“Ride the bike and start the adventure”
13 Days Fully Guided Motorcycle Tour along the Weka Trails on the South Island of New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand
Exciting Motorcycle Tour New Zealand
Join Pohutukawa Motorcycle Touring for this adventurous tour of the South Island of New Zealand. This tour will give you a close-up view of beautiful scenery ranging from rain forests, pasture land, white sandy beaches, rocky coast lines to rugged mountain ranges.
Key information
- Terrain: mostly sealed roads
- Bike: personal or rental bike (BMW, Triumph Tiger, Honda, or Suzuki models)
- Mileage: 3,037 kilometers / 1,898 miles
- Daily rides: 110 - 420 kilometers / 70 - 260 miles
- Riding gear: not included
- Meals: breakfasts and dinners
Meet the guides
Colin
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Highlights
- Starts and ends in Christchurch
- Experience a wild jet boat river ride
- Visit the world-famous Milford Sounds
- Take a loop through the foothills and view mountains up close
- Cruise along rich farmland and patches of thick native bush
- Go on a gondola ride to view Queenstown
- Enjoy thermal hot pools and zip lining
- 12 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
8 riding days
Group size: Minimum of 4 participants
Airport transfer included:
Christchurch International Airport
Accommodation
During this tour, you will stay in various accommodations selected by Pohutukawa Motorcycle Touring. You will be accommodated in twin shared rooms. Private rooms are available with single supplements.
Program
Day 1
After arriving at the Christchurch International Airport, you will 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. The day will include a safety meeting to review road rules and safety requirements, and a “Get to know you” dinner.
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 you will 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 zip lining makes this a fun day.
Day 5: (285 kilometers / 180 miles / approximately 70 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 7.5 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 waterfall’s, wild bush, misty mountains, rugged lake shores, and easy sweepers then today is your day. The road will take you alongside lakes, rivers, and great photo opportunities. Also, it is 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) [Optional riding]
Today is a treat for all adventure junkies, a jet boat ride, and an optional relaxing ride along side a large lake before a gondola ride to dinner overlooking beautiful Queenstown.
Day 10: (420 km / 260 miles / approximately 9.5 hours riding)
After an early breakfast, head south and follow the sweeping lake shore as you continue south. After checking into your accommodation, head out to ride to Milford Sounds, before returning for the night.
The Milford Sound route is suggested for advanced riders only. It is a 259-mile route on to Milford Sounds.
Day 9: Rest day
Today is a rest day, you can enjoy zip lining or a more relaxed 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 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 makes 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. A farewell dinner wraps up the day.
Day 13
Your last day in New Zealand 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.
Riding in New Zealand
The roads in New Zealand are in good condition, with light traffic out of the cities. Other than road repairs you will not be required to ride on any unsealed roads. Please note that New Zealand drivers drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Motorcycles available for this tour
Use your own motorcycle or rent a motorcycle, which is licensed, safety inspected and verified by the NZ government. A valid passport along with appropriate approval is required for entry into New Zealand.
Tour category A
- BMW R1250GSW
- BMW R1200GSW
- BMW R1200RTW
- BMW F850GS
Tour category B
- BMW F800GS
- BMW F700GS
- Suzuki GSF1250 Bandit
- Triumph Tiger 800
- Honda Shadow Aero 750
Tour category C
- BMW F700GS
- Honda CMX500 Rebel
- Suzuki SFV650 Gladius
- Suzuki DR650
- Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
Notes
- The renter can choose at the time of renting.
- The insurance bond is held on a credit card but not charged unless needed.
- The daily damage waiver is a direct charge added to the daily rental rate.
- The daily damage waiver is not refunded if not used.
Category A
- Insurance bond: 3,750 NZD
- A daily damage waiver of 30 NZD reduces the bond to 950 NZD
- The daily damage waiver is the best deal. For example, 30 NZD x 12 days = *360 NZD. Therefore 360 NZD + 950 NZD = 1,310 NZD for insurance coverage plus bond in the event of a claim. The 950 NZD bond is only held and not charged unless a claim is made.
Category B
- Insurance bond: 3,000 NZD
- Daily damage waiver of 30 NZD reduces the bond to 950 NZD
Category C
- Insurance bond: 2,500 NZD
- Daily damage waiver of 30 NZD reduces the bond to 500 NZD
Skill level required for this tour: intermediate, advanced
Intermediate:
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Advanced:
- can ride for 5-6 hours
- extensive riding experience
- assistance on demand (if required)
- experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Guides
Colin Rowe
Colin and his wife, Lynette, grew up in New Zealand and have been riding since 1973, and are familiar with most of the roads there. In 2010, Colin and Lynette established Pohutukawa Motorcycle Tours to share the thrill of riding in New Zealand and western North America. Based in Colorado, jointly they have clocked over half a million miles. They both lead tours with Lynette focusing on ladies only tours. Colin and Lynette specialize in providing their clients with unforgettable motorcycling experiences through jointly developing and providing the motorcycle adventure of a lifetime.
Location
Food
You will be served breakfast and dinner during this tour. Alcohol, all lunch's, and meals on rest / free days are not included.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Full guide service
- Bike rental
- Printed daily ride guide
- 12 nights accommodation (extra nights before or after can be arranged)
- Shuttles (transfers) to and from hotel, airport, and bike rental location
- Breakfast and dinner
- Entry into museums and interruptive centers
- Entry into national and provincial parks
- Entry into hot springs
- Access to various Queenstown attractions
What's not included
- Airfare
- Insurance coverage and damage waivers (bonds) on rental bikes
- Optional equipment add-on’s to rental bikes
- Fuel
- All lunches and rest day meals
- Special / optional events
- Incidentals and other costs once inside various attractions (i.e. rental of bathing suits or towels)
- Bike rental auxiliary equipment such as GPS or optional fittings
- Alcohol
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CHC
Christchurch International Airport
9 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Christchurch International Airport (CHC). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Pohutukawa Motorcycle Touring will pick you up from the airport.
Once you exit the airport arrival lounge area, your tour host will meet you. Your host will be holding a sign reading "Pohutukawa Motorcycle Tours". He or She will assist you with your luggage and assist you with your shuttle.
Airport: Christchurch International Airport
Airport transfer included: Christchurch International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookMotorcycleTours.com. All major credit cards supported.
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