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Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Map

Located in Mackenzie Country region

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Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

New Zealand Cycle Trail

Mackenzie Country, South Island

Planning on riding the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail? Contact us for help in planning your itinerary and booking your trip. 

The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail will stretch 312 kms through the Mackenzie Basin and down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and the Pacific Ocean. Beginning at the base of New Zealand's highest peak and passing a number of glacial lakes while descending 780 metres to the mighty Pacific Ocean, this promises to be one of New Zealand's most epic Great Rides.

While there will be a number of entry points along the trail, the logical path is heading downhill from Mt Cook Village with the prevailing north-westerly wind to aid you along the way. A number of towns along the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail will offer accommodation options, delectable cuisine and other activities along the way - catering to both single and multi-day cyclists. 

It is also the only New Zealand Cycle Trail to have Helibike alternative to one of the sections. Instead of riding from Twizel to Ohau Village around the mountains on the flat, fly to the summit, admire the views and ride down the other side. An amazing backcountry adventure for all abilities. If you are keen to take this heli-bike alternative (and why wouldn't you be?), check out Helibike.com in our Things to Do tab above. 

This epic trail will continue through The Mackenzie Basin, past Lake Ohau, Omarama, Otemetata, Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore, Lake Waitaki, Kurow, Duntroon, past Elephant Rocks and Vanished World sites and into Oamaru.

The section from Mt Cook Village to Omarama is scheduled to open on February 16th. 

Sections of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

Route Distance Trail Grade Approximate Time Notes
Mount Cook - Braemar Station 37km 2 3-4 hours The Alps to Ocean Cycle trail begins in the picture-perfect Mount Cook Village - surrounded by the Southern Alps and... ...more
Braemar Station - Twizel 45km 2 3 - 4 hours The second section of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail begins with 1-2 hours of riding along a quiet gravel road. ...more
Twizel to Ohau 39km 2 3-4 hours The Twizel to Ohau section of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail is the only section that has an elevation gain. ...more
Ohau to Omarama 42km 2 3-4 hours By December of 2012 we hope this section will be open for riding on custom-built cycle trail. ...more
Omarama to Otematata 24km 2 2-3 hours This is arguably your biggest day on the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail. ...more
Otematata to Kurow 43km 2 3 - 4 hours On this section of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, you'll take in the largest dam within the Waitaki Hydro... ...more
Kurow to Duntroon 27km 2 3 - 4 hours On this second to final day of the Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, you'll leave the mountains behind and come... ...more
Duntroon to Oamaru 53km 2 4 - 5 hours On this final section of the A2O trail, you'll pass through limestone formations where you'll find Maori rock drawings and... ...more

Photos

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  • Alps to ocean
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  • Alps 2 Ocean 2
  • Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail

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Comments

  • Anyone who would like to join me on Alps 2 ocean cycle trail for this upcoming loong weekend?
    Will be leaving ChCh Thu morning and must return this Sunday. So I have something like 3 days to accomplish 310km + 1 day for transport.
    Reach me on: 0211-37-84-94

    Posted by Daniel, 23/04/2013 10:12am (1 month ago)

  • I have just come back from riding this route, and enjoyed it very much. My bike is loaded with gear so I
    didn't do any of the off road trails, but the bits I saw near the road looked okay.
    I started at Mt Cook and finished in Oamaru,and I think this is the best way to do it. You can get to where you want to start by using the bus services,
    just check the web.
    The more people that use this route the more
    services will be set up ,just takes time.

    Posted by Greg, 10/03/2013 9:30am (3 months ago)

  • Do you have to start from mt cook? I was thinking of starting from oamaru, and then when I if ish I can bike south to get picked up by a bus. Is this doable?

    Posted by Caterina , 27/02/2013 7:25pm (3 months ago)

  • Yep Sara is right. there are a lot of land owners to ask and some will take more time than others to say yes. Its 314km long and that will take a huge amount of money to get 100% off road. In 5 years there will be a lot more off road. I know the route very well and I am very excited about where its going. Give some sections ago this coming season and you will see it going to be great!

    Posted by Rob , 08/08/2012 4:35pm (10 months ago)

  • Hi All. There's a lot of confusion and misinformation regarding the trail due to the limited information released so far. In a nutshell, it's ridable from December 2012 and some bits will be on the road for the next few years. Remember, the Rail Trail took years to be what it is today. Good things take time!
    Happy Riding!

    Posted by Sara, 21/05/2012 12:13am (1 year ago)

  • Hi Joy, yes until the trail is completed then the only way to make this ride would be via the main road - so far from ideal.

    It is our understanding that the Alps to Ocean trail is forecast to be officially completed in November of this year.

    Gerald's comment below is the only bits of the trail we have recently been able to ride.

    Posted by Dan Roberts (NZByBike), 14/05/2012 9:01pm (1 year ago)

  • We are being led to believe through New Zealand Cycle ways that this is an off road purpose built cycle way for safety off road. If you are to bike on the main road this is a busy 100km road. Not safe. When is the cycle way to be completed??

    Posted by Joy Luxon, 14/05/2012 8:24pm (1 year ago)

  • The Alps to Ocean Trail is not really a cycle trail and it is far from complete. I would estimate 30% complete - A 10km section from Tasman Point and a few kilometres at the southern end of Lake Pukaki are all that has been built. Most of the trails distance, apart from Lake Pukaki and Duntroon to Oamaru is on public roads. There is no 'trail' from Omarama to Duntroon and cyclists must follow the main Omarama to Duntroon highway with all the dangers that creates from speeding traffic.. With the Alps to Ocean Trail, the New Zealand Cycleway people are marketing something that does not exit and are claiming that the cycleway is 90% complete. People are warned to check out the reality before setting out to cycle this trail.

    Posted by Gerald Cunningham, 21/04/2012 3:57pm (1 year ago)

  • We did it!
    Eight of us left Mount Cook and cycle the route the whole way to Oamaru. We took 7 days and enjoyed each little section. Average age of 65!! What a wonderful trail and though only about 1/4 off road the rest of the trail was virtually traffic free. The scenery was stunning. Some thick metal in some areas which needs flattening and lack of toliet facilities in some areas needs to be address. Also a detailed map with planned and future planned routes (colour coded) would be useful. Because of lack of definitive map the signage needs to be more prominent as two of our party got lost and rode 14kms more than they needed to. As the trail is still in it infancy and having some local political wrangles it was one of the very best holidays I have had. We all agreed it was a stunning trail with lots of really suitable accommodation along the route. I would rate it above the Otago rail trail and I also loved that. Plan to write day by day blog.. for anyone who may be considering this trail..

    Posted by Lucy Casey, 24/03/2012 10:33am (1 year ago)

  • When is this trail going to be 100% open & access from the Hermitage side is by??
    Can you drive all the way up to the starting point on the trail side?

    Posted by Colin, 12/03/2012 12:09pm (1 year ago)

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