From the website https://www.alps2ocean.com/

"The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is the longest of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand serving up epic vistas from Aoraki Mount Cook to arty Ōamaru beside the Pacific Ocean. One of New Zealand’s truly Great Rides; is the crème de la crème of multi-day cycling experiences in NZ for the iconic southern landscapes traversed and easily navigated by a wide demographic. The Trail is broken into nine sections."


A long time on our bucket list and so, with more time to spare, we loaded up the bikes on the van and headed off down State Highway 1 for a left-hand turn at Geraldine. We know the road well, having travelled it numerous times from Geraldine to Lake Tekapo, but it never fails to inspire, no matter what the weather. This day was a Blue-Sky-Bluebird-Day with clear visibility from the Canterbury Plains to the eastern edge of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. One of my favourite views in Aotearoa is dropping down the final rise to the east of Tekapo when the lake and mountains open up. Stopping at Lake Tekapo for ice cream, we sat and marvelled at our surroundings; the blue water of the glacial lake, the white of Mount John observatory on the hill against the cobalt blue sky and the rolling hills of the Two Thumb Range with its ski-fields of Mt Dobson and Roundhill (both of which we have skied at in the past). Dragging ourselves away, we drove south the 80km to Twizel. The campground was dry and dusty after a long drought and so we pitched the van and awning tent on hard dust. That afternoon we cycled a section of the Alps to Ocean north from Twizel Village to Lake Pukaki Lookout. The clouds stayed off all day allowing us an uninterrupted view across the blue lake to Aoraki / Mt Cook. The highest mountain in Aotearoa is 3724 meters and stands in a National Park. To sit and look across the lake to the majestic mountain range, is enough to make all things right in one's world once again. A stiff northerly breeze had come up pushing us back to the campsite. Enough for one day, beers and dinner beckoned and the excitement of another section of the Alps to Ocean tomorrow.