Details
Experience riding the North Island of New Zealand on this 13-day Self-guided tour, which gives you a close-up view of beautiful scenery ranging from rolling pastures to white sandy beaches to rugged mountains to dense forests. Your ride will take you through old growth sub-tropical forests, along sweeping costal roads, through rugged hill country, and lush pasture lands, while enjoying gentle sweeping corners mixed with twisty back roads.
You will begin and end your tour in the city of Auckland where you will pick up your bike before enjoying a relaxing evening before your adventure begins.
The roads in NZ are in good condition, with light traffic outside the cities. Aside from encountering roads under repair, you will not be required to ride on any unsealed roads.
This tour is suitable for Intermediate or Advanced riders. Note: New Zealanders drive on the left-hand side of the road and so must you.
This exciting tour includes accommodation ranging from modern cabins to deluxe quality hotels.
Tour Highlights: (*Optional on Self-Guided tours)
- Visit a Māori Village and experience the native culture, *
- Enjoy thermal hot pools, *
- Take a night bush walk to experience the NZ bush and wildlife up close, *
- Visit Hobbiton and have a drink in the Green Dragon, *
- Visit NZ's world-famous Glow worm caves, *
- Walk through a Bird (Kiwi) & wild-life sanctuary, *
- Ride through an ancient Kauri Forest,
- Experience early NZ with a visit to the Kauri Museum, *
- Thrill to a white water, jet boat river ride, *
- Visit Cape Reinga - the northern tip of the Nth. Island
Use your own motorcycle or rent one of our touring motorcycles, which are licensed, safety inspected and verified by the NZ government.
A valid Passport along with appropriate approval is required for entry into New Zealand.
A current Driver's License from your country of residence is required for motorcycle rental.
Tour Itinerary
Day #1 Airport Shuttle to Hotel
You will be met at Auckland International Airport and shuttled first to your hotel to check in, and then to pick up your bike.
The rest of the day is set aside to allow you to settle in and rest up before the adventure begins tomorrow—or you can visit some of the city sights.
Day #2 Auckland to Rotorua 455 km / 285 mi route (Approx. 7:30 hrs. riding)
Leaving your hotel and the city behind you, you will ride out on well-maintained country roads, through rolling countryside.
Stopping along the way for breaks & lunch in small out-of-the way country towns, combined with viewing the amazing scenery will have you pinching yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming. An optional visit to an authentic Māori Village in an active thermal area, is a great end to the first day.
Day #3 Rotorua to Gisborne 270 km / 170 mi route (Approx. 4:15 hrs. riding)
Today's ride hugs the coast, taking you into a part of NZ that is a mix of rugged hills, inspirational coastal seascapes, and rich farmland. This combined with a small population makes for an easy riding day. It is a GoPro day. Tonight’s stop is in a peaceful coastal town where you can enjoy great food and a walk along the beach.
Day #4 Gisborne to Taupo 330 km / 205 mi route (Approx. 4:55 hrs. riding)
Continuing along the coast, before turning inland to climb towards the center of the island, you will ride through a mix of rugged hills, inspirational coastal seascapes, and rich farmland with lots of corners ranging from easy to twisty making this a fun day. Have your GoPro ready.
After a relaxing lakeside dinner, a soak in the natural hot pools will be the perfect end to the day.
Day #5 Taupo to New Plymouth 445 km / 275 mi route (Approx. 6:40 hrs. riding)
After an early breakfast, your ride takes you around a fantastic lake shore before heading towards the central mountain region. Today you will ride next to amazing mountains, along-side white water rivers, a rugged coastline and through twisty canyons and gorges. An optional visit to an informative museum is a highlight of the day.
This is a GoPro day, have lots of batteries ready.
Day #6 New Plymouth to Cambridge 330 km / 205 mi route (Approx. 4:50 hrs. riding)
Heading north along the windswept coast before turning inland is a highlight of this tour; you will ride sweeping bends, over rugged ranges, through deep gorges, and along the tops of hills looking out over rich farmland and thick native forests, while traveling alongside deep rivers and lakes. GoPro time.
Day #7—Rest Day Cambridge 0 km / 0 mi route (Approx. 0 hrs. riding)
Today is a rest day. It's all yours. Sleep in, ride the local roads, catch up on all those important things like sorting out photos, writing down all the key points and even getting that pesky laundry taken care off. Don’t forget to send postcards or letters to friends or family. Enjoy the local sights. Even take an optional Jet Boat Ride.
Day #8 Cambridge Loop 205 km / 125 mi route (Approx. 3:30 hrs. riding) [A short ride day with lots of sight-seeing]
A treat for all “Lord of the Rings” fans, you will get an optional walk through Hobbiton and have a drink in “The Green Dragon” tavern. This location is surrounded by some great riding roads and is a fun day. Followed by an optional trip to visit the world-famous Glow Worm caves and an easy ride through native bush and waterfalls. On the way stop to see native wildlife.
Day #9 Cambridge to Paihia 485 km / 300 mi route (Approx. 8:40 hrs. riding)
You’re now heading into parts of NZ that are rich in history for both the native population and the European settlers that followed them. Today will take you through thick native bush, from sea level to hilly elevations. Stopping for a break in the seaside town of Russell lets you walk in the footsteps of the early adventurers, while you live your own adventures. Crossing the bay on a ferry brings you to your stop for the night.
Day #10 Paihia to Kaitaia 330 km / 205 mi route (Approx. 4:55 hr. riding)
Leaving the seaside town of Paihia, you will ride to visit some of the local historical sites as you travel further north. The island is getting narrower from this point on, and you are never far from either coast. The influence of the warmer weather is evident in the type of forest growth, parrots in the trees and the warm friendly people.
You will ride through to the most northly point of the Nth. Island and stop for a visit to the lighthouse located there. An area rich in history, this is a must stop photo stop.
Oh, and the ice cream is pretty good too.
Day #11 Kaitaia to Orewa 330 km / 205 mi route (Approx. 5.35 hrs. riding)
After a relaxing night you will ride south cruising through “old growth” forests, small towns and cross one of the many harbors by ferry. As you ride you will enter one of the oldest forests in NZ, home to some of the largest trees in the world. Here you can sense that time stands still.
A stop to visit the largest tree in NZ is followed by a fantastic ride through to your stop for the night.
An optional visit to a local museum helps top off the day.
Day #12 Orewa to Auckland Hotel 30 km / 16 mi route (Approx. 0:30 min. riding)
After a typical NZ breakfast, and a short ride, you will drop off your bike and catch your shuttle to your hotel. End your day with a relaxing dinner.
If you want to stay on for additional nights that can be arranged.
Day #13 Hotel Shuttle to Airport
Your last day in NZ begins with a relaxing breakfast, and a short shuttle ride, to the airport. This shuttle ride is filled with talk about the adventure you’ve just had and the fun experienced.
Now is the time to start planning your next tour with Pohutukawa Motorcycle Tours.
Included in your Fully Guided Tour Package
(Incidentals & options are not included unless listed or prearranged)
- Printed Tour Guidebook including maps.
- Bike rental including motorcycle insurance. (Excluding Damage Waiver or Auxiliary Equipment such as GPS or optional fittings)
- All accommodation. Day 1 of tour through to last night of tour. Extra nights before or after can be arranged.
- Shuttles (transfers) to & from hotel, airport & bike rental location.
Not Included in your Tour Package
(Rider / Pillion responsibility)
- Airfare.
- Damage Waivers (Bonds) on rental bikes.
- Optional equipment add-on’s to rental bikes.
- Fuel.
- All meals.
- Ferry fees.
- Special/optional events.
- Access into various attractions such as:
- Museums & Interpretive Centers.
- Various native wild-life displays, glowworm caves and native bush tours.
- National & Provincial Parks, Hot Springs, and Hobbiton.
- Incidentals and other costs once inside various attractions. i.e. rental of bathing suits or towels.
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