Motorcycle trips New Zealand through the North and South Island

When you land at Auckland Airport, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel.

We will pick you up in the morning at the hotel and take you to our base, where your motorcycle will be set up for you and we will handle the paperwork. Then off we go! From Auckland, you ride along the coast of the Tasman Sea, up the West Coast, and through the Waipoua Forest. This forest is home to ancient Kauri trees that are over 50 meters tall, including "Tane Mahuta" - the king of the forest in Maori folklore. We will spend the night on the edge of the remote and untouched Hokianga Harbour, overlooking the 300-meter high sand dunes on the other side of the harbor.

We cross Hokianga Harbour with a charming little car ferry. We ride on the low-traffic roads of Northland, a golden, green, and blue world full of beaches, bays, and subtropical pleasures. This afternoon we explore historic Russell Kororareka, the first capital of New Zealand.

We head south along the coast, enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean. Then we turn inland and ride through Auckland, the "City of Sails" and a vibrant multicultural hub of New Zealand.

Continuing south out of the city through the hilly emerald green landscape towards the Coromandel Peninsula. This area is known for its extraordinary natural beauty and fantastic roads for motorcycle riding. At every corner, there are breathtaking views of lush forests, rugged hills, and turquoise seas.

We ride the circuit around the Coromandel Peninsula and enjoy a lunch in the local community. We admire the bush-clad hills and enjoy the stunning views of the coast. On our way to Tauranga, we explore the Karangahake Gorge, one of the most scenic routes on the North Island. Then we continue to Rotorua, where a geothermal wonderland with volcanic pools awaits us.

Today you have time to explore the bubbling mud pools and the natural geysers in the Whakarewarewa Maori village. Additionally, you can visit the Agrodome, take a gondola ride and enjoy the spectacular views. Rotorua has much to offer - you can also try your hand at luge or discover the wild ride of "Zorbing" for yourself. An evening Maori cultural show and a Hangi feast are planned, where you will also have the chance to see the national bird - the Kiwi!

Lake Taupo, located in the center of the North Island, is a popular holiday destination for locals. We stop for lunch and visit the roaring Huka Falls, known for their distinctive blue-green color. We cross the Ahimanawa and Maungaharuru mountain ranges and ride through the vineyards of Eskdale before arriving in Napier, New Zealand's home of Art Deco.

The tour continues south through the wine-growing region. Along the way, we see the lush fruit orchards of Hawkes Bay. We ride over the windy Rimutaka ranges, north of Wellington, where charming houses cling to the hills overlooking Wellington's harbor. Explore the capital and visit the "Beehive" - New Zealand's government building. Visit the fabulous Te Papa Museum and take a glimpse into the country's history.

We cross Cook Strait by ferry and ride on the legendary road of Marlborough Sounds - the Queen Charlotte Drive. We follow the road through dense pine forests to Nelson, the largest fishing port in Australasia with its unique microclimate. Nelson has the most sunshine hours in the country and is known for its art and culture.

We ride south over the Mt. Hope Saddle and through the Buller Gorge. We stop for lunch in the old gold mining town of Murchison and then ride over the famous Lewis Pass with its world-class mountain scenery. Hanmer Springs is located in a basin surrounded by forested mountains and is home to natural hot springs where we can recover from our aches and pains.

Today we have a rest day. You can relax in Hanmer Springs or take a day trip to Kaikoura. You can see whales here either by boat or from the air. Depending on the season, migrating humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales, and southern right whales can be seen. Afterwards, you can enjoy freshly cooked crayfish by the shores of Kaikoura.

Today's journey takes us over the spectacular Lewis Pass, featuring breathtaking landscapes and an ancient Maori greenstone path. We take a lunch break in Reefton, a historic gold mining town, and then ride to Punakaiki on the wild West Coast. You can watch as the ocean thunders through the famous Pancake Rocks - rock formations that formed 30 million years ago.

The West Coast Road runs between the turquoise Tasman Sea and the striking Southern Alps. Known as "The Ice Run", this road is famous for its impressive glacier spectacle. These ice formations are even more breathtaking from above - a helicopter can take you on an unforgettable journey!

As we head north on this beautiful and wild road, the landscape changes dramatically! Once we ride inland on the famous Haast Pass, we will see more and more rainforest. On these winding roads, we see plenty of rivers and waterfalls - absolutely breathtaking! We continue towards Wanaka, crossing New Zealand's highest road, the Crown Ranges. Today's destination is the adventure capital, Queenstown!

We explore Queenstown: paragliding, jet boating, bungee jumping, and white-water rafting are just some of the thrilling adventures you can try. Take a drive along the waterfront road to Glenorchy, a famous filming location for The Lord of the Rings. Visit a vineyard for lunch or the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown, with its charming cafés and art galleries.

Today we drive to Te Anau in Fiordland. Fiordland is a 1.2 million hectare area of remote and pristine beauty. This is one of the few places on earth with untouched wilderness. Waterfalls plunge hundreds of meters into undisturbed forested valleys. The reflective surfaces of the fjords mirror the majestically towering mountains that enclose them. Dolphins, seals, and Fiordland crested penguins call this place home. Here, the word "silence" takes on a whole new meaning. Another great excursion is to the glowworm caves of Te Anau, which you can reach by boat if you wish.

We are in for a fantastic ride along the shores of Lake Te Anau, then pass through the famous Homer Tunnel, which was hand-carved into the rock in the 1930s. On the other side of the tunnel, we discover breathtaking mountain scenery and winding roads. On this ride, be sure to keep an eye out for the cheeky, very intelligent Kea alpine parrots. Today we also take a two-hour boat trip in Milford Sound.

We drive through the heart of Otago, home to vast rolling landscapes, rugged snow-capped mountains, clear blue rivers, deep gorges, and grass-covered hills until we arrive in the Scottish-influenced city of Dunedin. Victorian architecture and the divine Otago Peninsula make Dunedin a particularly attractive place to visit. We pass through the fly fishing capital of New Zealand, Gore, where we stop for lunch and visit an aircraft museum with a workshop.

Dunedin is the heritage and natural history of New Zealand. You can choose whether to explore the city or head to the Otago Peninsula to see giant albatrosses and yellow-eyed penguins. The peninsula offers winding roads with breathtaking views of the coast, while the city is home to historic buildings, museums, and art galleries waiting to be explored.

We leave Dunedin for a fantastic ride over the Maungatua Ranges. The area is typical of the dry Maniototo region - we are in for barren, tussock-covered gentle hills. We drive through Cromwell, the "fruit bowl of New Zealand", and take the Lindis Pass with alpine scenery between the Lindis Valley and the Ahuriri River to Lake Tekapo.

Lake Tekapo offers us a stunning view of Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand. In the Church of the Good Shepherd, we admire both the bronze statue of a sheepdog and the dreamlike view of the turquoise lake. We continue on to Christchurch via Burkes Pass, Mount Hutt, and the Canterbury plains. We enjoy a farewell dinner together and say goodbye to our new friends, cherishing memories that will last a lifetime.