Reuthers Harley-Davidson
Motorcycle Tours New Zealand
Highlights - 15 Days - Route
Route:
Auckland - Whitianga - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington -
Nelson - Greymouth - Franz Josef - Queenstown -
Te Anau - Queenstown - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
Sunday, Day 1
Kia Ora !
We start our trip in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. Meet your fellow travellers for the motorcycle tour and be our guest at our Welcome Dinner.
Monday, Day 2
Auckland - Whitianga
After breakfast and the daily briefing we pick up our Harley-Davidson Motorcycles from the rental office. Following a final safety brief, we ride the Pacific Coast Highway around the Coromandel region. We spend the night in Whitianga.
Tuesday, Day 3
Whitianga - Rotorua
We travel south, stopping at Cathedral Cove. Well worth the 40-minute strenuous walk to reach it, this is a natural rock cave located in one of New Zealand’s beautiful marine reserves.
We continue along the coast to Rotorua. Before we even reach the city you will be able to smell the sulfur and see hot pools along the side of the road. In the evening you will have the opportunity to learn about Maori culture and attend a spectacular Maori show in the Tamaki Maori Village. This is followed by a traditional Maori feast.
Wednesday, Day 4
Rotorua - Napier
We spend the morning in Rotorua visiting the hot pools and geysers at Te Puia. You will also have the chance to visit a bird house and see a kiwi. We continue our journey south, travelling alongside beautiful Lake Taupo and through spectacular scenery.
One of the highlights is a view of Mount Ruapehu, the highest peak on the North Island, which stands nearly 2797 m (9175 feet) tall.
Our destination is Napier, which was almost entirely rebuilt in the Art Deco style after the 1931 earthquake. You will be able to visit museums, art galleries, and a kiwi house if you wish. We spend the night in an original Art Deco hotel near the beach.
Thursday, Day 5
Napier - Wellington
We continue our journey to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, passing through more spectacular scenery.
Friday, Day 6
Wellington - Nelson
Before we leave the North Island we visit Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.
In the afternoon we leave for the South Island, travelling to Picton on the Interislander ferry.
There is plenty of opportunity to take pictures on the journey, especially as we pass through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Once on the South Island we travel around the Tasman Bay to Nelson. Nelson and its surrounding region receive more hours of sunshine than any other city in New Zealand – perfect for motorcyclists!
Saturday, Day 7
Nelson
There are many sightseeings in Nelson. On our daily tour we visit the Abel Tasman Nationalpark.
Sunday, Day 8
Nelson - Greymouth
Our trip takes us south along the Buller Gorge Road to Westport, where we meet the Tasman Sea and there are beaches crowded with sea lions.
We cross Cape Foulwind and head south again to Pancake Rocks, where we get a close-up view of blowholes created by the sea. We spend the night in Greymouth.
Monday, Day 9
Greymouth - Franz Josef
We continue south through the old gold mining town of Ross. The scenery is breathtaking, with the Tasman Sea on the right and mountains and lush green rain forest on the left. We spend the night below Franz Josef Glacier. If you wish, you can take a helicopter flight to the glacier or walk to its base.
Tuesday, Day 10
Franz Josef - Queenstown
Passing Fox Glacier, another majestic glacier, we leave the coast and head east over Haast Pass to beautiful Lake Wanaka and the town of Wanaka itself before travelling on to Queenstown, justly famous as the adventure capital of the world.
We will be given a short tour of a typical New Zealand working farm before the evening meal at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant on the Walter Peak High Country Sheep Farm.
The farm is reached by a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu on the oldest steamship in New Zealand, the TSS Earnslaw.
Wednesday, Day 11
Queenstown - Te Anau
We have a relaxing morning after our excellent meal last night before heading on to Te Anau around noon.
Thursday, Day 12
Milford Sound
This is one of the highlights of our trip and a spectacular natural wonder. You will have plenty of time to absorb the scenery and enjoy one of New Zealand’s most famous regions. We set off for Milford Sound through the Homer Tunnel before boarding a boat to cruise the 10-mile long fiord. You will have the opportunity to see blue penguins, sea lions, and dolphins, not to mention the stunning combination of green rain forest, mountains, and blue, clear water flowing toward the ocean. We return to Te Anau for the night.
Friday, Day 13
Te Anau - Queenstown
We travel back to Queenstown where the rest of the day is free for you to do as you wish. Queenstown specialises in adventure activities and has much to offer, including bungee jumping, parasailing, jet boat rides, and skydiving. We will help you to book any activities you wish to go on.
Saturday, Day 14
Queenstown - Lake Tekapo
On Day 14 we travel to the foothills of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at a height of 3754 m (13,316 feet). We stop for coffee and a spectacular view of the snow-covered mountain at the famous Hermitage Hotel, a truly special place with unmistakeable charm.
We end the day riding along back Lake Pukaki and visiting the Church of the Good Sheppard
before spending the night at our hotel at Lake Tekapo.
Sunday, Day 15
Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
We end our tour with more unforgettable views and travel across the South Island on the Inland Scenic Route to Christchurch, where we drop off our Harley-Davidson Motorcycles at the rental office. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Christchurch before we meet for one last time at our Farewell Dinner to remember the motorcycle tours adventure.
Optional: XtraPack Christchurch back to Auckland in 3 Days!
