This is one of the loveliest cycle rides in the country. It begins by traveling through bush and valley views and ends in a coast road that offers gorgeous sea views and seal colonies. It is one of the few places in the world where you can see stunning summer seascapes and snow peaked mountains all in one vista.
Picton to Kaikoura Elevation Profile
Picton to Blenheim (28k)
If you head to Blenheim, you will travel down the main road south, (unless you take the Port Underwood road which is empty of traffic but winds up and down and in and out of a number of small, picturesque bays for fifty odd kilometres, pretty, but no shops and a single backpackers at Oyster Bay), Blenheim is only thirty odd kilometres from Picton by main road, but I recommend continuing on to Renwick, about 10Km west of Blenheim.
It’s a great spot in the middle of the scenic wine growing area and has access to a wonderful eatery called The Mudhouse Café.
Blenheim to Kaikoura (≈125k)
The trip to Kaikoura can be completed in a day from Blenheim, but this is often a bit of a stretch for those who like meandering. A good stopover is Pedaller’s Rest (a few kilometres past Ward then 1.5k up Ure River Road off SH 1). Get your main groceries in Ward. Pedaller’s Rest is a lovely place and will provide a few basic foodstuffs, but there is no general store close by.
Take a moment to have a break at The Store in Kekerengu (approx. 24k from Ward). The Store has great food and very good coffee and a clear and stunning view over the Pacific. Ask locally and you may be allowed to camp among the pine trees to the north and the township close to the sea. The beach is notable for its long foreshore of flat, circular sea stones in grey, black and white.
Be wary of seals! They are easy to photograph and frequently appear to be posing for you. But in late December and January they come ashore to breed and the Hooker Sea Lion is particularly unpleasant if approached lightly.
Kaikoura to Christchurch via Cheviot
There are two possible routes south from Kaikoura: down State Highway 1 to Cheviot, taking in the lovely coastal route through Goose Bay to Oaro; or inland along the aptly named Inland Kaikoura Road.
Kaikoura is a small, lively town with a number of good cafés, restaurants, campgrounds, Youth Hostel and backpackers. The setting is magnificent with great mountains in the background and a startlingly blue/green seafront. Kaikoura has an opportunity to swim with the dolphins or book a whale watching trip.
Once you leave Kaikoura heading south, you will enjoy a flat, rocky coastline for 20 km until the road curves inland and up the Hunderlees, a range of hills that rise and fall for forty or so kilometres before rolling into Cheviot. Much of the road is broad and sweeping with great views of the landscape and a number of small and dying towns between.
Cheviot is a good place to stay. It is a small, pleasant service town with a supermarket for supplies and a friendly camping ground. Alternately, you might like to stay at Gore Bay, approximately eight or so kilometres east on the coast.
Cheviot to Christchurch (114k)
From Cheviot begins more rolling hills (38 Km or so) followed by a downhill run of around 76 Km into Christchurch. (There is a campground, store and pub at Greta Valley, approximately 32 kilometres out from Cheviot, a pretty place). Although a main road, the cycling is generally relaxed and the fields, plains and mountains provide broad and picturesque views.
There are a number of longer, quieter side routes open to you. Try the inland state highway 72 (check your map for this). Highway 72 is a beautiful, quiet and welcome change to the usual main south road (turn inland at Amberley and you can miss Christchurch altogether). By now you will have experienced some of the joys of South island cycling.
The long bridges that cross rivers coming from the Alps run swiftly down over light grey river stones to the sea. Bridges of course are notorious places for cyclists (few drivers appreciate either your slower pace or lack of space). Nonetheless, these broad, clear, blue and green alpine waterways are magnificent.