MCi TOURS MOTORCYCLE HOLIDAYS WORLDWIDE

This fantastic tour of New Zealand includes the best of both the North and the South Islands.  This one way tour starts in Auckland and ends in Christchurch.

We leave Auckland heading northwards through the forests to explore the backroads and secluded harbours of the Bay of Islands. Ride through glorious scenery up to Paihia for a two night stay.  On the free day visit the Governor's House where the original treaty was signed with the Maori tribes that gave birth to the British colony of New Zealand. Take a short boat trip to capture the flavour of a bygone age at Russell where the waterfront has many stately colonial buildingsand the Museum houses an impressive scale model of Captain Cook's Endeavour. Last time we the did the boat trip between Paihia and Russell we saw two large pods of dolphins.

The following day we ride our motorcycles south for an overnight stop enroute before reaching the Coromandel Peninsula. This is an amazing part of New Zealand featuring beautiful white sand unspoilt beaches and a clear blue unpolluted sea where white-topped waves crash onto the shore. Make time to visit the volcanic Hot Water Beach where the sea actually bubbles at the shoreline (locals dig holes and sit in a hot bath but they are a bit weird up there...) or maybe the central heating doesn't work? I digress. If you don't want a hot bottie, try a paddle round to Cathedral Cove on a kayak.

We motorcycle onwards along the coast road past historic homesteads, botanical gardens, wildlife reserves and more hot mineral pools on the way to Rotorua an area steeped in Maori legend, history and one of the best known thermal areas in the world. Join us on a visit to a Maori village where you can experience a wholly different cultural perspective. See warriors in traditional dress, witness displays of weaponry and combat coupled with the grace of the poi dance and learn about the significance of their carvings and tattoos.

We leave Rotorua and continue  for an overnight stop in Napier via vast expanses of vineyards that we recognise from excursions to Majestic Wine back home. Quality Sauvignon Blancs from Cloudy Bay, Nobilo, Hawkes Bay and Oyster Bay - it would be churlish to pass by so we will stay awhile, stopover and sample.

We continue to Wellington to spend our last night on the North Island. For a 360 panoramic view of the city take a trip on the historic cable car to the top of Mount Victoria or you may wish to visit Weta Caves to see how they made the stage sets and original costumes for Lord of the Rings.  Most of the next day is spent on our cruise across the Cook Straight to the South Island.  On arrival we take the short scenic ride on Queen Charlotte Drive and continue to Blenheim the centre of the Marlborough wine region where vines these days outnumber sheep! Visit the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum or visit a vineyard and just chill out.

Leaving Marlborough, enjoy the spectacular motorcycle ride down the east coast to Christchurch stopping off at various vantage points to see seals and if you are lucky dolphins. This particular ride is an unforgettable experience! Spend the next day visiting the centre of Christchurch or ride to Akoroa and join a cruise around an extinct volcanic crater, see the world's smallest dolphins, penguins and seals before returning via the Banks Peninsula along a twisty undulating back road that will have to grinning from ear to ear.

We meet up with the South Island tour group in Christchurch and then ride together to discover all that the South Island has to offer.

From Christchurch to Mount Cook, across Arthur's Pass, alongside the Franz Josef Glacier and up to the majestic fjord of Milford Sound. You will see cascading waterfalls and extraordinary landscapes - including the movie locations for The Lord of the Rings. Stay in New Zealand's only castle at Dunedin. You will taste the best Marlborough wines during your stay in Nelson, watch out for whales, dolphins and seals at Kaikoura, and you will ride your motorcycle on tour through unspoilt countryside where sheep outnumber cars… Stay three nights in Queenstown where you can bungee jump at Skippers Canyon, go white water rafting or Jet boating up the Dart River. Queenstown thrives on outdoor adventure activities! The ride up to Glenorchy is unforgettable as the road undulates alongside the beautiful lake in the shadow of the Remarkables mountain chain.

On an exciting motorcycle ride out to Invercargill at the southernmost tip of the South Island we stop off and see an Indian motocycle built and raced at Bonneville salt flats in the USA by the late, legendary Burt Munro. You will meet some olde boys who knew Bert and whose tales add to the mystique of this extraordinary character made famous and immortalised by Anthony Hopkins in the movie "The World's Fastest Indian".

This is an Escorted tour with accommodation, bike hire, day by day detailed route plans and helpful touring advice included.  This is the best time to visit New Zealand as Summer turns to Autumn in the Antipodes at this time of year. You will need to book your own cheap flight. There is a broad choice of available machines but please make sure to book early to secure the motorcycle of your choice!

All our accommodation is carefully chosen and is of a three and four star standard some with swimming pools.

In all honesty it's heaven on a bike...

Please check out our blog HERE from our 2013 tour

For further information on this tour request our Fact Sheet via our Contacts Page and add the tour description into the SUBJECT  line  CLICK HERE.

New Zealand really is heaven on earth. You will want to live there.