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New Zealand Grand Deluxe Self-Guided Tour

The reverse itinerary from Auckland to Christchurch can also be arranged, same price.

We have returned safe and sound from a fabulous trip to NZ. The bike was great... no problems at all. The staff at the hire depot, especially Rex, were very helpful and friendly and all the arrangements went like clockwork.

John & Lesley Duncalf, UK, 2008

Highlights

• Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula
• Farm stays
• Milford Sound Cruise
• Queenstown
• Fox / Franz Josef Glaciers
• West Coast wildlife
• Interislander ferry crossing
• Maori concert night
• Bay of Islands
• Food and drink

Itinerary

DAY 1 Arrive Christchurch. Our shuttle service will transfer you to your hotel and after you’ve checked in there’s time to relax in Hagley Park, Christchurch’s ‘village green’ just by the hotel, or stretch your legs with a stroll around Christchurch. Visit the famous Botanical Gardens and the Antarctic Museum. If you arrive in New Zealand a day early and you feel up to it, you can pick up your bike and take a ride out to Akaroa or Motukarara on the beautiful Banks Peninsula. This really is a ride that will get you in the mood for the fun ahead. Big, never ending curves and twisting roads. Then visit the unique Britten Museum. Chateau on the Park.

DAY 2 Christchurch – Mt Cook (350 km). After breakfast a briefing, you set off on your first day in the saddle, a leisurely ride to Mount Cook, in the centre of the south island. You finish the day with a spectacular ride along the banks of glacial Lake Pukaki and the Tasman River. The Hermitage.

DAY 3 Mt Cook – Dunedin (340 km). After the short ride to Twizel, head for the Victorian gold rush town of Cromwell and Alexandra, reputed to be the hottest town in New Zealand), both are worth a look around. After leaving “Alex”, stop at the historic gold-mining town of St Bathan’s, with time for a drink at the famous Vulcan Hotel. Then follow the gold trail to the Pacific coast, past the famous boulders at Moeraki, and on to Dunedin, with its Scottish style and history and the Otago Peninsula. Larnach Castle.

DAY 4 Dunedin - Te Anau (290 km). Say goodbye to the pounding surf of the deep blue South Pacific Ocean and head inland across rolling green farmland covered in white woolly sheep. The land becomes more mountainous as the day winds on. As you reach Fjordland, with its many mirror-like lakes reflecting snow-capped mountains, you will see why they call this one of the most scenic places on earth! Your destination is a farm near Te Anau. Our farmstays are a great success with customers, you will get a tour of the farm, shown what they do, eat locally grown produce and receive the warmest of Kiwi welcomes. A real highlight!

DAY 5 Te Anau - Milford Sound – Te Anau (240 km). An enjoyable morning’s ride takes you to the spectacular Milford Sound, where you take a bewitching cruise down the fjord and back. On the return there’s plenty of time to stop and enjoy the stunning scenery and the riding along twisting roads is every bit a match for the cruise. Farmstay.

DAY 6 Te Anau - Queenstown (195 km). Today you can take the long way or the short way – you choose. If you want to get to Queenstown early and start doing some of the many activities there, then it's only a 2 hour ride. Before you get there, enjoy the ride and take in the Wildlife Reserve, or take in a scenic flight but, if you want a whole day riding then head south to Invercargill and visit the Burt Munro Memorial, and get to sample the world’s best oysters from Foveaux Strait before returning north to Queenstown, the adventure playground of New Zealand. St Moritz Hotel.

DAY 7 Queenstown (free day). An opportunity to sample some of the many activities in the ‘playground of the South’, jet boating on the Shotover River, tandem skydiving, fly fishing, a vintage steam cruise and of course bunjee jumping. And too many more to mention! Then it’s time to relax in the Gondola restaurant or the Motor Museum, or go for a ride to Arthur’s Point lookout and Coronet Peak. St Moritz Hotel.

DAY 8 Queenstown - Fox Glacier (265 km). Heading north out of Queenstown you pass Lakes Hawea and Wanaka before reaching the subtropical rainforest of Haast Pass and to the west coast. Following the coastal highway north through coastal rainforests you arrive at the spectacular Fox Glacier in the heart of Westland National Park. There’s time to walk on the glaciers, take a helicopter ride or a helihike. High Peaks Lodge.

DAY 9 Fox Glacier - Hanmer Springs (320 km). Today is a big day’s riding but with time for some stops along the way; the sheepskin factory in Ross, a greenstone factory at Hokitika and the reconstructed gold-mining shanty town near Greymouth. And after all that there’s some serious riding to be done as you head inland via Reefton and over the superb Lewis Pass to the natural beauty of Hanmer Springs. Alpine Lodge.

DAY 10 Hanmer Springs - Punakaiki (450 km). This morning you head back to the west coast and Westport, taking the long way round via Sefton, Ashley and over Arthur’s Pass. There may be time to do what you missed yesterday, and to see some of the indigenous wildlife – seals, kiwis, Keas, penguins, dolphins and the rare White Heron - and the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes in Punakaiki.Punakaiki Rocks Resort.

DAY 11 Punakaiki - Nelson (260 km). Your day starts with a coastal ride taking you past the Tauranga Bay seal colonies and the Coaltown Museum in Westport, then through the beautiful upper Buller Gorge region. You can take some time out for some white-water rafting and jet boating or take a longer ride and re-visit the magnificent Lewis Pass and stop for lunch at Springs Junction. Delorenzo’s.

DAY 12 Nelson (free day). Today it’s a free day to ride and explore Nelson and surrounding areas. Golden Bay has some of the finest beaches in New Zealand and Nelson has more sunshine than any other part of the country. For those who like to continue riding, hop on your bike to discover Abel Tasman National Park, or take a 4-WD drive tour to Farewell Spit, the longest sand dune in New Zealand, and view a variety of sea birds and unique vegetation. And remember you are in one of New Zealand’s main wine producing areas. Delorenzo’s.

DAY 13 Nelson – Wellington (ferry, 110 km). The short ride to the ferry at Picton gives you time to stop at the tea rooms at Pelorus Bridge, wineries, a zoological park, the Old Whekenui Whaling Station and the Smith Memorial Museum in Picton. The Interislander offers spectacular views of the coastline so keep your camera ready and watch out for passing whales and albatross. Museum Hotel.

DAY 14 Wellington – Hawkes Bay (330 km). Leaving Wellington, your first stop is Featherston Summit (555 m), with more spectacular views, then you have a choice: Ride to the Southward Car Museum with its amazing collection of cars, motorcycles and other machinery. Or take the inland route and stop off at the Mt Bruce Wildlife Sanctuary. From there you can travel though the impressive Manawatu Gorge and on to your warm Kiwi welcome in Hawkes Bay Farmstay.

DAY 15 Hawkes Bay - Rororua (250/400 km). There are two possible routes to take today, the decision is yours. Just be sure to visit Napier’s colourful art deco centre and beach, and the local wineries before relaxing in Taupo’s famous thermal pools or marvelling at the views over the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, created by the world’s largest volcanic eruption in the last 5000 years! Look out for the impressive Huka Falls and you are now in the midst of the North Island’s thermal area, so don’t miss Wairakei, Waiotapu and Whakarewarewa thermal reserves. And do find the hidden valley of Orakei Korako. Rotorua is also a main natural home of the glow worm, and their displays are quite beautiful. This evening it’s party time Maori style! You will be enthralled by the natural bush setting, with Maori warriors in traditional dress paddling a canoe down the river and a memorable Hangi feast. Kingsgate Hotel.

DAY 16 Rotorua – Coromandel (320 km). Your ride today takes you up to Tauranga on the Bay of Plenty. Continue along the coast to the Coromandel Forest Park and round the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula coast with its sleepy towns and empty white sand beaches. Among the best are Pauanui, and Tairua, Hahei, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, where you dig your own hot tub! Some say this is Cornwall on a good day! Coromandel Court Hotel.

DAY 17 Coromandel - Orewa (300 km). Leave Coromandel and ride through rainforest along excellent winding roads to Thames. Visit the marine park in Paeroa, with its fully restored PT boat, before following the coast north past Kawakawa Bay and joining the main route through Auckland to the north. Finish the day with a visit to Waiwera’s thermal pools. The Waves Motel.

DAY 18 Orewa - Paihia (320 km). A long gentle day, with time to stop at the Matakohe Kauri Museum near Dargaville, with a fine example of a 17m Maori canoe. The museum is built of bricks from mud that came as ballast from China. Also on Route 12 is the giant kauri tree, “Tane Mahuta” in the Waipoua Kauri Forest, a nice spot for a rest or a stroll among the giant trees. Beachcomber Hotel.

DAY 19 Paihia (free day). Plenty to do, with white sandy beaches and clear blue seas everywhere! Go to the Waitangi National Reserve and the Treaty House where the (in)famous treaty was signed, ride to Kerikeri, Awanui and Cape Reinga, New Zealand’s northernmost tip, take a bus trip to Ninety Mile Beach, go sailing, scuba diving or deep sea fishing and visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Russell. Beachcomber Hotel.

DAY 20 Paihia – Auckland (275 km). Your final day’s ride takes us to New Zealand’s largest city, where nearly one-third of the country’s population lives (now you know why the roads elsewhere are so empty!). Why not finish with a visit to Whangarei’s collection of over 400 clocks, to get you prepared for tomorrow’s long flight home. Barrycourt Hotel.

DAY 21 Depart Auckland. Sadly, it’s time to return the bikes, bid farewell, and head for home, with all those memories …Was it worth flying around the world for?! I think so!

Total distance  c. 4600 km

Ready to book? Please click here

Price includes: 20 nights deluxe accommodation including 3 nights farmstay (all with private facilities), 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, Maori concert and banquet, Milford Sound cruise, inter-islander ferry, 19 days motorcycle hire with luggage and unlimited mileage, full motorcycle insurance, 24-hr support, tourbook, maps.

Price excludes: Flights to/from New Zealand, travel insurance, optional CDR bike insurance (see rental table for details), pre- / post-tour accommodation (all of these may be arranged through H-C Travel), riding gear, luggage transfer available and bookable locally (please ask for details), petrol, meals not stated above, personal items and expenses.

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New Zealand Grand Deluxe self-guided tour       Daily departures Honda VLX600 Kawa EX500 Honda VT750 Suzuki SV650 Suzuki DL650 Yamaha FZ6 BMW F650GS BMW F650Twin Honda VT1100 Honda VFR800 Suzuki DL1000 Suzuki GSF1250 BMW R1200R BMW R1200GS (older  BMW R1200RT (older) Honda STX1300 Triumph Tiger BMW R1200GS BMW R1200RT Ducati ST3S Ducati Multistrada Passenger Sgl rm suppl. 16 Mar - 14 Dec 2011 £2,695 £3,075 £3,575 £4,075 £1,645 £1,645 15 Dec 2011-15 Mar 2012 £2,875 £3,245 £3,875 £4,245 £1,645 £1,645 16 Mar - 14 Dec 2012 £2,695 £3,075 £3,575 £4,075 £1,645 £1,645 15 Dec 2012-15 Mar 2013 £2,875 £3,245 £3,875 £4,245 £1,645 £1,645

| Southern Moonlight (14 days) | New Zealand Highlights (14 days) | Grand Deluxe (21 days) | Grand Standard (21 days) |
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