Today, they hope to arrive at the end of their more than 2400km journey, which started in Cape Reinga in early January.
"The next thing we are going to do is take Ernie [TSS Earnslaw] across the lake and bike from Walter Peak Station past Mavora Lakes, come out near Te Anau and follow the Southern Scenic Route all the way to Bluff," skin cancer survivor Mikki Kragelund (25) said.
However, as flat tyres, unplanned dismounts and the distraction of "gorgeous New Zealand scenery" have taught them, the best-laid plans often go awry.
"It's hard to tell when you don't know the territory, but we would rather have rain, traffic, any of that, rather than the headwind - no matter how hard you peddle, you just go nowhere."
Danish-born Miss Kragelund (25) spent a childhood outdoors in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and at the age of 24 was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma, a malignant skin cancer which is fatal if left untreated. Along with former workmate Miss Oosterveer (24), of the Netherlands, she is celebrating life one year on since her last treatment by raising awareness of and money for the World Skin Cancer Foundation.
They managed to exceed their original goal of raising $5000 before they even reached the South Island, so have revised that goal to $10,000.
They arrived back in Queenstown on Tuesday and left on Thursday, using their time in the resort to look for more sponsors and recover from the toughest part of their journey - crossing the main divide.
One of the many people who have ridden alongside the pair is Miss Oosterveer's mother, who travelled with them from Greymouth, and both mother and daughter said meeting people had been the highlight of the trip.
"The Kiwi hospitality was great and we just met the sweetest people ... We only ended up camping about half of the nights as people kept on telling us to come stay with them," Miss Kragelund said.
People can give to the cause at www.sunnycyclers.com
