12:24 AM
@Criggie now is probably not the time to do the north-from-chch circuit, but it can be very nice in the early spring or autumn. Avoid the heat, but crank up thru Rainbow station, wairau valley, the sounds, then pelorus drive, maungatapu, lewis and back. Or Molesworth if you're into another station-pass track. I personally don't really enjoy the east coast road so have only ridden it once. But that loop is a nice couple of weeks if you take your time.
The buller is also nice, but you have a 99% chance of three days of rain up the west coast (the s in west is silent :).
Normally it doesn't stop raining until Inangahua. So to top Arthurs, run downhill and it starts raining, then some time later ... sunny Murchison.
The Otago Rail Trail is really nice. Probably too busy for the next month, but if your kid can drive you could two-bike-one-car your way along that and it's all nice and easy.
Personally the bit I liked was the penguins at the end, but I think for people who don't ride a lot and have mountain bikes with no much gear the rail trail would be neat.