Overview
Take part in this tour of the South Island of New Zealand, which will give you a close-up view of beautiful scenery ranging from rain forests, pastureland, white sandy beaches, rocky coastlines to rugged mountain ranges. Beginning and ending in the English style city of Christchurch; after picking up your bike you will ride through the rugged mountains of the Southern Alps running the length of the South Island, riding along beautiful sweeping coastal roads, through old growth rain forests, and rugged hill country. While enjoying gentle sweeping corners mixed with twisty back roads.
Highlights
- Starts and ends in Christchurch
- Admire the breathtaking views at Milford Sound
- Ride through rich farmland, bush-covered hill, the world-famous coastal highway
- Enjoy waterfalls, wild bush, misty mountains during the trip
- Lots of opportunities for GoPro and photo sessions
- 12 nights accommodation
Itinerary
Day 1
After arriving at Christchurch International Airport, you’ll be met at the airport and shuttled to your hotel to check-in and then to pick up your bike. Today is set aside to allow you to settle in and rest up before the adventure begins tomorrow. Visit some of the city sights.
Day 2 (253 kilometers / 160 miles, approximately 7 hours riding)
Leaving the old English style city, you will find that getting comfortable with your bike will take no time, as you head across the plains and begin the twisting climb into the southern alps. Stopping near the top to watch the native parrots (Kea’s) is a great photo stop. Continuing on your way down from the pass and through scattered native bush brings you to your stop for the night. This 200-year-old hotel is full of history and maybe a ghost or two. It is home to the best chef Pohutukawa Motorcycle Touring has come across in the South Island.
Day 3 (330 kilometers / 204 miles, approximately 7.5 hours riding)
After a relaxing breakfast, hit the road, and cruise along between rich farmland and patches of thick native bush on smooth well maintained meandering roads. Today will take you back through the southern alps. As you leave this picturesque location the road will lead you along the base of the coastal mountain range to your stop for the night in a peaceful seaside town.
Day 4 (280 kilometers / 175 miles, approximately 7 hours riding)
Picturesque seascapes, windy roads, native bush, changing elevations, and numerous photo stops make up the highlights of today’s ride. This is a GoPro day. Make sure your GoPro is ready with plenty of back up batteries. Stopping at any one of the many small local restaurants to sample fresh seafood, along with some optional ziplining makes this a fun day.
Day 5 (285 kilometers / 180 miles, approximately 7 hours riding)
Heading towards the coast through bush-covered hill leads you to some great gorge riding. Fantastic cornering, great scenery, this is another GoPro day (there will be lots more on this tour). Have those batteries charged and ready.
Day 6 (300 kilometers / 190 miles, approximately 7 hours riding)
Today’s ride takes you along the world-famous coastal highway, sweeping through fantastic corners, racing past rocky outcrops, and screaming at the top of your lungs all the way. Mix this with some fantastic stops for one of a kind scenery, and you have a ride location that is amazing.
Day 7 (335 kilometers / 210 miles, approximately 8 hours riding)
If you love waterfalls, wild bush, misty mountains, rugged lakeshores, and easy sweepers then today is your day. The road will take you alongside lakes, rivers, and great photo opportunities. Also, another great GoPro day. Lunch at a quaint country pub/hotel before some amazing corning that will bring you to your stop for the night.
Day 8 (110 kilometers / 70 miles, approximately 5 hours riding)
Today is a treat for all adventure junkies, an optional jet boat ride and a relaxing ride alongside a large lake before an optional gondola ride to dinner overlooking beautiful Queenstown.
Day 9: Rest day (optional attractions)
Today is a rest day, you can enjoy optional zip-lining or an optional steamer cruise on the lake, enjoy some easy riding, or you could catch up on all those important things like sorting out photos, writing down all the key points of the tour so far, sending postcards home to friends and even dealing with that pesky laundry thing.
Day 10 (420 kilometers / 260 miles, 259-mile route on to Milford Sounds, approximately 9.5 hrs. riding) \[Milford Sound suggested for advanced riders only\]
After an early breakfast, head south and follow the sweeping lakeshore as you continue south. After checking into your accommodation, head out to ride to Milford Sounds, before returning for the night.
Day 11 (375 kilometers / 235 miles, approximately 8 hours riding)
Today takes you back through Queenstown before heading inland. Taking a loop through the foothills lets you view the mountains from up close, while you lose yourself in the ride. Great roads with little traffic make this a fun day.
Day 12 (360 kilometers / 225 miles, approximately 9.5 hours riding)
After breakfast, head towards Mount Cook before an easy ride towards the coast, to return to Christchurch to drop off your bike and catch your shuttle to the hotel, for that final sorting and packing.
Day 13: Departure
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. If you want to stay on for additional nights that can be arranged.
Ride Details
- Terrain
- asphalt
- Bike
- rental bike (BMW, Triumph, Honda, Suzuki models)
- Mileage
- 3037 kilometers / 1898 miles
- Daily rides
- 110 - 420 kilometers / 70 - 260 miles
- Riding gear
- available to rent: GPS, top box
- Meals
- not included
What's included
- Printed daily ride guide
- Bike rental (excluding insurance or damage waiver or auxiliary equipment such as GPS or optional fittings)
- 12 nights accommodation
- Shuttles (transfers) to and from hotel, airport, and bike rental location
- Ferry fees
Not included
- Airfare
- Insurance coverage and damage waivers (bonds) on rental bikes
- Optional equipment add-on’s to rental bikes
- Fuel
- All meals
- Special / optional events
- Access into various attractions such as museums and interpretive centers various native bird displays, glowworm caves and native bush tours, national and provincial parks and hot springs
- Incidentals and other costs once inside various attractions. i.e. rental of bathing suits or towels
Accommodation
This amazing tour highlights some of the best that the South Island has to offer. This exciting tour includes accommodation ranging from modestly priced cabins to deluxe quality hotels and an authentic "turn of the century" style hotel.
Food
Meals are not included in the price.
Getting There
This tour takes place in South Island, New Zealand, starting and ending in Christchurch. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/pohutukawa-motorcycle-touring/13-days-weka-trail-self-guided-motorcycle-tour-on-the-south-island-of-new-zealand# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/pohutukawa-motorcycle-touring/13-days-weka-trail-self-guided-motorcycle-tour-on-the-south-island-of-new-zealand# "Zoom out") [+
