Coast to Coast Expedition Across New Zealand

From the moment you kick off the coast to coast journey on the west coast at the Tasman Sea on Day 3, to the final section reaching the Pacific Coast on Day 10, you'll be on an expedition-style trip, covering the required daily distances under your own steam by bike, on foot, or by river rafting. Your guide sets a pace that can be kept up by the entire group, with breaks for resting, refueling on snacks, and water. You will stop for lunch each day along the route, and dinner is taken after reaching the next accommodation at the end of each section.

A support vehicle accompanies the group throughout the whole trip. When you finish a section – rafting, hiking, biking, etc. – the support vehicle will be strategically waiting, ready with your next equipment or to transfer you to accommodation where needed. Everything is organized and supported so that you simply need to power yourself from coast to coast, without worrying about logistics. While the guides encourage and support everyone on the trip to complete the expedition successfully without using motorized transport, if you are unable to complete any section for any reason, the support vehicle will be on hand to take you to the next accommodation.

Note that for safety reasons, a small transfer is required on a section of the road between Kumara and Morrison's Bridge (near Otira) on Day 5, before you hike to Goats Pass. There is no road shoulder here, and traffic travels at 60 miles per hour, so your host will transport everyone by vehicle for this part of the route.

The vast majority of this expedition can be completed even if the weather becomes a bit more challenging. If conditions become severe, your host, who knows New Zealand better than almost anyone, will pivot to alternative options.

The one section of the expedition with a higher chance of being affected by bad weather is the crossing of Goat Pass. An additional guide is included for this crossing to help keep everyone safe. However, in the event of severe bad weather making the crossing impossible, an alternative hike will be undertaken. This will either be a climb up to the mountainous Temple Basin above Arthur’s Pass or a lower bush walk visiting Bealey Chasm and Punchbowl Falls.

Groups of up to five will have one main guide for the whole trip, plus an additional guide for the crossing of Goat Pass on Day 5. Groups of six to nine people will have two guides from start to finish of the trip, including the crossing of Goat Pass on Day 5. Groups of 10 or more will have two main guides for the whole trip, plus an additional guide for the crossing of Goat Pass on Day 5.

Yes, you can leave your excess luggage at the accommodation in Christchurch or at your host's office in Christchurch (but please ask your host about this before you arrive, via your reservation page).

The drinking water in New Zealand is perfectly safe to drink, so you will be able to fill up at various points along the expedition. Your guide will advise each day where the refill opportunities are. Make sure you bring along at least 2 liters of carrying capacity in bottles and/or bladders. If you wish to safely refill from natural water sources in the Southern Alps, have a read of our guide on the best Water Filters for Adventurers

You'll be riding a hybrid mountain bike on the biking sections of this trip. Your host has a fleet of custom Avanti Discovery bikes, built to suit the New Zealand trails with the best characteristics of both hybrid and mountain bikes. The bikes have been adapted with faster-rolling tires, upgraded suspension forks, an easy-shifting gear system, quality disc brakes, and a bike rack. The bikes have a more upright riding style, allowing you to take in the amazing scenery you'll encounter along the way.

The riding on the expedition is done on a variety of surfaces, all of which are perfectly rideable and enjoyable for anyone who can ride a bike to a basic standard. You will not need technical mountain biking skills or experience, and a full briefing will take place to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment. The three types of trail you will encounter are as follows:

Compacted Gravel: The majority of the route along the West Coast Wilderness Trail is on compacted gravel, with a range of wide and narrower trails depending on the location. Riders need to be comfortable riding on uneven surfaces and understand that steering and braking will handle differently than on a paved road.

Paved Roads: There are some sections of very quiet backcountry roads where riders will need to be mindful of other road users and adhere to local traffic rules.

Boardwalks: There are some sections of boardwalk crossing over wetlands. Note that the boardwalk does not have a safety barrier, so the group will cycle at a gentle pace on these sections, with less time to take in the views.

Your local host will provide a suitable helmet that conforms to recognized safety standards. If you have sizing concerns, contact your local host in advance so they can advise on fit and availability.

If you wish to bring your own helmet it must be suitable for the activity and conform to recognized safety standards. Please see our Cycling safety guidance for further information.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

As a general rule, November to April are the most ideal months for traveling in New Zealand’s stunning outdoors. One of the most important things travelers need to know about the New Zealand climate is that it has a maritime climate, as opposed to the continental climate typical of larger landmasses. Thanks to its position in the path of the ‘Roaring Forties’ and its mountainous terrain, New Zealand’s weather can change with amazing rapidity.

Because the weather can change so unexpectedly, you should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. The temperature during South Island summers ranges from 50-86°F, with a pleasant 40-50% humidity. Higher altitudes are always considerably cooler, and snowfall is not uncommon even in summer. The Southern Alps act as a barrier to the moisture-laden winds coming west across the Tasman Sea, creating a wet climate on the west side of the mountains and a drier climate on the east side. The geography also creates a wind pattern, which in summer can be very hot, dry, and fierce. Maximum temperatures you may encounter range up to 86°F. Minimum temperatures expected in the Southern Alps in summertime are around 23°F.