2026 Black Friday Sale
Cycle the trails of early gold rush miners through NZ's wild & rugged West Coast by bike
5 Days from
$
introductory to moderate
28kg of CO2-e PP per day
(111kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
Wedged between the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea is the 140km West Coast Wilderness Trail. Weaving through the dense rainforests, glacial rivers, lakes and wetlands, a series of smooth flowing off-road tracks takes you from Ross to Greymouth.
Following the path of long-gone railways, logging trams, and water races from the mining days, you’ll soak up colourful stories from the past.
Our expert guides will show you the trail’s best sights such as gold rush relics, wildlife, and hidden natural wonders.
You’ll also have the option to take a trip on the TranzAlpine, one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys.
Character-filled towns, atmospheric accommodation and friendly welcomes are all part of the package, as is the passion and local knowledge of our crew.
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Meals: D
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Meals: B,L
Meals: B,L,D
26 scheduled departures between 8 Nov 2026 and 7 May 2028.
Our guides are one of our biggest assets and we pride ourselves on their level of quality and high standards. Once the trip reaches 8 people, we provide you with two of our expert guides to maximise your enjoyment and overall experience. You’ll know you’re in safe hands as all of our guides are certified in first aid and CPR and many of them are trained bike mechanics. They come from all walks of life but our guides have a common desire to give you the best possible experience, fun and lots of fond memories to take home with you.
West Coast Wilderness Trail with Liv Phyland
Every aspect of this trip was excellent! The guides were top-notch as were the bikes, the route, and the accommodations. I highly recommend this trip and this company
We had a great time on the West Coast Wilderness Trail Ride.
Our guides Paul and Collie looked after us so well, making sure everyone was happy and enjoying the trip. We enjoyed their company and we were very happy with the overall experience. See you next time.
Fantastic trip, with great guides Collie and Paul. Reccommend doing a trip with them.
I enjoyed the whole experience, especially the guidance and care from our two guides, Collie and Paul. Both were attentive, informative and encouraging without being pushy.
I recently completed the West Coast Wilderness trail and I had a fantastic time. Sam and Nikki were excellent tour guides and were very organised making the whole trip easy. Their knowledge of the trail gave us insight as to what the riding conditions were like for each leg of the trail. Accommodation was good and all the meals included a wide variety of choices. The E-bikes were easy to use and I would recommend using the automatic setting on the bikes which gives your more time to enjoy the wonderful and varied scenery on the trail. I would recommend upgrading to the first class cabin in the tranzalpine train trip as it was a wonderful experience which included drinks and a four course fine dining. I am looking forward to planning another ride with the company.
My husband and myself did the West Coast wilderness tour. The electric bikes were awesome. Our guides, Nikki and Sam were fantastic. Nikki was full of wonderful facts.
Absolutely worth the investment in an adventure in my own country! Fun trails, great food, and our guides made this trip so memorable with all their additional wisdoms.
Fantastic organisation. Grew my confidence each day with progressive challenges.
Food too good, as attested by my scales on my return home.
Attentive fun guides.
Great fun, great people & great lifetime memories. Thanks so much Adventure South.
The Theatre Royal Hotel is the West Coast's only fully restored gold miners’ hotel, and once world-renowned theatre. The historic gold rush hotel features six themed ensuite accommodation rooms. Each room is unique, with its blend of Victorian decor, antique furnishings, modern amenities and West Coast charm. There is also a range of comfortable and spacious restored and replica miners cottages.
Overlooking the beach, the stunning Beachfront Hotel is located in central Hokitika, with beachcombing, shopping, artisan shops, and galleries right on the hotel’s doorstep. Each room is spacious with ensuite bathroom and has tea and coffee making facilities.
This perfectly located motel offers self-contained accommodation situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Hokitika town Centre and the beach.
This well appointed 4 star hotel is located right on the beachfront with views of the Tasman Sea, Punakaiki Beach and surrounding rainforest. It is located just a few minutes walk from the famous Pancake Rocks. The restaurant and bar have large ocean facing windows and a open fire for cooler days. Offering large ensuite studio rooms with tea and coffee making facilities, some rooms have a small kitchenette.
Designed specifically for Adventure South, our fleet of Sinch e-bikes is built to handle Aotearoa New Zealand’s cycle trails with ease.
These pedal-assist bikes take the effort out of hills and longer rides, thanks to a smooth and reliable Shimano motor system and a comfortable, upright riding position.
For premium comfort and control, they are equipped with:
• Large 630Wh battery
• Electronic and optional automatic gear shifting
• Swept-back handlebars with ergonomic comfort grips
• 120mm front air suspension
• 20mm suspension dropper seat post
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Adjustable handlebar stem
All sizes apart from XL feature an exceptionally low step-through frame (40cm) and 27.5” x 2.35” tyres.
*The XL bikes feature a step-over frame with 29” x 2.4” tyres for added stability and performance.
Whether you’re riding through the Mackenzie Basin, tracing the path of the Molesworth Muster, or cycling through Otago’s stunning gorges, our e-bikes are designed to help you enjoy every moment of the ride.
Our Merida Big Nine 200 hardtails are built for real-world Aotearoa New Zealand trails — reliable, capable, and comfortable. The lightweight aluminium frame and 29x2.4'' tires roll efficiently over a wide range of terrain, while the air suspension fork smooths out bumps and rough tracks. A modern, big range 1x10 drivetrain keeps shifting simple and intuitive, letting you focus on the ride ahead.
Hydraulic disc brakes give you reliable stopping power, and the rear rack fitted with one of our rack bags (included in hire) is ideal for stashing your layers, lunch or camera. With a relaxed upright riding position, this is a great choice for those who want a traditional, pedal-powered ride without sacrificing comfort.
With cleverly engineered geometry, this is a great choice for those who appreciate an engaging pedal powered ride without sacrificing the slightest bit of comfort.
Whether you’re cruising through the Roxburgh Gorge, flying across the Shotover Bridge, or pedalling beside the wild surf of the Taranaki coast, the Merida Big Nine 200 is a dependable trail mate.
* We have step-through bikes available on request, subject to limited availability. These are Avanti Discovery models.
This is the e-bike for riders who want the lot — comfort, control, and a little electric boost when the legs need it. The Merida eONE-FORTY 475 EQ features full suspension, a sporty mountainbike position, 29x2.4'' tires and a powerful Shimano motor that’ll help flatten out hills and keep your day flowing smoothly.
A long-lasting 712 Wh battery means you can ride all day, and extras like integrated lights, mudguards and a rack make it practical too. Whether you’re gliding around the Timber Trail, cruising the West Coast Wilderness, or soaking in the sights of the Alps to Ocean, this bike turns the dial up on comfort and capability.
*Subject to limited availability
Majority of the West Coast Wilderness trail is compacted gravel with a range of wide and narrower trails (along water races). Cyclists need to be confident riding on uneven surfaces and aware that riding on this surface will reduce cycling speeds.
There are sections of smooth sweeping boardwalk over wetlands.
Most of these roads are quiet back-roads. Cyclists need to be aware of the road rules and able to cope with small amounts of traffic.
Every departure date advises whether the date is confirmed, and roughly how full it is. Here is what each one means.
If a date shows Guaranteed to go, it runs regardless of further bookings.
It means two travellers are enough to confirm the departure. It could be 2 more to add to the group, or the date only needs 2 people to run. Either way, if you book for two people, the date will become guaranteed to run.
You will know the status before you book. Every date on this page is labelled, and dates marked “Guaranteed to go” are running regardless of further bookings. Where a date has not reached its minimum we either offer a surcharge to operate for a smaller group size so it can still run, or we cancel it. We contact you directly either way.
If we cancel a departure due to not meeting minimum trip numbers, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid us less any non recoverable costs, where insurance may cover you. We cannot refund money committed elsewhere – additional non refundable deposits advised at the time of booking, flights, visas, vaccinations, gear - which is why it is worth waiting for “Guaranteed to go” before booking other arrangements around this trip date. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before you book.
Each trip closes online a set time before departure. Permits, internal flights and hut or campsite bookings all have to be arranged before we take payment. Call or enquire as it might still be possible to organise last minute places.
Cancellations happen and places do open up on closed dates, so it is worth being on our list. We can also tell you which nearby date on the same trip has space, which is usually the faster route.
Yes, as a private departure. We can run this trip on a date you choose, for your own group - family, friends, a club, or in many cases, just for the two of you. Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming, and we will build it around that.
Carbon Footprint
So what does 100 kg of carbon look like? Here is a rough guide to help put it into perspective:
Discover how we're working to cut carbon emissions from our adventures by exploring the Climate Action page within our Responsible Travel hub.
Please note trip footprints do not include flights to and from the tour.
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