Lake Tekapo to Twizel – 55kms

Total – 747kms

I haven’t been on a bike since I did the north island two years ago and mountain biked for a few days from National Park to Whakahoro and then Pipiriki to Whanganui. I really enjoyed that so have been looking forward to this. I am mountain biking part of the Alps to Ocean cycle trail from Tekapo to Lake Ohau. Today I peddled 55kms to Twizel and will do another 38kms tomorrow to Lake Ohau.

The trail took me along the entire length of the Tekapo Canal for 28kms to Lake Pukaki. The track then runs around the edge of the lake. I had great views across to Mt Cook. At the South end of the lake the track crossed SH8 into a young pine plantation down into Pukaki Flats for the final stretch to Twizel.

It was mostly flat and easy riding with a mixed grade of asphalt, gravel and dirt tracks. There were a couple of fun downhill parts. I would love to come back and do the entire Alps to Ocean ride from Mt Cook to Oamaru.