Close Menu
  • City trips
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Mauritius
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
    • Asia
      • China
      • India
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Maldives
      • Oman
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
    • Australia
      • New South Wales
      • New Zealand
      • Queensland
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgary
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Lithuania
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
        • Azores
      • Russia
      • Spain
        • Ibiza
        • Lanzarote
        • Mallorca
      • Switzerland
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Mexico
  • Hotel tipps
  • Swiss hiking
Recent Posts
  • What to Do Around Trieste: From Fairy-Tale Castles to Spectacular Caves, and Slovenia’s Capital
  • What to Do in Trieste: Explore Italy’s Coffee Capital One Cup at a Time
  • Madeira, the Island of Flowers: 19 Tips for Activities and Attractions.
  • Hiking in Madeira: discover the breathtaking beauty of the Island of Flowers
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS
  • Home
  • About us
  • Media kit
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy
travelmemo
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Commendable hotels
  • Golf
  • Restaurants
  • Hiking
  • City Trips
travelmemo
You are at:Home»New Zealand»Explore New Zealand’s South Island Lake District by motorhome & e-bike
New Zealand

Explore New Zealand’s South Island Lake District by motorhome & e-bike

Justine TyermanBy Justine TyermanMay 13, 2017012 Mins Read
Bennett's Bluff lookout beside Lake Wakatipu
Bennett's Bluff lookout beside Lake Wakatipu
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

After our idyllic motorhome trip in late winter-early spring, we couldn’t wait to get back on the road again in late summer-early autumn. Travelling outside the peak holiday period at the change of seasons means there’s less traffic on the roads and the weather is usually more settled.

Dirt road in Paradise, New Zealand
Dirt road to Paradise amid spectacular scenery, 68km from Queenstown

Our latest adventure began in Christchurch where we picked up two Kiwi-designed SmartMotion e-bikes from The Electric Bicycle Company and a self-contained motorhome from JUCY Rentals, nicknamed “Lucy” after the curvaceous lady on the outside.

Jucy motorhome and e-bikes
Recipe for freedom: a JUCY motorhome and SmartMotion e-bikes

We joined forces with old friends Dave and Libby, who have a camper trailer, and spent the next two weeks cycling every day, working our way from Hanmer Springs in the north to Glenorchy in the south with two or three-night stops en route.

Kinloch to Greenstone Valley. Dave, Libby and Justine Tyerman
Cycling the Kinloch to Greenstone Valley road – Dave, Libby and Justine
Chris Tyerman biking the Clutha River track
Chris biking the Clutha River track
Justine on the Clutha River track
Justine on the Clutha River track

The highlights

In the Hurunui district north of Christchurch, we biked forest pathways at Hanmer Springs and then ventured into the magnificent St James Conservation area with its massive scree slopes, sparkling rivers and vast, open spaces.

In the MacKenzie Country, we rode alongside the deep turquoise canals that link lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau in the massive Waitaki hydroelectric power scheme. Whizzing along the smooth, flat, broad roads at 30kmh-plus was a huge thrill.

In Wanaka, we cycled the scenic lakeside path to the start of the Millennium Track and the spectacular Clutha River loop track from the river outlet to Luggate and back, the only time I was outside my comfort zone. In places where the track was narrow, windy, rocky and had sheer drop-offs to the river below, I utilised SmartMotion’s clever pushing-up-hill mode.

Travel author Justine Tyerman biking in the Hanmer forest
Justine biking in the Hanmer forest
St James Cycleway vast open space
St James Cycleway with Dave a speck in the distance
MacKenzie Country sunset
MacKenzie Country tussock land
Our Jucy motorhome by Lake Tekapo
Our JUCY motorhome beside Lake Tekapo

Biker between Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki
Justine cycling in a cycle lane from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki
The ridiculously famous, much photographed Lake Wanaka tree – high and dry, out of the water
Ridiculously famous Lake Wanaka tree

The entire Wakatipu Basin including Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, Gibbston Valley, Frankton, Queenstown, Kelvin Heights and Jack’s Point is criss-crossed with a network of immaculately-maintained hiking and biking trails.

We rode along the Arrow and Kawarau rivers to the famous Gibbston Valley wineries crossing a variety of historic suspension and purpose-built bridges.

The trails have opened up stretches of the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers seldom seen except by jetboat. The tall poplars were dazzling in their autumn colours.

The only time we were on the open road was from Kinloch to the Greenstone Valley along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. There we encountered one 4WD vehicle and a lone Frenchman named Hugo, who was walking the length of New Zealand on the 3000km Te Araroa Trail, The Long Pathway. Lake Wakatipu is seldom like a mirror but that day, the whole lake was glassy calm.

Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley bungy bridge
The original A.J Hackett bungy jump on the historic Kawarau Bridge, Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley cycle trail
Edgar Bridge in Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley
Chris on the Edgar Bridge over the Arrow River en route to the Gibbston Valley
Suspension bridge over the Clutha River
Suspension bridge over the Clutha River
Lower Shotover Bridge
Lower Shotover Bridge
Kawarau River jet boat
Kawarau River jet boat
Kawarau River
Kawarau River
Kinloch to Greenstone Valley
Lake Wakatipu was glassy calm on the day we cycled from Kinloch to the Greenstone Valley
Kinloch to Greenstone Valley
Lake Wakatipu on the Kinloch to Greenstone Valley road
Chris and Justine Tyerman at Bennett's Bluff lookout
Chris and Justine at Bennett’s Bluff lookout, Lake Wakatipu
Delta landscape
The braided Dart River

We also paid a visit to Paradise Trust Lodge to see the rebuild of the property after fire destroyed the historic homestead in 2013, a few months after we had stayed there on our first-ever cycling expedition. Matt and Kate Belcher’s Revolution Tours was an unforgettable experience in an astonishingly-beautiful area seized upon by Sir Peter Jackson as Middle Earth for his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Paradise lodge post fire
Paradise Lodge after the 2013 fire. The three stone chimneys were kept as a poignant memorial to the original historic homestead.

Lodge manager Mandy Groshinski showed us the painstaking work undertaken to restore the place and how they had retained the three stone chimneys as a poignant memorial to the original homestead.

The bedroom-bathroom wing was untouched by the fire and the same high standard of boutique accommodation and gourmet cuisine that we enjoyed is available today. The local school donated a beautiful old building which is now used as the dining room.

Following Mandy’s instructions, we cycled a loop track through the forest, past rustic cottages with outside baths and saunas to a vantage point high above the Dart River as it carves its way from deep within the Southern Alps. We watched Ngai Tahu Tourism’s Dart Jetboats thunder up the valley, shooting curtains of spray metres in the air as they thrilled their passengers with their 360 spins.

Ngai Tahu Tourism’s Dart jetboat
Dart River jetboat

We parked Lucy at Mrs Woolly’s super-friendly camp ground at Glenorchy, a temporary site while an impressive complex — New Zealand’s first sustainable net zero energy campground — is under construction next door.

Mrs Woolly's camp at Glenorchy
Mrs Woolly’s camp at Glenorchy

First net zero energy campground
First net zero energy campground
Sustainability at Camp Glenorchy
Sustainability at Camp Glenorchy

Glenorchy's activities booking centre
Head of the Lake activities booking centre at Glenorchy

The general store at Glenorchy sold everything from pashminas and homewares . . . .
General store at Glenorchy
. . .to toolkits and camping gear
General store at Glenorchy
Chris exploring the food section at the general store at Glenorchy
Chris exploring the food section

Staff at Glenorchy general store
Staff at Glenorchy general store

While at Glenorchy, we took a day off cycling and went horse-riding with Dart Stables. It was a peaceful, scenic, relaxing amble along grassy country lanes and across the broad shingle flats of the braided Dart River.

Towards the end of our trip, the first snow of the winter arrived, dusting the high peaks surrounding us. We parked at Round Bush campsite on the shores of Lake Ohau, intending to bike a section of the Alps 2 Ocean Trail. The mountains were shrouded in mist and the wind off the Southern Alps was bitterly cold so we gave up after an hour or so and headed for home.

Thanks to Lucy’s super-efficient gas power, we had hot showers and prepared dinner in a cosy, warm environment without setting foot outside. Taking pity on a couple of young campers in a little tent under the trees, trying to cook outside on a tiny gas cooker, we asked them to join us – but they said they were happy doing their own thing. Next morning, they dismantled their saturated tent, packed their meagre belongings into a couple of saddle bags and pedalled off up the hill on the next leg of their quest to cycle the length of New Zealand.

Chris Tyerman happy at dinner for two
Chris happy with a simple dinner for two
Hugo
Hugo the Frenchman en route to the Greenstone Valley

Now in our early 60s, we’ve done our days of roughing it in tents and riding leg-powered-only bikes. We now like a few creature comforts so a JUCY motorhome with a couple of e-bikes on the back is the ultimate holiday, offering freedom, flexibility and activity without sacrificing comfort, warmth and convenience – the ability to lead a nomadic life within the luxury of your own self-contained apartment on wheels is bliss.

JUCY Motorhomes

Travelling by motorhome is like living in a spacious, self-contained cabin on a yacht – you unpack once at the start of your trip and have access to your belongings at all times. Compared with travelling by car or coach where you are packing and unpacking whenever you move on, it’s stress-free and a great time-saver.

You can stow your bulky luggage in the under-vehicle locker which holds two or three large suitcases as well as the picnic table and chairs provided by JUCY.

Better still, you are the captain of your own ‘yacht’ and can determine which route to take every day. There’s no fixed itinerary or check-in, check-out times, and you can stop wherever and whenever the spirit wills, to cook, eat, sleep, use the bathroom, read, write, work on your laptop, watch a DVD, or just relax and dream.

Chris Tyerman happy at the wheel
Chris happy at the wheel of the Fiat Ducato
Bennett's Bluff lookout beside Lake Wakatipu on the way to Glenorchy
Bennett’s Bluff lookout beside Lake Wakatipu on the way to Glenorchy

Jucy motorhome on Paradise to Glenorchy road
Paradise to Glenorchy road
Round Bush DOC camping ground on the shores of Lake Ohau
Round Bush DOC camping ground by Lake Ohau
Our JUCY motorhome beside Lake Wanaka
JUCY motorhome beside Lake Wanaka
Paradise, 20km from Glenorchy, 68km from Queenstown
Paradise, 20km from Glenorchy
Chris watching a cyclone closing in on the Lake Ohau Road
Chris watching a cyclone closing in
Jucy motorhome in Arrowtown
Autumn colours in Arrowtown

Jucy motorhome at Pukaki to Ohau canal
Water powering through the penstocks at the power station on the Lake Pukaki to Lake Ohau canal

Top of the JUCY Rental range, the Italian-made Casa and Casa Plus motorhomes have automatic transition and are powerful and easy to drive despite their substantial size. They are economical, using diesel rather than petrol, and are high off the ground with excellent visibility.

With two or three generous-sized double beds, you can accommodate your children or friends.

The heating is super-efficient so you can travel year-round in a warm, cosy ‘house’ regardless of the weather. It’s run by battery while the vehicle is moving; mains-power when plugged in at a camping ground or gas-powered when freedom camping. There’s even a booster to heat the water which is hot by the time you’ve had a beer or a glass of wine.

With a fridge-freezer, pantry cupboards and full kitchen with oven and gas hobs, meals for hungry travellers are only ever minutes away.

My husband Chris assured me the process of emptying the toilet was easy and completely odourless. The fully-sealed storage canister is accessed from outside the motorhome and JUCY supplies sachets that deodorise and sanitise the contents. Dump stations to dispose of ‘grey’ and ‘black’ water are well-marked all around New Zealand.

We were astonished by the number of JUCY vehicles on New Zealand roads – cars, RVs, people-movers, campervans, motorhomes, trucks and buses. There’s a quirky kinship among the drivers. Every five minutes or so, there were waves, thumbs-ups, beaming smiles, and other extraordinarily friendly gestures from drivers and passengers approaching or passing us on the open road. We called it the JRW (JUCY recognition wave), brand bonding on a vast scale.

JUCY even has a cruise ship on Milford Sound . . . and Snooze hotels in Auckland, Christchurch and soon Queenstown.

Chris relished the Scoot Wi-Fi which enabled him to keep up with his emails and watch the news on his iPad in the middle of nowhere.

Skiers and snowboarders will love JUCY’s Ski4Free winter deal which provides one free lift ticket at Treble Cone near Wanaka per day of rental.

When we picked up our the motorhome in Christchurch, we were delighted to find a surprise awaiting us: a ‘Posh Nosh and Little Treats Gift Box’ loaded with goodies such as jam, peanut butter, coffee and tea bags, cookies, chocolate, wine, salt and pepper grinders and paper towels. Furthermore, after a week on the road, you get a free linen change in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown and a free valet service every fortnight.

With the liberty to design your own flexible itinerary and move from one beautiful Aotearoa-New Zealand landscape to the next when you want to, there is no better way to travel. The only downside is handing back the keys at the airport.

SmartMotion Electric Bikes

Having two SmartMotion e-bikes strapped onto Lucy’s bike rack added to the giddy sense of freedom and excitement we discovered on our first motorhome trip last year.

With a five-level pedal-assist function and a throttle to add extra oomph when needed, for the first time, I was able to keep up with my husband and explore rugged back-country terrain I have never been able to access before.

Steep hills and long distances are no problem on an e-bike. We covered 50-60km a day which barely made a dint in the 36v15.6ah Samsung lithium ion battery.

Justine Tyerman resting by the Clutha River track
Justine taking a break at the top of a steep climb on the Clutha River track

Justine at Peregrine Winery in the Gibbston Valley
Justine at Peregrine winery
Justine Tyerman biking the Clutha River track
Justine biking the Clutha River track
Justine Tyerman beside the Clutha River
Justine beside the Clutha River
Chris biking along the netted vineyards in the Gibbston Valley
Chris biking along the vineyards
Wow! That’s a long way down! Chris peering over the edge of the cliff at the Clutha River
Chris at the Clutha River
Justine’s SmartMotion e-bike on the shores of Lake Pukaki
E-bike on Lake Pukaki

Justine Tyerman in e-bike action
Justine in e-bike action

You can get as much or as little exercise as you like, depending on which power mode you select. I had my setting on two for most of the time which meant I got a healthy amount of exercise without exhausting myself. What’s more, I was not lagging behind all the time, holding other people up.

Where the tracks were too technical for my novice abilities – narrow, rocky or steep with sheer drops – I used the clever SmartMotion pushing-up-hill mode which is a god-send when you need to get a 25kg machine up a steep slope.

Cycling purists tend to be scornful of e-bikes but they level the pedalling field for people like me who are not super-fit but still want an active, outdoor holiday.

SmartMotion has an interesting history. Established by New Zealander Anthony Clyde in 2007, the company evolved from the development and deployment of mail delivery bikes for the New Zealand Postal Service.

Clyde subsequently designed the SmartMotion range specifically for New Zealand’s varied and rugged conditions, the aim being to produce a durable bike with quality components at an accessible price.

By late 2013, sales exploded and the brand became New Zealand’s top seller and best reviewed.

We have now been designing our own e-bikes for six years and export to Europe, North America and Australia,

says Clyde.

There are eight models to choose from with several new models coming on stream this year including a full-suspension mountain bike.

In 2013, Clyde sponsored Kiwi Catriona Williams on the first-ever hand-cycle ride by tetraplegics from Lhasa to Kathmandu via Everest base camp, a distance of more than 1000km including 10 Himalayan passes.

A higher torque 300w system was developed for Catriona’s front, hand-driven wheel and the machine was powered by a larger battery. Catriona’s was the only e-bike to make it all the way without failure. She even towed one of the other trikes after it broke down on the climb to base camp.

FACTBOX

Transport: JUCY Rentals Casa motorhome
www.jucy.co.nz

E-bikes: SmartMotion electric bikes
www.smartmotionbikes.co.nz

Horse riding: Dart Stables at Glenorchy
www.dartstables.com

Landscape Lodge Nature Road Trip
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleSapori Ticino – Three ambassadors of fine Ticino cuisine come to Berne
Next Article JUCY SNOOZE HOTEL – Justine Tyerman snoozes in a ‘pod’ in Christchurch
Justine Tyerman
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Justine Tyerman is an award-winning New Zealand journalist, travel writer and sub-editor with 18 years' experience in newspaper and freelance work. She has worked as a news reporter, feature writer, designer of an award-winning Newspapers in Education programme and sub-editor on local, national, business, education and international desks.

Related Posts

Blausee – Trip tip for a mountain lake in Bernese Oberland

February 21, 2023

A mountain high on the Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe

April 15, 2022

9+ unique things to do while touring Namibia | travel tips

February 12, 2022
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Travel along to inspiring destinations
Welcome to our travel blog! Katja & Walter are passionate about one-of-a-kind travel experiences.



We aim at inspiring you to travel, too, and see your own world with new eyes. Check out more about us here!

Travel blog on one-of-a-kind travel experiences.

About us
About us

Katja and Walter are passionate travel bloggers that care about design and boutique hotels and the personalised experience they offer. Their travelogues cater to discerning couples interested in a stylish atmosphere and romantic hideaways.

Walter & Katja founded the travel blog back in 2010.

Read more about us here!

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube RSS
Our latest travelogues

What to Do Around Trieste: From Fairy-Tale Castles to Spectacular Caves, and Slovenia’s Capital

What to Do in Trieste: Explore Italy’s Coffee Capital One Cup at a Time

Madeira, the Island of Flowers: 19 Tips for Activities and Attractions.

Hiking in Madeira: discover the breathtaking beauty of the Island of Flowers

Sardinian Shores Unveiled: An Unforgettable Self-Guided Boat Journey Along the Rugged East Coast

Southern Sardinia Uncovered: From Cagliari’s Charms and Chia’s Flamingos to the Beaches of Costa Rei

Sardinia’s Eastern Shores: Discovering Orosei and the Hidden Beaches from Cala Liberotto to Cala Goloritzé

Northern Sardinia’s Luxurious Coast: A Guide to Porto Cervo and Beyond

Our travel topics
Alps (54) Animals (15) Architecture (38) Beach (33) Boutique Hotel (73) City Trip (39) Contributions (30) Country House (17) Culture (26) Design (69) Dinner (23) Experience (38) Flight (9) Golf (18) Gourmet (34) Hiking (21) Itinerary (9) Lake (16) Landscape (74) Lodge (24) Luxury (63) Masseria (9) Mr and Mrs Smith (15) Museum (9) Nature (102) Puglia (13) Relais & Châteaux (16) Relax (13) Rental Car (26) Resort (31) Restaurant (41) Road Trip (9) Rural (23) Safari (21) Shopping (9) Singapore (9) Spa-Wellness (47) Summer (8) Swiss Deluxe Hotels (16) Sydney (11) Tour (28) Wilderness Safaris (8) Winter (22) Zermatt (12) Zurich (13)
Join us in inspiring destinations!

Welcome to our travel blog!

Katja & Walter are passionate about one-of-a-kind travel experiences.

We aim at inspiring you to travel, too, and see your own world with new eyes. Check out more about us here!

© travelmemo.com by Walter Schaerer & Katja Birrer
  • Home
  • About us
  • Media kit
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy
© 2010 - 2025 Travelmemo, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Home
  • About us
  • Media kit
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.