West Coast Wilderness Trail

Cycling: 36km, Grade 2/easy to Grade 3/intermediate (on-road sections are Grade 3/intermediate). 3–6 hours

After some hearty breakkie, grab your bike and head for the Alps. You'll pass remnants of the gold rush before arriving at the Kapitea Reservoir. Pass the lake then head on to the Loopline Reservoir and its 'spillway', for a close up look at the stone face dam that was hand-laid in 1883 by miners during the gold rush.

Carry on to the sweeping boardwalk that connects Loopline Road, then ride the gravel trail out to Old Christchurch Road. From here you'll follow water race, old logging trams and pack track up the Kawaka Valley, passing man-made dams and fresh mountain-water weirs.

Say 'howdy' to the Southern Alps, and when you reach the Waitaiki Reserve you'll begin your descent through ancient Podocarp forest until you reach a sprawling suspension bridge through the trees.

Nearly there! Day 2 wraps up with a journey through beautiful native bush, ahead of your arrival at Cowboy Paradise, a replica Wild West town.

This section's more challenging than Day 1 but the trail's stellar - making for smooth, comfy riding - and the few short steep sections are also the most scenic. So if you don't feel like riding, no sweat! They'll be just as enjoyable to walk.

Cycle: 33km, Grade 2/easy to Grade 3/intermediate (on-road sections are Grade 3/intermediate). 3–5 hours.

If you're doing the whole shebang, sheesh, bloody good job - you're on the home stretch!

Start the day by crossing the Hokitika Bridge (yep - a very snazzy little view). Then meander along Mahinapua Creek, past the Hokitika Golf Links, until you join the state highway. Stay on this for 3 km, then turn off onto the historic Mahinapua Tramline.

This'll take you through wetlands, native forest and old mill sites, and give you some cracking views of Lake Mahinapua. You'll then follow a rural road past the West Coast Treetop Walkway (well worth a looksie), before taking the State Highway west to Ruatapu.

Fittingly, the final section of the trail is a little corker! You'll get a look at Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, and then the historic Ross rail route will take you over the Totara Bridge (built in 1908) and give you some lovely views of the tidal Totara lagoon.

Leaving the Totara River, you'll wrap up the day with an easy ride to the historic goldfields of Ross, where you can jump up and down and give yourself a good pat on the back. Or you can hobble off for a nice cold beverage.

Stay the night at the eco friendly quirky boutique holiday park. With up-cycled accommodation.

You could make your way back to Greymouth to catch the TranzAlpine or you could fly out from Hokitika. The other option, which is not a bad option, is to drive the scenic drive through Arthurs Pass to Christchurch or the stay on and keep exploring the West Coast cycle trails - fancy a grade 4 perhaps.