New Zealand's North Island
Curious travellers will love New Zealand's North Island. Head out on the roads to explore its remarkable nooks and crannies and you'll be well rewarded.
Ever changing panoramas of active volcanoes, rolling green hills, lush island sanctuaries and white gold beaches will unfold before you. Maori culture is rich and ever-present and there are plenty of opportunities for an authentic taste of living traditions.
From the far north, the birthplace of New Zealand’s bicultural history, journey south through landscapes that blend towering trees, extraordinary coastline, sprawling farmland and freakish geothermal wonders. Your bike will purr contentedly, embracing the road’s curves.
Explore Northland with a trip to the top of the country and see the power of the Tasman Sea beat against the mighty Pacific Ocean at Cape Reinga.
Our biggest city, Auckland, is truly a cosmopolitan harbourside jewel, the sheltered waters of the gulf studded with islands - some home to wineries and olive groves and others to endangered plants and wildlife.
Further south, explore the country's fertile heartland around the Waikato, Rotorua and Lake Taupo, showcasing luxuriant green forests, a vast mountainous volcanic plateau, steaming, hissing and bubbling and set with a giant blue diamond of a lake.
The west offers a breathtaking combination of wild coast, the impressively photogenic conical peak of Mt Taranaki and a cutting edge art scene. To the east lie the restful shimmering waters and spectacular beaches of Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
Don't miss Wellington at the bottom of the Island, often described as the world's greatest little city with its vibrant café and craft beer scene and cultural precinct on the waterfront. On the way, take a detour to Kapiti Island, one of the few accessible island nature reserves or spend some time in the quaint villages of the Wairarapa with their galleries, antique stores and boutique food and wine experiences.
-
A tour of New Zealand on a motorcycle was top place on my bucket list, and had been for some time. We decided on the 25 day March option, and it proved to be the best thing we have ever done. This was not just a holiday, it was an adventure. From the moment we landed in Auckland, the whole process worked seamlessly. We were met, taken to our hotel. We later met with Trevor who gave us rider equipment to supplement what we had taken ourselves and our R1200RT, and the following morning, having met with Mike and Jo, we were off. The first five days we were on our own with Mike riding his motorcycle, and Jo driving the support van. It soon became four friends out on a ride. We toured the North Island, North of Auckland in that first five days, and although a seasoned motorcyclist of many years standing, and having ridden thousands upon thousands of miles in my 58 years, I was having the time of my life. The roads and scenery is nothing short of spectacular, and the local folks we met on the way were great. Mike and Jo did everything to make our tour special and nothing was too much trouble. We met up with 5 more solo riders on arrival back in Auckland and shared the next section of the tour of the North Island with them.
Chris P., London, UK
- See more guest comments
