New Zealand Tour

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A two-week motorcycle tour through New Zealand, your trip of a lifetime!
This motorcycle tour to New Zealand is worth the effort of jetting to the other side of the planet. “There’s a reason the sun shines on New Zealand before anywhere else” (Lonely Planet). New Zealand, also known as the “Paradise Down Under” or the “World‘s Most Beautiful End”, offers everything you could possibly look for in a holiday destination.

New Zealand features mountains and glaciers, wild coasts and long sandy beaches, rainforest and hot springs. It is home to an interesting indigenous culture and to the friendliest people you can imagine. It offers a wide range of crazy activities like heli-biking, bungee jumping and jet boating. It is heaven for motorcyclists because the roads are beautiful, well maintained, and mostly empty.

This motorcycle tour will introduce you to all the major highlights of New Zealand. The Sky Tower in Auckland, the hot springs in Rotorua, the Art Deco district in Napier, museums, shops and restaurants in Wellington, the ferry-cruise across Cook Strait, the spectacular Queen Charlotte Drive, the wild West Coast, the rainforest and the glaciers that run through it, the world‘s adventure capital Queenstown, the amazingly beautiful Milford Sound and the breath-taking view to Mount Cook, New Zealand‘s highest mountain. This is a truly unforgettable tour.

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DAY 1.  Welcome to Christchurch

Upon arrival in Christchurch, meet at the designated hotel for check-in. Spend your free time relaxing or exploring the City before our safety briefing.

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DAY 2.  Christchurch - Twizel

Leaving Christchurch behind we start our day - if the weather is right, by climbing up to Summit Road. This spectacular panoramic road follows the rim of the ancient volcanic crater that is now Banks Peninsula and offers fantastic views down to the city and the coast. Then we ride through the green, fertile Canterbury plains, always along the Alps, and finally via Burks Pass up to the MacKenzie High Country. The unique turquoise-coloured waters of Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, combined with the snow-covered mountains, make for picture perfect scenery.
The view of Lake Tekapo through the altar window of the “Church of the Good Shepherd,” is amazing, and the ride to and the view from Mt. John Observatory is just as fantastic. Up here you can also find the South Island's highest café.
Just before we arrive in Twizel, we pull over at New Zealand’s number one lookout: the view across the turquoise coloured waters of Lake Pukaki towards Mt. Cook will take your breath away.

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DAY 3.  Twizel - Te Anau

We leave Twizel behind and follow Highway 8 south. The High Country is very dry, the sun very intense. We cross the scenic Lindis Pass and cruise along Lake Dunstan to Cromwell, New Zealand’s fruit orchard. Then the road snakes along Kawarau Gorge and past the historic bridge where the world’s first commercial bungy jump took place in 1988.
Just before getting into Queenstown, we turn left and follow the eastern shore of Lake Wakatipu. The crystal clear water of this deep, cold lake is of a very intense blue. Our day ends in Te Anau, a small town that owes its existence to its convenient location for a day trip to Milford Sound.

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DAY 4. Te Anau - Queenstown

This long riding day will introduce you to one of the most scenic corners of New Zealand. From Te Anau we follow the road along the lake of the same name. The road winds its way through the rainforest and climbs up to an elevation of almost 3,000 ft., then drops down to sea level in only a handful of daring curves. It ends at beautiful Milford Sound, a wonderland of high mountains, numerous waterfalls and abundant wildlife, where you'll have the opportunity to embark on a scenic cruise that typically features a seal colony, probably dolphins and sometimes even penguins. Milford Sound is a must-see for every visitor to New Zealand!
After looking at Milford Sound from every conceivable angle, we take the same road that we used this morning and yesterday, until we get to Frankton. This is a suburb of Queenstown, the world's biggest playground and our home for two nights.

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DAY 5. Queenstown

Queenstown is a place unlike any other in New Zealand. It is full of backpackers, adventure-seekers and adrenaline-junkies, the average age seems to be somewhere around 25, and the air is saturated with fun, adventure and party.
This beautiful town, nestled between mountains right at Lake Wakatipu, is named the Adventure Capital of the world; after all it’s the place where bungy jumping was invented. You can also put your courage to the test at jet boating, white water rafting, aerobatics, sky diving, paragliding, or -sailing. But it’s not all about hair-raising adventure activities; there is also relaxing ones like a cruise on the 100+ year old steamer TSS Earnslaw, or a tour from winery to winery.
If you want to ride your bike you should take the road along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy and back. If you include a coffee break, this beautiful ride should keep you busy for about three hours. Riding up to Coronet Peak lookout means another hour, and in the pretty gold mining town of Arrowtown you could while away the rest of the afternoon.

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DAY 6.  Queenstown - Fox Glacier

This day is an unforgettable experience. The country's highest mountain pass, a beautiful road with spectacular panoramic views, brings us into Cardrona Valley and to Wanaka, a small town at the southern end of Lake Wanaka.
We ride along beautiful panoramas and past crystal clear mountain lakes that often reflect the surrounding mountains. From the dry steppe of Central Otago we descend to the damp rainforests of the West Coast, an amazing, overwhelming change in scenery. Our route leads us over Haast Pass and along the Haast River down to the Tasman Sea. The West Coast Highway, one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world, brings us to Fox Glacier.
If the weather is good, you should seize the opportunity and ride a helicopter up to the glacier and experience a snow landing! After dinner you can go for a little walk in the forest and see, at least in dry conditions, the tiny green lights of the glow worms.

 

DAY 7:  Fox Glacier - Punakaiki

We leave the ice behind and head towards gold in Hokitika, the old gold digger capital. Due to its historical background the West Coast is also known as the Gold Digger Coast, but nowadays everything around here revolves around jade, also known as greenstone, or Pounamu, as the Maori call it.
Arthurs Pass is the main crossing point of the Southern Alps, the only road in New Zealand that features high alpine scenery as we know it from the European Alps.
It is a lovely ride, but the main reason to come up here are the Keas, alpine parrots with a very bad reputation. They are super-smart and highly endangered, and up here on the pass we have the best chance of seeing some.

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DAY 8:  Punakaiki - Nelson

We leave Punakaiki, the site of the famous “Pancake Rocks,” and after only 40 miles we take a break at beautiful Cape Foulwind with its seal colony. Historic gold digger sites mark our ride along the legendary Buller River and through the wild, remote bush and forest landscape of the South Island.
Murchison, the biggest town around here, sports a handful of cozy cafes, so we take a break and have lunch. Hope Saddle, a small pass a few miles down the road, separates the (mostly wet) West Coast climate from the (mostly dry) climate of the Tasman Bay. The soil is fertile here, people grow grapes, hops, berries,
apples, avocados, and everything else but pineapples.
Our destination is Nelson, "sunniest" city in New Zealand and preferred new home of German emigrants. As you will see, it is a great place to stay.

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DAY 9:  Nelson - Wellington

Today is a special day because we will embark on a cruise! But first we ride through the scenic Marlborough Sounds, one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. Most impressive: a ride on Queen Charlotte Drive, definitively among the world’s most phenomenal roads.
In Picton we board the ferry, glide through picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound
out to Cook Strait, and after just over three hours we reach Wellington, the nation’s capital.

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DAY 10:  Wellington

Today’s short ride leads to the Kapiti Coast where we can enjoy the beautiful views from a vantage point high above the coast. A bit further north is the Southward Car Museum, the largest vintage car collection in New Zealand and one of the best in the world. Some of the roads we use on today are very, very narrow and feel very much like one-way roads. They are not!!!
Of course you don't have to ride if you don't want to. Wellington has enough on offer to keep you busy for a day. Very busy! Don't miss the TePapa, New Zealand's national museum. On display there is one of the legendary Britten motorcycles!

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DAY 11:  Wellington - Napier

We cut through the suburbs of Wellington and climb Rimutaka Hill, a spectacular and usually windswept pass road. Then we leave the highway in favour of small roads without traffic and loop through the Martinborough wine region. “New Zealand’s Napa Valley” is a popular place for Wellingtonians to spend their weekends, and on sunny days the area is full of bicycles, motorcycles and convertibles.
Through green, hilly farm country we ride to Pongaroa, where we have lunch in the historic hotel. Be careful, there may be sheep on the road at any time!
We'll end up in Napier, the Art Deco capital of New Zealand. If you want to get there as soon as possible just take State Highway 2.

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DAY 12:  Napier - Rotorua

If you feel like riding some serious miles today you should consider this detour to the volcanoes. The pass known as Gentle Annie was paved very recently. It will take you across the very sparsely populated hills west of Hastings and bring you to Waiouru. A tank next to the road tells you that you reached the training grounds
of the New Zealand Army and their museum, which conveniently features a nice little café.
From here we follow State Highway 1, the so-called Desert Highway, past the three volcanoes Mt. Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. On a clear day their snow-clad peaks offer a sight to behold, try not to be distracted too much. Finally we descend towards Lake Taupo and to the town of the same name. Here we join route 1 again.

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DAY 13:  Rotorua - Tairua

Today we begin by heading north on State Highway 33 through lush forests and rolling countryside toward Paengaroa. From there we continue o the coastal city of Tauranga. After passing through Tauranga, the road winds northwest through the Kaimai Range toward the historic gold-mining town of Waihi, offering picturesque views and the option to explore the beautiful Karangahake Gorge. At Waihi, we join State Highway 25, which hugs the coastline and takes you through the beachside town of Whangamatā. This stretch of the journey offers stunning ocean views and a chance to enjoy small-town charm before continuing north to Tairua.​​​​​​

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DAY 14:  Tairua - Auckland

Departing Tairua, we  head south, following the beautiful Coromandel coastline with its winding roads and views of beaches and native bush. After passing through towns like Hikuai and Kopu, you’ll reach Thames, a historic town at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. From here we head west taking us through rolling farmland and small rural settlements before merging with State Highway 1 near Pōkeno. From Pōkeno we head towards Auckland,  New Zealand’s largest city enjoying the scenery of the Hauraki Plains before the final stretch into Auckland.

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DAY 15.  Airport transfer and check-out

After breakfast, transfer to the Auckland airport. Goodbye, and safe travels home!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 8

If the minimum number of participants isn’t reached, the tour may be cancelled or run with a different format.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED:​

• All overnights (comfortable middle-class hotels) during entire tour

• Breakfast every day

• 2 (*3) picnics/lunches

• 11 (*16) dinners

• Motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage

• Third party liability insurance for motorcycles

• Comprehensive vehicle insurance for motorcycles with deductible according to the booked motorcycle model

• Tour information package in English or German including safety tips, details about the hotels, the route and the sights

• English and German speaking tour guide on motorcycle

• Support van for luggage transportation (1 piece per person) and space for passengers (limited) on entire tour

• Ferry ride South Island-North Island

• Edelweiss Riding Tips

 

IS NOT INCLUDED:

• All services not mentioned as included and all items of a personal nature

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OPTIONAL SERVICES:

• optional deductible reduction on included motorcycle insurance (Cover All / Cover Plus)

 

TERMS OF PAYMENT:

• With the registration, at the earliest, however, eleven months before the agreed end of the tour a down payment of EUR 500.00 shall be made.

• The remaining payment shall be paid without any further request 42 days before the journey starts concurrently against delivery of the travel documents.

• In case of procured journeys, the payment conditions of the respective organiser or, respectively, service provider shall apply.

• We expressly reserves the right to cancel the booking for the traveller at his/her own expense if payment deadlines are not complied with.​

CANCELLATION POLICY:
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following compensation lump sums shall be laid down:

• until 60 days before the beginning of the journey EUR 200,00

• until 42 days before the beginning of the journey EUR 350,00

• until 31 days before the beginning of the journey 30 %

• from 30 days before the beginning of the journey 100 %

• No-show 100 % from the respective travel price. It is recommended taking out a travel cancellation insurance.

• A one-time rebooking at the latest 60 days before the start of the tour shall be possible free of charge.

• After having realized a rebooking, the cancellation charge amounts to at least EUR 350,00 per person.