can sample vintages from the nearby Central Otago, New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir grape-growing region. Spend the last two nights of your tour at the Edgewater, a lakeshore resort in the ski town of Wanaka.

This morning you're free to recover from yesterday's ride, take a jetboat ride on the Wanaka River - or explore Wanaka or the Central Otago wine regions surrounding the Edgewater. This afternoon, savor views of Mt. Aspiring on a mellow and very scenic 44km bike ride beside the shores of Lake Wanaka to Glendhu Bay.

Our final morning, you'll ride from Lake Hawea Township (about 15 minutes south of Wanaka) to Tarras Vineyards, passing the beautiful scenery of one of the Lord of the Rings filming sites, lush farmland and deer and Merino sheep farms. After lunch in Cromwell, you'll ride behind the hills of Tarras, through the Kawarau gorge into Queenstown.

You may want to spend additional time in Queenstown after the tour finishes, in order to sample its multitude of outdoor activities: winery tours, rafting on nearby rivers, world-class hikes, or even an overnight boat cruise on Milford Sound. We’re happy to make recommendations if you'd like assistance.