Alps to Ocean Classic

Having done a lot of this trip some 10 years ago in the McKenzie country I was a little skeptical as to how this would turn out. Was a real treat with all the new off road trails, this really made a difference along with the two awesome staff, Angela and Will which also makes a very big difference. The wonderful country has to be right up there along with the fantastic team that brought it all together, of course the weather does come into it also!!

We had a great trip despite some bad weather at the start. The guides were experienced, friendly and supportive. They went out of the way to make sure we got plenty of vegan food throughout. And don’t be afraid to book an e-bike if you need it because the route is NOT all downhill. A few people struggled at times.

Fantastic trip with efficient and suitable pre trip information, great guides, amazing scenery and some tough cycling which only added to the experience. We had a very good group that gelled from day one and we enjoyed a lot of laughs along the way. Be prepared. Get a reasonable level of fitness on the bike and ensure you have layers and a good rain jacket.

We had the absolute best trip. Right from the pick up. Our guides Jan and Marcus were fantastic. The food and accommodation was more than we expected. The only thing is make sure you do some bike riding before you attempt this, a would recommend a good level of fitness because you want to be able to enjoy it

I had a great holiday! I chose to hire an e- bike, and it was a great decision to have made. Although a fit and active person, it was delightful to be able to boost my leg power on the uphill sections, and at the end of the day when tireder. It certainly reduces fatigue on the longer sections, the 70+ km days, which I really appreciated. I ride a normal bike at home, so this was my first foray into assisted biking and I found it easy to adjust to - used the gears as with a normal bike, but just added the echo/ normal/ heavy boost as required. The guides, Wayne and Will were very different characters, but worked well together and we were looked after very efficiently. The accommodation was always good. The night at Waitaki Braids in Kurow was exceptional. The rooms were just beautiful and the meals provided, D, B and L, all gourmet! The meals in other venues were all extremely individual, often in small cafes, and really enjoyed. The bike trails took us through some stunningly beautiful scenery which I so enjoyed. I had expected gravel trails and some quiet road riding. However the section between the vineyard at Kurow and Duntroon was extremely rough, with good sized rocks and flowing water to negotiate, - wet shoes all around! We needed to take the alternate flood route as the water was above wheel height in depth. We kept together as a group and helped each other to negotiate bush bashing around a fallen tree, and the guys provided the strength to lift the bikes over 4 electric fences. I was very grateful for the menfolk lifting my e-bike over- it was too heavy for me.

A very enjoyable ride. Well paced with plenty of stops to take in the views. A few uphills along the way. Plenty of down hills to enjoy. Enthusiastic guides who went out of their way to assist at all times. Comfortable accommodation, plenty of food & well maintained bikes. It ticked all the boxes for a first time multi day ride. We rode in January. An ideal time to ride A2O.

Having participated in many hiking expeditions, we found this one outstanding. Reason #1: the guides! Wayne and Howie were not only great organisers but had answers to so many questions. A few feedback remarks: most accommodations were excellent (except for the one with flimsy curtains _ you need to sleep early after a day of biking!); and we would say it is best to have dinner reserved every single night as restaurants tend to be fully booked at this time of the year.

Can't speak highly enough of our Alps to Ocean trip . Blessed with favourable weather made the scenery more spectacular. The organisation of the tour was exceptional and we had two fantastic guides in Sue and Alex . Food and accommodation was great , especially the morning and afternoon teas set up by our guides on the road . Nothing was too much trouble for them and they were always available for advice. The whole trip was exceptional, but visiting Lake Ohau was a hidden gem. Lunch at the lodge was lovely with great views. Will look to tour with [the tour operator] again.