-	All photographs of Cycling

New Zealand is a cyclists paradise. There are few places in the world that can offer so many cycling routes through so many different types of landscape and scenery. There's everything here from demanding alpine rides, to stunning coastal roads.

Although the North Island scenery is spectacular and there are some fine cycling routes there, the South Island is generally where most cyclists go.

The South Island population is around one million - about a third of the North Island population, but it covers a larger geographical area. This means there is absolutely no such thing as traffic congestion. The South Islands population is also spread out over an area around half the size of the UK; the roads are yours!

Christchurch is a good starting point. From here you can access shorter rides of just a few days, or more challenging ones that can take up to a few months. All the major routes are very close by.

You can check out the fantastic coastal scenery on the way to Kaikoura and Blenheim, head south towards Queenstown and the stunning Southern Lakes, go west and cycle through the alps until you reach the lush green rainforests of the New Zealand's west coast. You'll find that cycling in New Zealand is an amazing and truly unique experience.

The best times to go are October to April. Remember, Europes winter is our summer. The hottest months are usually December to February, with temperatures of around 15-25 Celsius during the day and 10Celcius during the night.

New Zealand's climate is very changeable. They say you can have all the four seasons within one day here. Remember to have the right equipment and don't forget you helmet! It's the law here and you'll get a fine if you're caught without one.