actionchallenge in This is an extremely challenging journey that takes us the full length of s South Island. We cycle from the stunning Nelson Lakes in the north, along the rugged west coast, high over the mountains and down to Invercargill, one of the most southerly cities in the world. The route takes us on an incredible two week journey we ll never forget. is a cyclist s paradise with varied terrain and breathtaking scenery. Our cycle begins alongside apple orchards and wineries before opening out onto huge sheep country. As we begin to climb, the landscape changes. We enter lush rainforests, we climb challenging snow-capped mountains and follow picturesque roads hugging stunning lakes. Together we watch the sea surge through blow holes at Pancake Rocks and cycle past the flat calm of deep, crystal clear lakes. We push ourselves to the limit as we take on exceptionally challenging climbs and hair-raising descents. Grit, determination and team spirit helps us climg the steep roads to Fox Glacier and the Gates of Haast, whilst adrenaline and nerves of steel take us on an exhilarating, fast descent down hairpin bends, from the summit of the Crown Range to Arrowtown. After the mountain roads, we hit the flat as a peloton and cover 188km across the Waimea Plains towards Invercargill, the most southerly city in. The sights throughout our trip are stunning, from the mighty Mt. Cook and the snowcapped Southern Alps to the rugged coastline, tumbling waterfalls, pretty towns and rolling sheep paddocks. Our incredible journey comes to an end in Christchurch were we celebrate our epic ride with our new-found friends in style with a dinner and partying. at a glance trip highlights Activity: Cycling - Road biking Location: Nelson to Invercargill, South Island, NZ Duration: 14 days / 8 days cycling Difficulty: Tough Distance: 1,096 km Group size: 15+ Cycle through Orchards and vineyards Ride Challenging climbs up to Fox glacier Descend steep hairpin bends to Arrowtown See the blow holes at Pancake Rocks View Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps See the stunning Lake Mapourika Celebrations in Christchurch Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. Our Ultimate Ride series offers challenging cycling trips designed to test our endurance in exciting environments. Together we rise to the challenges, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life. www.actionchallenge.com
introduction This fully-inclusive endurance cycle in will begin as soon as you register! You will receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all the formalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offer pre-challenge briefings to prepare you for this extremely tough and demanding trip. On the day of departure you will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whether you re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will board our flight to New Zealand, ready to take on the endurance bike ride of a lifetime! brief itinerary Please visit our website for more details All inclusive trip cost from 2,849 Initial 399 deposit to sign up Three payment options available Please visit our website for more details Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Depart UK Transit Arrive Christchurch St Arnaud WestPort Hokitika Franz Josef Glacier Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Haast Wanaka Queenstown Invercargill Christchurch Depart Arrive UK what s included International flights Action Challenge cycle leader Full support team, including local guides UK medic Support vehicles All accommodation All meals, except in free time Airline taxes Treated drinking water All transfers National Park entrance fees Celebration dinner in Christchurch Invitation to a challenge briefing in London Discounted training weekends Fitness and training guide Discounts from UK retailers Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health topography This tough challenge requires an excellent level of fitness. The route has numerous climbs and we will be covering up to 188 km on some days so we will be physically tested throughout this trip. Why not stay on after the challenge and explore some more of Australasia s highlights? Extensions include: The Milford Trek Tongariro Tracks Visit Abel Tasman Add-on-flights to Sydney or Melbourne Altitude Distance The ideal time to travel to is between November and March, during the countries summer months. The temperature usually averages between 20 to 30 degrees C, however the temperature decreases as you cycle south due to the country s location in the Southern Hemisphere.
itinerary DAY 1 / 2 - Depart UK / Transit We begin our journey with a long flight to. Meals: B,L,D (in flight) DAY 3 - Arrive Christchurch On arrival in Christchurch we have time to relax before transferring to Nelson for the start of our challenge. Meals: L,D Accom: Hotel Transfer: 5 hours DAY 4 - St Arnaud We being our bike ride from Motueka, cycling up the Motueka Valley on a delightful, quiet road through apple orchards, berry farms and vineyards before reaching open sheep country. We continue to climb through Golden Downs Forest before arriving in St Arnaud, set in a beech forest next to the beautiful Lake Rotoiti. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 97 km Total climb: 1484 km DAY 5 - Westport From St Arnaud, we follow the Buller River downhill through sheep farming country to the former gold mining town of Murchison, best known for the devastating effects of the 1929 earthquake. We continue alongside the river, before heading for Westport on the isolated west coast. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 160 km Total climb: 1172 km DAY 6 - Hokitika At Punakaiki we explore the fascinating Pancake Rocks and watch the sea surge through blow holes before heading south to the town of Greymouth, the site of the Mawhera Maori settlement. From here it is a flat run to Hokitika, famous for its 1860s gold rush and today visited for its ecotourism and greenstone (jade) found on the local river beds. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 141 km Total climb: 1294 km DAY 7 - Franz Josef Glazier Crossing the Hokitika River, we head south through native bush of rimu and kahikatea (white pine). We cycle through stunning countryside with one climb after the town of Harihari and a final flat run from Whataroa. As we enter Westland National Park we pass the beautiful Lake Mapourika, with superb views of snowcapped peaks. Ten nights in comfortable hotels and motels along our route All accommodation is on a twin/tripleshare, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where possible. If you wish to share a room with someone you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form. If you decide that you would like to have your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of places. Please email us for more information Insurance - approximately 60 Visa waiver program - 20 Vaccinations - up to date on boosters. Tips for local staff - recommended amount 30 Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 135 km Total climb: 1143 km
DAY 8 - Haast The ride from the Franz Josef to Fox Glaciers is only 24 km but it includes three very challenging climbs and steep descents through beautiful native forest. From Fox to Lake Paringa the road is gently undulating, passing through lush rainforests of rimu and rata, across flax-filled swamps and past rugged hills. With fine weather, there will be superb views of Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps. Just south of Lake Moeraki, Knights Point affords excellent views of the rugged coastline where seals can often be seen basking in the sun. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance:145 km Total climb: 1517 km Continental breakfasts each morning will be at the accommodation, lunch will be eaten en route and evening meals will be at the accommodation or in a local restaurant. All meals are provided apart from those in free time. We can cater for all dietary requirements if informed in advance. DAY 9 - Wanaka From Haast we head inland, following the Haast River towards snowcapped peaks. We cycle, past tumbling waterfalls looking out for keas, fantails and bellbirds. After lunch we negotiate the stiff climb through the Gates of Haast before the gentle descent to Makarora. The country is now dramatically drier as dense bush gives way to open sheep paddocks. The scenery is breathtaking as we cycle as a peloton along roads hugging Lake Wanaka, crossing the Neck to Lake Hawea and back again to Lake Wanaka. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 152 km Total climb: 1742 km DAY 10 - Queenstown Our route today takes us up the Crown Range and over the Cardrona Road. We climb past the historic Cardrona Hotel to the summit where we are rewarded with amazing views of The Remarkables mountains and Queenstown. We descend the exhilarating hairpin bends to Arrowtown, with its quaint old cottages and avenues of elms. A short leisurely ride beneath Coronet Peak, a winter ski field, takes us to Arthur's Point where we cross the Shotover River on our way to Queenstown. Set on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by mountain peaks, Queenstown is a pretty, buzzy town perfect to relax in after a hard days cycle. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 78 km Total climb: 1188 km DAY 11 - Invercargill We follow the shoreline Lake Wakatipu as far as Kingston, the home of the famous Kingston flier steam train, and then continue south in the lee of the Eyre Mountains. On a good day there will be views of the Kepler Mountains as we continue south to cross the Waimea Plains for a final flat run into Invercargill, s most southerly city and home to the country s only indoor velodrome. A kit list will be sent to you on receipt of registration. Many everyday items can be used on this challenge, and we offer a kit hire service to keep costs down. If you are planning on travelling to New Zealand before the challenge or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land only option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet your group at the hotel on day two of the itinerary. Please email us for more information Road Bike Alcoholic drinks Drinks and food outside of meals, other than water Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines. Please note that this is capped at a maximum of 150. Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance:188 km Total climb: 951 km DAY 12 - Christchurch Today we transfer back to Christchurch for our final night s celebration after an incredible challenge. Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel Transfer: 7½ hours DAY 13 / 14 - Depart / Arrive UK
payment options A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of 399 (for 2015) is required to secure your place. We offer 2 deposit payment options: OPTION 1: Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration. OPTION 2: Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when you register and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the following month. For this option, a 10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment. ATOL is a scheme that protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad if your travel company collapses. Action Challenge is 100% ATOL bonded, which provides you with full financial protection. On receipt of your registration fee, you will receive an ATOL certificate explaining your protection. Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost. Full details are on our website. 1) SELF FUNDED For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It s then completely up to you whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice. The total all inclusive cost of this trip is 2,849 (for 2015), which, after you pay the 399 Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of 2,450. This final balance is due for payment 10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline. 2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising a significant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least 4,900 (for 2015) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues, and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 4,900 (for 2015), your charity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 2,450 (the same as if you were you were Self Funded ) - the charity will retain at least 2,450 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. how to book To book on to this challenge, please visit our website; www.actionchallenge.com for a full list of prices and all available dates. private groups If you are a charity, business, school or private group with a minimum of 10 people and fancy your own bespoke trip, please call us on +44(0)207 609 6695 or you can send us an email to events@actionchallenge.com for more information. 3) MIXED FUNDED A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and also fundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal For anyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT is happy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with your registration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights & accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship in respect to the challenge component of their trip. Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least 3,650 (for 2015), your charity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is 1,450. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balance yourself, which will be a figure of 1,000 (These two amounts add up to the same as the Self Funded final balance) - the charity will retain at least 2,200 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. @actionchallenge www.facebook.com/actionchallenge Action Challenge UK Ltd United House North Road London N7 9DP United Kingdom