This is the 4 day trip we did along the bike trails
I recommend if you do this to get e-bikes as the trails are hilly also you can do more and reach the end as some of the days we rode 40km and 48kms
This was one of the expensive portions of the trip but it was worth it as we did the trail on our own but the company would pick up and drop off our bags to the next days accommodation, all planned and easy to travel
They organise all accommodation for you as well
Early start as shuttle collects us at 7.45am – they will ring prior and we will meet them outside.
Shuttle to Cromwell to collect our bikes Trail Journeys HQ and do the first day riding – Cromwell to Clyde
They provide helmets but I am taking my own.
They transport our luggage – note bag limit of 16 kg (but they didn’t really end up weighing them or worrying about them, ours were heavier then that!)
CLYDE:
Olivers Restaurant 7.30pm as it may be busy and it only a small town – book dinner
Booking Summary
Trip: 4 Day Dunstan, Roxburgh & Clutha Trails




QUEENSTOWN
Don’t miss:
Going up the cable cars – its expensive at $46 return but the view up there is worth it
There are luges at the top which we didn’t do but could be fun for kids – that’s additional $$
There is a restaurant up there as well which you can prebook – also a bar and café area
ZIPLINING:
We used Glenorchy “paradise ziplining” which was awesome! – 021 1744 256 – $189 pp – 8 ziplines
Bus is booked up to Glenorchy (leaves at 8am , 37 Shotover St, returns at 3pm) www.infotrack.co.nz – $58pp return trip
Suggested clothing is long pants and top with long sleeves – protection from harnesses and sandflies – decent enclosed hiking shoes
MILFORD SOUND:
You can either do a 3hr one way coach ride OR we booked flights down which included, expensive though, was around $550-600 pp, but seriously SO worth it! The views are just amazinggggg – https://www.milfordflights.co.nz/ they picked us up from our accom and drove us to QT airport and 45min to Milford 2hr boat cruise then 45min back
NOTE: (some feedback from those who did the coach, they said it can be a long day as you are in the bus for 5-6 hrs most of the day then 2 hrs on a cruise)
RESTAURANTS
p.s. we booked everything as they were saying no to ppl showing up on the spot – bookings seem to be essential in queenstown
All good – all recommended! All awesome!
- Blue Kanu, 16 Church St, Queenstown
- Margo’s ( Mexican) – 7.30pm , 26 Ballarat Street, The Mall
- Madam Woo, 5 Lower Ballarat St, The Mall
BIKE RIDING “Bike the Basin
This is a pretty good trail – my friends got an e-bike I had a normal bike and 48kms later I found it really difficult as the trail is mostly gravel and there are a lot of hills
Meet at 9 Duke Street
$135 e-bike – normal bike $85
BUNGY JUMPING: You ride past Kawerau Bungy – if this is something you guys want to do it would be awesome to do it off this bridge! The water is so aqua blue and you can then continue on biking after jumping
LUNCH – GIBBSTON WINERY: we rode to the winery for lunch (make sure you book) and had lunch here before riding back to Queenstown
NOTE: Can be a long day – bikes need to be back by 5pm but our lunch was late and I was slower on the muscle bike so we got back at 5:30 just as they were closing
ARROWTOWN
A short drive away if you can get there to take a look around its worth it
It’s a small gold mining town – Provisions café there is awesome for breakfast
QUEENSTOWN ACCOM:
I would suggest to look up accom right in the town centre.
Our accommodation was Lakeside 2 bedroom Apartment, 525 Frankton Rd
We stayed a bit outside Queenstown at this accomm as everything was booked out in the town centre and we had to catch the bus and ubers into town
Some other things can do from Queenstown: (we didn’t do any of these)
Shotover jet boat ride
winery ie Amisfield or Ararua for lunch or Boat Shed at Marina
Onsen Hot Pools
day up on the Otago Rail Trail
There is a ferry which goes from Queenstown (or the Marina) which takes over to Kelvin Heights on other side of the bay – Hilton Hotel there and lunch golf course at the very end – might be worth considering – www.queenstownferries.co.nz
ROADTRIP
DAY 1 & 2
AFTER TRAIL JOURNEYS BIKE RIDE:
We hired a car from Queenstown airport – trail journeys shuttle dropped us off at Queenstown Airport
Shuttle to Queenstown Airport, collect rental car from Mode Rentals – 121 Glenda Drive, Frankton (they will collect us if shuttle won’t drop us off, phone 03 974 4340)
Pay balance owing of $250 on pick up (weekly rate) + $40 for a/h collection as they close at 5pm.
QUEENSTOWN -> WANAKA – 2 x nights WANAKA
Drive over Crown Range stopping at Cardrona Pub for dinner
ACCOM: We stayed at a really bad motel! (Fairmont Motel) DON’T stay there – go on booking,com and find another accom 🙂
ROYS PEAK:
If you want to do a proper hike / climb – Roys Peak (5-6 hours return) – you will need to take packed lunch and lots water, best to leave early. View is AMAZING
Swim in lake at Glendhu Bay
RIPPON WINERY:
MUST BOOK! Wine tasting FANTASTIC VIEWS from here
RESTAURANT in WANAKA:
Muttonbird, Post Office Lane, 33 Ardmore St
DAY 3 & 4
WANAKA -> TEKAPO – 2 x nights TEKAPO
FAMOUS CUSTARD SLICES – have Breakfast here:
Pembroke Bakery, Albert Town
CLAY CLIFFS: – must see!
Drive via Lindis Pass into the McKenzie Country stopping to see Clay Cliffs at Omarama and on to Tekapo via the lakes.
This is where we will see the amazing flowering lupins which should still be in bloom.
ACCOM:
Roto View Apartment (2 bedroom plus sofa bed) 20 Erebus Place, Tekapo – booked via Air BnB (room for 6 ppl)
TEKAPO HOT SPRINGS – DON’T MISS!
Tekapo Springs (hot pools overlooking lake) www.tekaposprings.co.nz – closes at 7pm also has a spa experience if you want.
We did the night sky gazing where we lay in the hot tub and searched for shooting stars and satellites it was awesome! Starts at 11:45pm thought and goes for 2hrs $120 ppl but it was SO awesome!
Tekapo is a UNESCO night sky reserve
GOOD COFFEE!
Greedy Cow Cafe, 16 Rapuwai Lane
HOOKER VALLEY HIKE – easy:
This is an awesome easy walk/hike! – 10km return
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park day trip
Reasonable early start as driving up western side of Lake Pukaki towards Mt Cook to walk the Hooker Valley up to the Glacier
Possibly have lunch afterwards at the Hermitage Hotel (might be a bit 1970s tho)
DAY 5
TEKAPO -> CHRISTCHURCH
We flew out of Christchurch – we stayed at NOVOTEL in the airport (5min walk to international airport so it was nice easy and the hotel was so nice!)
Drive over the Burkes Pass to Fairlie & Geraldine (nice town for lunch stop) into South Canterbury and to Christchurch Airport
CHRISTCHURCH
Stay here for couple days if you can – its an interesting city
RENTAL CAR RETURN
Mode Rentals, 15 Logistics Drive, Harwood