This epic 315km journey starts in the foothills of the country's highest peak Aoraki/Mount Cook and meanders through the Southern Alps' broad, glacier-carved valleys into Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, which Morriss describes as a "vanished world" where dolphins with shark-like teeth once swam in a warm shallow sea. The trail finishes at Oamaru, a town literally built from the ancient seabed you ride on.
It is one of the country's 23 Nga Haerenga Great Rides and until recently, the full A2O would only be tackled by very fit cyclists but e-bikes are available to hire and supported rides avaiable, to enable more people to enjoy the experience and adventure.
In parts, the A2O is so remote that at night the Milky Way can be seen in some of the clearest night skies in the world. However, isolation shouldn’t put anyone off: several companies offer guided trips, which include luggage transfers to prebooked accommodation (farmsteads, lake lodges and boutique B&Bs). A support vehicle tags along, available from companies such as Adventure South NZ (guided), Escape by Cycle (guided), Cycle Journeys (guided and self-guided) or Trail Journeys (self-guided). Both guided and self-guided tours include bikes and a map with points of interest along the waymarked route.
Summer and autumn (December to May) are ideal times to ride the trail.
Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail - OFFICIAL Website
Route type: Long Distance Point to Point