18 day north + south new zealand tours
Our north and south island New Zealand guided motorcycle tours start from Auckland. We provide complementary accommodation in New Zealand the night before the tour. Explore Auckland the day before your motorcycle tour starts - climb a volcanic cone, hop on the ferry and have dinner in the revolving restaurant on top of Sky Tower.
Our guided tours ride through rolling green countryside south of Auckland to The Coromandel, an area of outstanding natural beauty and fantastic biking roads. Every corner reveals a stunning view across native forest, rugged hills and blue sea.
Our tour heads off through the orchards and vineyards of Bay of Plenty, then to the geothermal wonder of Rotorua with its boiling mud, hot pools and geysers. Try a mud bath, or thermal spa and visit a genuine NZ Maori village that uses natural hot springs for cooking and bathing. A complementary Maori cultural show and Hangi (meal cooked underground) are included in our Elite guided New Zealand tours.
We tour on to Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, famous for trout fishing and water sports. In winter and spring nearby Mount Ruapehu provides snow sports fun. We stop at the incredible Huka Falls and lunch in Taupo, then ride through valleys and hills adjoining mountain ranges with sweeping bends to the vineyards of Eskdale. Our motorcycle tour arrives in the New Zealand Art Deco coastal town of Napier, rebuilt in the 30's after a massive earthquake, then we continue south through the Hawkes Bay vineyards and long sweeping roads to the Rimutakas - a biker's dream that winds its way through mountain ranges just north of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Pretty houses cling to the hillsides overlooking lovely Wellington Harbour. Visit the government 'beehive' building and fabulous New Zealand Te Papa Museum.
We cross the Cook Straight by ferry via the beautiful Marlborough Sounds - a first taste of the tranquil beauty of the South Island of New Zealand. The ferry crossing is included in your tour. We ride along the twisting coastline of Queen Charlotte Sound with stunning views across the Sounds, then through dense pine forests to Nelson, the largest fishing port in Australasia. Nelson is famous for the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park. Its Mediterranean-style climate is perfect for enjoying the surrounding beaches - rent kayaks or take a boat trip into the National Park.
Our motorcycle tour heads south through exotic forests surrounding Mt Hope Saddle, the road providing sweeping corners and a few hairpins to test your skills. We descend to awesome Buller Gorge and stop at the old gold mining town of Murcheston for lunch.
Then it's the famous Lewis Pass - alpine riding at its best - sweeping bends and stunning mountain scenery with lush native forest. We stay at Hanmer Springs, an idyllic little town with natural hot springs to soak our biking aches away.
We continue our tour with a fabulous scenic ride on the wild, rocky west coast of New Zealand to the amazing Pancake Rocks and blow holes. As we approach Glacier Country the twisting roads are demanding, but provide magic motorbike riding. Nowhere else in the world at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to the coast. These majestic spectacles are amazing seen from the ground and even more stunning seen from above. A helicopter trip can take you around Mount Cook and land on the glaciers. The reputed 'best motorcycling in the world' is our next experience on the West Coast Road and on through the famous Haast Pass - motorcycle heaven!
We ride along the shore of beautiful Lake Wanaka then across the Crown Range with its awe inspiring views and tight hairpins. Just when you think there can't be any more spectacular scenery - there it is! Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu with stunning views across the lake to The Remarkables. We'll give you plenty of time in Queenstown. Take a ride to nearby Arrowtown, an unspoilt turn of the century gold mining town and have a wonderful lunch at the Gibbston Valley Wines near the AJ Hackett Bungee Bridge Jump. Go white water rafting or jet boating on the Shotover River or horse trekking over the Remarkables.
Our tour takes us around the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakatipu to Fiordland, a million hectares of remote, primaeval beauty. Waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine forested valleys and the fiord's mirror surfaces reflect majestic, towering mountains. Dolphins, seals and Fiordland penguins make their home here. Our Elite tour includes a complementary cruise on stunning Milford Sound. You can also take a boat trip across Lake Te Anau to the Glow Worm caves.
We then tour through Central Otago to the very Scottish New Zealand city of Dunedin and Otago Peninsula. Explore picturesque Dunedin city and the winding roads of Otago Peninsula with beautiful coastal views, rare royal albatross and yellow eyed penguins seen in their natural habitat.
Our next adventure is riding the famous Lindis Pass, undulating through the mountains to central Otago. We’ll be riding in the foothills of the Alps, passing huge lakes along our way. The scenery is stunning and your camera will be working overtime! We ride to the crystal clear Lake Tekapo with fantastic views of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook.
Our motorcycle tour finishes in Christchurch - the most English New Zealand city, built around the picturesque Avon River. Here we sadly say our good byes.
