The RAID New Zealand Gravel Expedition pulls back the curtain on the wilds of the South Island interior, venturing from the far north from Blenheim, through the heartland of remote & wild sheep stations, along vast rivers and abandoned railways all the way to the southern tip of Dunedin with a final push into the adventure capital -Queenstown. Unlike our other departures, this one visits little in the way of population, and much in the way of natural splendor.
Twelve days of exploration await, but this trip isn’t for the faint of heart. While the copious amounts of gravel riding is relatively smooth, very little else is. Unpredictable weather. Long days. Excessive elevation gain. Distracting vistas. Choking dust. And kiwi. Days will be hard, but the rewards are plenty. After all, nothing less would suit a RAID trip into the Wop wop's.
Our departures are all-inclusive. All prices include hotel accommodation on a single-occupancy basis, professionally guided rides, on-road vehicle support, limited laundry & recovery, most meals (excluding alcohol), and ride nutrition/food (hydration, energy bars, etc.). Baggage transfer, porterage and all gratuities at restaurants are also included.
Airfare is not included and gratuities for our trip leaders and personal expenses. Bicycles are not included on this departures.
Arriving into Blenheim, NZ. You have options listed below:
Air New Zealand – travel to Picton from Wellington with a direct flight into Blenheim (Marlborough airport)
Air New Zealand – travel to Picton from Auckland with a direct flight into Blenheim (Marlborough airport)
Interislander: Cook Strait ferry services between the North and South Islands, New Zealand.
A single occupancy price refers to the cost associated with an individual traveler having exclusive use of a private room during this trip. This rate is higher than the shared accommodation price, reflecting the added expense of enjoying the privacy and comfort of one's own space.
The double occupancy price refers to the cost per person for shared accommodation, where two individuals will be staying together in the same room during this trip. This rate is typically lower than the single occupancy price since the cost is divided between two occupants.