Last updated October 2026
The longest of New Zealand’s 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides, the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail runs from the foot of Aoraki/Mt Cook, or from Takapō / Lake Tekapo, all the way to the coast at Ōamaru.
The trail’s own website grades it easy to intermediate. It suggests five to seven days for the whole ride, or individual sections as day trips. This guide looks most closely at the Alt Route from Takapō and the Lake Aviemore section.
Visiting Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail: The Essentials
- Start
- Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, or Takapō / Lake Tekapo (Alt Route); the two routes meet at Lake Pūkaki
- Finish
- Ōamaru
- Length
- About 316 km from Aoraki/Mt Cook, or about 296 km from Takapō (sum of the published section lengths)
- Time
- Five to seven days for the full trail, or ride sections as day trips
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate; sections are Grade 2 or Grade 3
- Towns on the way
- Twizel, Lake Ōhau Lodge, Ōmarama, Ōtematata, Kurow, Duntroon
- Website
- alps2ocean.com, copyright Waitaki District Council and Mackenzie District Council
- Status
- Check the Alps 2 Ocean latest trail information page for current alerts and closures before you ride
What You'll Find Here
Alps 2 Ocean runs from the Southern Alps past Lake Pūkaki, Lake Ōhau, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki and their dams, then on through Kurow and Duntroon to the coast. It is split into eight main sections from 27 km to 54 km, plus the Alt Route from Takapō.
The Grade 3 sections are Lake Ōhau Lodge to Ōmarama, Ōmarama to Ōtematata, Ōtematata to Kurow and the last day from Duntroon to Ōamaru; the rest are Grade 2. Section 6, Ōtematata to Kurow, is rated High for traffic, and includes Te Akatarawa Road beside Lake Aviemore.
The trail can be ridden end to end in five to seven days, and the website also suggests riding individual sections as day trips.
Starting from Takapō
The Alt Route from Takapō to Twizel is 55 km at Grade 2. It leaves the township near Hamilton Drive, following the A2O arrows to Aorangi Crescent and Andrew Don Drive, and turns to gravel at the Tekapo A Power Station after 3 km to follow Tekapo Canal Road.
Vehicles are kept out beyond a gate at 9 km. At 15 km riders cross State Highway 8, and at 24 km there is a salmon farm with a toilet.
At Lake Pūkaki (30 km) the route turns onto Hayman Road and joins the off-road trail at about 35 km, following the shoreline with Aoraki/Mt Cook in view and crossing the Pūkaki dam to the visitor centre car park at 44 km. It then crosses the Pūkaki Flats to Twizel.
On the canal roads
Tekapo Canal Road is private, and Genesis Energy can close it at any time without notice. About 6 km south of the canal crossing there is an exposed section; the trail asks riders to use the lower road, marked in purple on its map, especially in high winds. Swimming in the canals is strictly prohibited because of strong currents.
Lake Aviemore: Section 6
Ōtematata to Kurow is 44 km. It starts on a sealed path and gravel trail beside Loch Laird Road, climbs a short, steep road to Benmore Dam at 6 km, crosses the dam and follows Te Akatarawa Road along the shore of Lake Aviemore to Aviemore Dam at 28 km.
An off-road Grade 2 stretch then passes the Wharekuri ruins and Lake Waitaki to Waitaki Dam at 36 km, and the trail continues off-road to Kurow.
The trail rates the section easy for fitness and skill, Grade 3 overall and High for traffic. Te Akatarawa Road is relatively narrow with moderate traffic, the 80 km/h limit applies and holiday traffic can be busy, so keep left, ride single file and wear high-vis.
The website warns that the dams are sometimes closed to all traffic, so check its latest trail information before you set off. Lake Aviemore has camping, swimming, boating and fishing.
Official Sources for Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
Alps 2 Ocean: Latest trail information: current alerts, closures and detours on every section.
Alps 2 Ocean: Trail map: section-by-section route notes, distances, grades and services.
Common Questions
How long does the Alps 2 Ocean take?
The trail suggests five to seven days for the full ride, or individual sections as day trips.
Where can I start?
At Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, or at Takapō / Lake Tekapo on the Alt Route. The two meet at Lake Pūkaki.
How hard is it?
Easy to intermediate overall. Sections are Grade 2 or Grade 3.
How far is Takapō to Twizel?
55 km at Grade 2, much of it on gravel canal road and an off-road trail around Lake Pūkaki.
Where are the trail alerts?
On the trail website’s latest trail information page, which lists alerts, closures and detours section by section.
Is Alps 2 Ocean a Great Ride?
Yes. It is one of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides, and the longest of them.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.