NEW ZEALAND: LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD
If there’s a place that lives in the imagination of every rider but eludes most—it’s New Zealand. The Land of the Long White Cloud, Aotearoa, feels almost mythical: jagged peaks rising from the sea, roads that disappear into mist, and a sense of space so vast it swallows thought. On the South Island—Te Waipounamu—the Southern Alps run like a spine through the land, raw and wild. It’s here that RAID takes on one of its most ambitious undertakings yet.
Ten days. Seven hundred miles. Gravel, tarmac, and everything in between. Every climb a test, every descent a release, every mile its own quiet revelation. You’ll ride hard, eat well, sleep deep, and wake to more of the same—until you forget what day it is and start measuring time in sunrises, laughter, and grit.
One rider from our first expedition said it better than we ever could:
“I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world doing cool shit, so I’ve always thought calling something a trip of a lifetime was lazy. But somewhere along these roads, that changed. It led me to where I am now believing this truly was a trip of a lifetime. Hopefully not the only one, but an extra special one for sure. Thank you again for believing there are people like me out there seeking the adventures you create. Hope we can do this again sometime.”
That’s what this ride does. It strips things back. It reminds you what freedom feels like, what challenge really means, and why we ride in the first place.
Leave behind winter’s short days and long nights. Come ride Aotearoa—where every mile hits deeper, and the road might just change you too.
We’ve taken the original and pushed it further. One more day. More options every stage: a Passhunter route for the rider who craves altitude and big days, and a Touring route for those who want flow, scenery, and tempo. Two distinct ways to ride, converge, and share the same RAID spirit.
D1 · ARRIVAL DAY – BLENHEIM, NZ
Blenheim welcomes you with sunshine and quench your thirst and delight your taste buds. As the producer of 75% of New Zealand’s wine, it’s the perfect launching point for a bit of indulgence before we venture off into the hinterland. Today our team will assist with your bike assembly, provide an orientation and assist with airport transfers. We will also offer a self-supported shakedown spin this afternoon before our evening dining experience.
Dinner at The Wine Kitchen, Blenheim
A private evening amid Marlborough’s vines — seasonal New Zealand cuisine crafted from local produce and paired with expressive regional wines. Chef Alain Hauswirth, a Swiss-born chef with a love for simplicity and precision, brings European technique to Marlborough’s raw bounty, creating dishes that are relaxed, refined, and deeply connected to the land that surrounds them.
O/N Chateau Marlborough Hotel or Riverside Motel Marlborough
D2 · BLENHEIM - MIDDLEHURST
Touring 53mi / 85.3km ✧ +5,223Ft / 1,592 m
14mi pave 27% / 38mi grvl 73%
23.2km pave / 75.9 km grvl
Passhunter 68.1mi / 109.5km ✧ +6,008ft / 1,831m
29.3mi pave 43% / 38mi grvl 57%
47.2km pave / 61.9km grvl
Today we take on the Acheron–Molesworth Road — often talked about, rarely ridden. Two hundred and seven kilometers of pure, untamed backcountry. It’s almost entirely dirt, a steady climb that trades the coast for the wide, empty expanse of the Awatere Valley. This is high-country riding at its best — raw, remote, and absolutely magnificent. We’ll split the distance over two big days, because this road deserves time — it’s not one to rush.
Tonight’s destination is one of New Zealand’s true hidden gems: The Quarters at Middlehurst Station — a working sheep station turned luxury high-country retreat. Set beneath the shadow of Mt. Lookout, and within walking distance of the braided Awatere River, it’s a place that feels like the edge of the world, yet delivers warmth and comfort in equal measure.
Dinner here is something special. The Macdonald family, along with their private chef, serve what they call Middlehurst cuisine — premium lamb from their own flocks, local produce from the valley, and wine poured generously around the table. Cooked in an open kitchen, shared family-style, it’s the kind of meal that feels earned — a feast for riders who’ve spent the day earning every bite.
D3 · MIDDLEHURST - HANMER SPRINGS
Touring 66.6mi / 107.2km ✧ +4,381ft / 1,335m
0.8mi pave 1% / 65.8mi grvl 99%
1.3km pave / 105.9km grvl
We roll out for the second half of the Acheron–Molesworth Road, tracing the legendary Molesworth Muster Trail through the heart of high-country New Zealand. The landscape opens wide — river valleys, tussock plains, and that endless sense of space you only find this far from anywhere. Keep an eye out for the local traffic jams — here, it’s not cars that stop you, it’s sheep. Hundreds of them.
The final stretch drops down Jack’s Pass — a fast, rough descent that rattles teeth and grins in equal measure. At the bottom lies Hanmer Springs, a mountain spa town built around natural hot pools — the perfect reward after a day of dust and descent.
Soak, float, breathe. The hard part’s behind you. This afternoon’s about tightening things up — packing gear, swapping stories, and getting ready to lift off on tomorrow’s charter.
D4 · LAKE TEKAPO - LAKE OHAU LODGE
Touring 57.4mi / 92.5km ✧ +1,745ft / 532m
14mi pave 27% / 38mi grvl 73%
23.2km pave / 75.9 km grvl
+Passhunter +31.9mi / +51.3km ✧ +1,626ft / +435m
+31.9mi / 51.3km grvl 100%
Depart Hanmer Springs in unforgettable fashion—aboard a breathtaking 90-minute scenic flight tracing the spine of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. As we soar past rugged peaks and shimmering lakes, the landscape unfolds in all its glory. We’ll touch down at the strikingly blue Lake Tekapo, then continue our journey by road along a corridor of cinematic beauty. With towering mountains to one side and glacier-fed lakes on the other, we’ll pass the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki and gaze across to Aoraki / Mount Cook, sacred to Māori and the highest peak in New Zealand.
Upon arrival at the private airstrip, we mount and roll — spinning straight into the wide-open expanse of the Mackenzie Country, where the horizon stretches forever and the light feels sharper than anywhere else on earth. The ride from Lake Tekapo to Lake Ōhau Lodge traces the turquoise edge of glacial lakes and empty gravel backroads, framed by snow-dusted peaks and the Southern Alps on the skyline. Big skies, cold rivers, and that unmistakable sense of space — this is classic South Island riding: raw, wind-cut, and unforgettable.
By afternoon, we arrive at Lake Ōhau Lodge—a soulful retreat tucked into the heart of the Mackenzie High Country. Your room overlooks the lake, perfectly positioned for sunrise views and quiet reflection. This region is nature’s deep exhale: raw, alpine, and humbling in its stillness. It’s a place that feels suspended in time—where watches lose meaning and the sky commands your full attention.
Family-run since the 1980s by locals Mike and Louise Neilson, Lake Ōhau Lodge blends warmth with wildness. The Alps 2 Ocean Trail rolls right to the doorstep — the perfect place to drop the bike, grab a cold drink, and settle in by the lake. Evenings here are what mountain life should be: long wooden tables, timber beams, the scent of roast lamb and wood smoke in the air. Plates pass, stories roll, and laughter carries through the hall. It’s not fine dining — it’s better. Honest food, shared with new friends at the edge of the world.
O/N Lake Ōhau Lodge
D5 · LAKE bENMORE - DANSEY’S PASS
Touring 56.2mi / 90.5km ✧ +2,220ft / 677m
15.5mi pave 28% / 40.5mi grvl 72%
24.9km pave / 65.2km grvl
Passhunter 81.4mi / +131.1km ✧ +5,425ft / +1,654m
23.9mi pave 29% / 57.2mi grvl 70%
38.5km pave / 92.1km grvl
Today we leave the wide skies of the Mackenzie high country behind and push deeper into the backroads of Otago — a land shaped by wind, water, and time. The ride begins at Lake Benmore, tracing a rugged off-road track that hugs the shoreline before threading along Lake Aviemore and the Waitaki River, a mix of quiet tarmac and loose gravel that feels like pedaling through the bones of the South Island itself.
As we near Otago, the landscape turns strange and beautiful — a sculpted world of weathered limestone and bulbous rock formations that look like elephants frozen mid-stride. The terrain tightens, the air cools, and then the real work begins: the long, grinding climb up to Dansey’s Pass.
Built during the gold rush of the 1860s, this was once a lifeline between the mines and the coast — a road carved by hand, still rough around the edges, still capable of humbling even the strongest rider. The final stretch kicks hard, loose gravel and switchbacks that test your legs and your will. But the reward is worth it: a descent into history, landing at the Dansey’s Pass Hotel, standing since 1862.
Inside, it’s all stone walls, open fires, and stories that hang in the air like smoke. The beer’s cold, the food’s hearty, and there’s a sense that not much has changed here in 160 years. This is remote New Zealand — raw, real, and exactly why we ride.
D6 · DANSEY’S PASS - MIDDLEMARCH
Touring 54.4mi / 87.6km ✧ +1,627ft / 496m
2.7mi pave 5% / 51.6mi grvl 95%
4.4km pave / 83.1 km grvl
Passhunter 70.4mi / +113.3km ✧ +3,733ft / +1,138m
15.2mi pave 22% / 55.2mi grvl 78%
24.4km pave / 88.9km grvl
We roll out from Dansey’s Pass, leaving its mountain quiet behind and dropping into the wide, open valleys of Otago. Today splits two ways: a scenic, easygoing line that traces the Central Otago Rail Trail, and a tougher, more remote gravel route that cuts through the neighboring high-country valleys — past some of the largest and most storied sheep stations in New Zealand.
The Rail Trail is historic ground — New Zealand’s first long-distance rail-to-trail conversion, the one that sparked a national movement. The gravel route is pure RAID: long climbs, fast descents, and the kind of empty farm roads where it’s just you, the wind, and the sound of your tires.
Both routes converge in the quiet farming town of Middlemarch, where we regroup, load the bikes, and transfer an hour east into Dunedin. It’s a proper change of scene — from big country to coastal city. Dinner tonight is on your own, with plenty of great options nearby to refuel and unwind after a massive day on the bike.
*Dinner on own
O/N Fable Dunedin
D7 · DUNEDIN - REST DAY
Today’s a well-earned layover in Dunedin — a chance to rest the legs or spin them out gently along the Otago Peninsula. This stretch of coastline is pure South Island magic: rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and quiet villages where time seems to stand still.
But before you slip into recovery mode, there’s one challenge worth a crack — Baldwin Street, officially the steepest road in the world. It’s short but savage: a 350-meter wall that kicks up to 35% gradient near the top. On a bike, it’s a battle of traction and willpower — legs screaming, front wheel lifting, heart in the throat. Crest it clean and you’ve earned serious bragging rights (and maybe a pastry from the café at the bottom).
For those keen to explore, we’ve lined up a scenic wildlife tour with a local operator (not included) — expect albatross, sea lions, and maybe even a yellow-eyed penguin or two.
Back in town, wander Dunedin’s grand old streets, take in the mosaic glory of the Railway Station, or stroll through the Octagon, dotted with cathedrals, galleries, and cafés. For a deeper dive, visit the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum or follow the Street Art Trail — both give the city its unique creative pulse.
Dunedin has also developed a vibrant and thriving craft beer culture that has gained national and international recognition. Some of the notable breweries in the city include Emerson's Brewery, and the historical Speight's Brewery, one of the country's most iconic and well-loved breweries. Its history dates back to the mid-19th century, and it has played a significant role in New Zealand's brewing tradition. Lets pour a glass and maybe take a tour.
Or keep it simple: a slow morning, a strong coffee, maybe a wander through the Botanic Gardens. However you spend it, today’s about soaking in Dunedin’s rhythm — part Scottish, part surf town, and entirely its own.
Dinner at No. 7 Balmac, Dunedin
Tucked into the hillside above Dunedin, No. 7 Balmac is where the city’s creative food scene meets a relaxed southern pace. The restaurant’s kitchen garden drives the menu — seasonal vegetables, local meats, and line-caught seafood brought together with quiet precision. Expect wood-fired flavors, regional wines, and the warmth of a true neighborhood spot. It’s elegant but unpretentious — the kind of place where riders trade stories over shared plates and a glass of Central Otago Pinot as the lights of Dunedin flicker below.
O/N Fable Dunedin
D8 · BERWICK - LAKE ROXBURGH
Touring 78.9mi / 126.9km ✧ +4,975ft / 1,516m
35.2mi pave 45% / 43.6mi grvl 55%
56.7km pave / 70.2km grvl
We kick off the day with a quick 30-minute transfer to slip past Dunedin’s morning traffic — and then it’s straight into the good stuff. Gravel from the get-go, climbing out along the Waipori River as it snakes into the hills. The opening leg is pure grit: over 1,000 meters of vertical in the first 40 kilometers, including a savage 3 km pitch that averages over 10% — the kind of climb that makes your legs go silent and your head do the talking.
From the summit, the tone shifts. The terrain softens, the air warms, and the road gives way to the Clutha Gold Trail — a flowing off-road route that follows the path of the old gold rush. These were the same tracks that carried miners into Otago’s wild interior; now it’s just you, the river, and the echo of that history. You’ll pass modern relics too — the massive hydro dams that replaced the pickaxes and sluice boxes.
By day’s end, the dust settles at Lake Roxburgh Lodge — a quiet sanctuary surrounded by pines and deep southern silence. Cold beer, warm food, and the kind of sleep that only follows a truly hard day out.
D9 · LAKE ROXBURGH - cROMWELL
Touring 55.6mi / 89.5km ✧ +3,276ft / 999m
6.5mi pave 12% / 49.2mi grvl 88%
10.4km pave / 79.1km grvl
Passhunter 70.4mi / +126km ✧ +3,733ft / +1,610m
13.8mi pave 18% / 64.5mi grvl 82%
22.3km pave / 103.7km grvl
Today we take on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail — still unfinished, still wild, and all the better for it. This is Central Otago at its rawest: a landscape of gold, rock, and river carved deep into the earth. The route stitches together by way of a 40-minute jetboat transfer through the gorge — bikes loaded, spray on your face, schist walls towering overhead. It’s part ride, part adventure.
From Alexandra (km 35), the line splits. The RAID route links four distinct sections — the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, the Central Otago Rail Trail, a rough-cut gravel grind and fast descent over Thomson Pass, and a final paved run along the edge of Lake Cromwell.
Thomson Pass is a proper gravel-bike test piece — an honest climb through sheep country and golden tussock hills, with sweeping views back over the Maniototo plains. The surface shifts from hard-packed gravel to loose rock and clay, demanding finesse on the way up and commitment on the descent. It’s remote, empty, and absolutely beautiful — the kind of stretch where you stop pedaling just to take it in.
The shorter route drops south toward Cromwell via the new Lake Dunstan Trail — a cliff-carved, purpose-built cycle path that rides like a ribbon along the lake’s edge, complete with wooden causeways, steel suspension bridges, and even a floating coffee bar mid-ride.
Roll into Cromwell dusty, sun-streaked, and grinning. The air cools, the vineyards open up, and a glass of Central Otago Pinot Noir is waiting — the perfect finish to a day that had it all: water, rock, and wild.
Particularly known for their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, Cromwell boasts several renowned wineries. Some of the top vintners include Mt Difficulty, Akarua, Wooing Tree, Misha’s Vineyard, Peregrine Wines, and Carrick Wines—all offering daily tastings and tours.
O/N Harvest House
D10 · cROMWELL - MOSSBURN
Touring 48mi / 77.3km ✧ +1,362ft / 415m
2.4mi pave 5% / 45.7mi grvl 95%
3.8km pave / 71.4km grvl
Passhunter 88.9mi / +126km ✧ +6,814ft / +1,610m
9.5mi pave 11% / 79.4mi grvl 89%
15.3km pave / 128km grvl
The Queen Stage — the big one. The day everyone will talk about long after the trip’s done. It’s long, raw, and mostly unpaved — a proper RAID day packed with grit, altitude, and adventure.
We roll out by finishing the last stretch of the Central Otago Rail Trail, then trace the turquoise sweep of the Clutha River on a freshly cut section of trail. The warm-up ends there — because next comes the legend: The Nevis Road.
It’s one of the most remote and spectacular backroads in New Zealand — a high-country route that climbs to Duffers Saddle (1,275 m / 4,183 ft), the highest public road in the country. Expect 27 creek crossings — some ankle deep, some up to your knees — and long ribbons of gravel threading through the empty Nevis Valley. You’ll pass rusted gold-mining relics, wild rivers, and silence so big it hums.
The descent off the saddle into Garston is pure bliss — fast, open, and wide as the sky. And just when you’re thinking about food, Coffee Bomb appears: a legendary roadside café serving flat whites, pies, and towering sandwiches out of an converted Airstream trailer. Refuel, laugh, soak it in.
From there it’s an easy 50 km spin through rolling farmland to Mossburn, where the historic Mossburn Railway Hotel waits — part pub, part time capsule, all character. A beer, a hearty meal, and a bed upstairs. Classic Southland. Classic RAID.
D11 · MOSSBURN - QUEENSTOWN
Touring 64.6mi / 77.3km ✧ +2,765ft / 415m
0.5mi pave 1% / 64mi grvl 99%
0.9km pave / 103.1km grvl
Let’s get real for a moment. This road means something. Back in 1994, a 20-year-old Brad rode this stretch solo during a six-month bikepacking trip across New Zealand — and he swears it changed the course of his life. Somewhere along this lonely gravel road, covered in dust and wonder, he decided to apply to university, to study outdoor education and earn his guiding chops through NOLS. In a way, this is where RAID began — not in a business plan, but in a feeling born right here in the Southern Alps.
Our final day on the bike begins from the old Mossburn Railway Hotel, rolling north through open country toward the Mavora Lakes — a landscape that seems to stretch into forever. From there, the road narrows, the air sharpens, and we drop deeper into Walter Peak Station — one of the most jaw-dropping pieces of land in all of New Zealand. The gravel threads through vast golden valleys, beside rivers of glacier-blue water, with snow peaks standing guard in the distance. It’s the kind of road that makes you stop pedaling just to take it in — raw, remote, and almost spiritual in its beauty.
The ride finishes on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, where the silence gives way to the gentle hum of the TSS Earnslaw, the historic steamship that will carry us across the lake to Queenstown. There’s time for a cold beer or a cup of tea as you look back at where you’ve come from — one last glance at the wild heart of the South Island.
Queenstown awaits — a town built on adventure and possibility. Stay on if you like: bungee jump, mountain bike, jet boat, or just sit by the lake and let it all sink in — the road, the ride, and the spark that started it all.
D12 · QUEENSTOWN
Departure day. It’s best to fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN). We will assist you this morning in your departures and movements.
