Sitting just to the south of Christchurch and overflowing with beautiful bays and picturesque villages, Banks Peninsula is well worth a detour from the city. It’s also crammed full of cycling opportunities. 
 
Self-guided Little River Railtrail
The Little River Railtrail begins in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby and follows the route of a 19th century railway to Little River. Highlights along the way include Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora and its resident birdlife – as many as 98,000 birds can be nesting along its shoreline at any one time.

Several self-guided trips incorporate the trail, from a fast, two-day trip to a four-day jaunt which also introduces you to Diamond Harbour and the Port Hills.

Little River Railtrail Guided Daytrip
Short on time? This guided trip along the Little River Railtrail ends at an award-winning café in Little River. Quiet roads, gentle gradients and beautiful scenery make this a fantastic outing for families and cyclists with little to no riding experience. Read more here >>

3 Day Self-Guided Banks Peninsula Cycle Tour
This tour incorporates a mix of on- and off-road cycling along twisting roads, remote gravel tracks and disused rail trail. For those who relish a challenge, rugged single track also awaits!

There’s plenty to discover as you pedal. The rocky coastline of the peninsula is home to New Zealand’s endangered Hector’s dolphin, penguin colonies and native fur seals. The charming town of Akaroa makes a good lunch or overnight stop, and is Canterbury’s oldest town, founded in 1840 by French settlers.
 
With a little under 5000m of climbing over three days this tour is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s perfect for hill lovers and adventure seekers. Read more here >>

Get in touch to discuss any of these trips. We can also help with bike hire.

Have a good week,
Steve