16 - 20 January
'A Tale Of Two Trails' by Perry & Tim  - move over Mr Dickens

This leg had participants in two groups; The Turner family (Perry, Irene, Madison, Charlotte & Isabelle) cycled the alternative route  from Tekapo to Oamaru and a few days later
Tim & Julie Love (plus a few friends) embarked on the classic scenic route from Mt Cook
via chopper and then cycling to Oamaru. Here are their accounts:

The Turners

Day 1 from Tekapo to Lake Ōhau Lodge was a very hot & dry 93km ride with fantastic views of Mt Cook around the bottom of Lake Pukaki.

Fresh salmon salad in Twizel and a well earned spa at Lake Ōhau Lodge then a game of pool with the gumboot wearing, mullet cut locals kept tired people smiling.

On Day 2 we biked 44km's from Lake Ōhau to Omarama. There were a few big hills, some spectacular canals and dams with  treats of ice cream and hot spas in Omarama.

Day 3 had us tackle some big climbs on the 80km's from Omarama to Kurow.

Some curveballs to challenge us - Isabelle keeping losing her chain & Irene got lost on a wrong turn.

Day 4 from Kurow to Oamaru was a big day riding, especially for the kids. 83km in very hot weather 
- with a few hedgehogs to navigate around on the way.

We were all knackered by the time we arrived in Oamaru.

The Loves
Prior to starting the Alps2Ocean we roughed it at the Hermitage. That evening Aoraki put on a spectacular show bathing in the sunset light.

We started off with a quick chopper ride up the river to Rotten Tommy.

There go the bikes...
...and oops. I accidentally left Strava on!

Julie heading down towards Twizel alongside Lake Pukaki.

Blue is the hue of the day at the Pukaki hydro electric control gates.
The Lake has a particularly striking colour due to the  fine silt/glacial flour suspended in the water.
On Day 2 we rode along the Lake Ōhau foreshore. The view from Lake Ōhau Lodge that night perfectly highlights the Mackenzie Basin golden tussock, lake + endless sky combination.

The next day we traversed the lower slopes of the Ōhau Range. This photo below is taken at the highest point with Lake Ōhau in the background.

Quailburn woolshed...a DIY dream!

Day 4 had us riding around Lake Benmore and on Day 5 we rode through farmland & had a break to explore the Elephant Rocks.
Between Duntroon & Enfield locals were obstructing the track...

We rode through the Rakis Tunnel. It was opened in 1887 but then closed already again in 1930.
It's approximately 100m long & the curve in the middle makes it pretty dark.

Where is trail maintenance when you need them?!

Our last day exploring Oamaru. These new e-bikes are a bit tricky...

The End (of this leg)