NEW ZEALAND MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES
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    • Kiwi South Adventure Tour 2021
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    • Self Guided 17 Day
    • Self Guided 25 Day
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Self Guided 17 Day South Island Tour

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Start Christchurch
Finish Christchurch
Minimum length 17 days/16 nights
Approximate distance 2169 miles/3492 km

converter kilometers to miles
N.B.  Riding times are approximate times only.
They do not include food breaks or fuel stops.
You choose which direction you would like to go.
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       LONDON TIME

    NEW ZEALAND TIME

South Island

Day 1 Christchurch

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Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch.  There will be a courtesy bus pick up at the airport.  You will be taken to your hotel that you booked prior to arriving in NZ.  This will enable you to catch up on some well needed sleep. 

Day 2 Christchurch to Kaikoura 112 miles/181 km

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Kaikoura
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning of (Day 2) and taken to your bike, then its off to the New Zealand vehicle testing station (VTNZ) for a temporary registration and WOF (warrant of fitness inspection).  Then you will be on your way.  Ride 112 miles/181 km to Kaikoura (2 hours 30 minutes). Go whale watching.  Book in advance for this if you can.  Cruising time on the water is 2.5 - 3.5 hours.  Booking times 12.45 pm,  1.15 pm and 3.30 pm.
See www.whalewatch.co.nz Stay the night.

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Day 3 Kaikoura to Motueka 192 miles/311 km

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Queen Charlotte Sound
Ride 97 miles/157 km (2 hours) to Picton.  Then ride 64 miles/107 km
(1 hours 40 minutes) to Nelson via Queen Charlotte Sound and stop for lunch.  Then ride 34 miles/60 km to Motueka via Tahuna Beach and don't forget to check out Rabbit Island on your way.  Stay the night when you get to Motueka.

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Day 4 Motueka region 27 miles/44 km return

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Abel Tasman National Park
Ride 8 miles/13 km (20 minutes) to Kaiteriteri.   Then ride 5 miles/8 km (10 minutes) to Marahau for Abel Tasman kayaking.  Spend a half or a full day exploring.  See www.abeltasmankayaks.co.nz   
Ride back to Motueka 16 miles/20 km (30 minutes) via Marahau hill. 
Stay the night.

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Day 5 Motueka region 103 miles/166 km return

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Farewell Spit
Ride 51 miles/83 km (1 hour 15 minutes) to Collingwood via the marble mountain (Takaka Hill).  Take a Farewell Spit lighthouse tour. See www.farewellspit.com then ride back to Motueka.  Stay the night.

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Day 6 Motueka to Franz Joseph 302 miles/487 km

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Punakaiki Rocks
Ride 81 miles/131 km (1 hour 30 minutes) to Murchison.  Fill up with fuel.  Then ride 87 miles/141 km (1 hour 40 minutes) to Punakaiki.  Stop for lunch. Have a look at the Pancake Rocks and sea blow holes. 
Ride 134 miles/216 km (2 hours 40 minutes) to  Franz Joseph Glacier.  Soak in the hot pools.  See
www.glacierhotpools.co.nz 
Stay the night
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Day 7 Franz Jospeh to Queenstown 219 miles/353 km

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Wanaka
Visit the glacier in the morning.
Then ride 177 miles/285 km (3 hours 15 minutes) to Wanaka. 
Have dinner by the lake front.  Either stay the night or ride over the Crown range 42 miles/68 km (1 hour) to Queenstown and stay the night there instead.  You decide.

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Day 8 Queenstown area

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Queenstown
Take a ride on a jet boat or try a bungy jump or take your pick of exciting things to do. 
​Stay another night in Queenstown or Wanaka. 
See the following links:

www.everythingqueenstown.com/category/jetboating-and-boat-tours/
www.everythingqueenstown.com/category/bungy-and-canyon-swing/
www.everythingqueenstown.com

Day 9 Queenstown to Te Anau and Milford Sound then back to Te Anau 253 miles/408 km

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Milford Sound
Ride 106 miles/172 km (2 hours 10 minutes) to Te Anau. 
Organise accommodation for the night.  Ride 73 miles/118 km
(1 hour 30 minutes) into Milford Sound for a boat cruise.  See

www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/times-and-prices/summer-cruise-schedule 
Then back to Te Anau.  Stay the night.

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Day 10 Te Anau to Invercargill 102 miles/165 km

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Manapouri Power Station
Ride 13 miles/22 km (30 minutes) to Manapouri.  Take a boat ride to the underground power station (3-4 hour tour).  
See
www.realjourneys.co.nz/main/powerstation  
Then ride 89 miles/143 km (2 hours) to Invercargill. 
Stay the night. Hayes Hardware Store and Bike Museum  
"Burt Munro Fastest Indian  in the world 
Hayes and Sons, 168 Dee Street.  See www.ehayes.co.nz

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Day 11 Invercargill to Curio Bay 89 miles/143 km

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Waipapa Beach Lighthouse
Ride 19 miles/31 km (30 minutes) to Bluff.  This is at the bottom tip of the South Island.  Closest to the South Pole.  Then ride 51 miles/82 km (1 hour 15 minutes) to Waipapa Beach lighthouse.  Then ride 16 miles/26 km (45 minutes) to Curio Bay while riding through the Catlands for more spectacular scenery.  Stay the  night.  Book before you get there if you can.  
See www.curiobay.co.nz or try www.holidayhouses.co.nz/curio-bay.asp

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Day 12 Curio Bay to Cromwell 169 miles/274 km

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Cromwell
Ride 61 miles/104km (1 hour 30 minutes) to Gore then
105 miles/159 km (2 hours ) to Cromwell.  
Stay the night.
 


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Day 13 Cromwell to Mount Cook to Lake Tekapo 192 miles/309 km

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Lake Tekapo
Ride 126 miles/203 km (2 hours 30 minutes) to Mount Cook. 
Stop for lunch and admire the view.  Ride 66 miles/106 km
(1 hour 15 minutes) to Lake Tekapo.  Be sure to get a photo or two
at the church on the lake edge.  Stay the night.

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Day 14 Lake Tekapo to Moana 230 miles/370 km

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Moana
Ride 230 miles/370 km (4 hours 30 minutes) to Moana via Geraldine and Springfield.  Stay the night.

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Day 15 Moana to Hanmer Springs 138 miles/222 km

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Hanmer Springs
Ride 138 miles/222 km (2 hours 45 minutes) to Hanmer Springs via Reefton and Springs Junction.  Stop in Springs Junction for lunch.  Once in Hanmer, have a dip in the hot pools and relax.  Stay the night.  See www.hanmersprings.co.nz

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Day 16 Hanmer Springs to Christchurch 82 miles/133 km

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Waipara
Ride 82 miles/133 km (1 hour 45 minutes) to Christchurch  passing through Waipara.  Put your bike into storage ready for the return March shipment back to the UK and then relax for another nights sleep in Christchurch. 
Then your onward plane journey leaves New Zealand the following
 Day 17.

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You might choose to:
Take an excursion on your way to NZ via Melbourne Australia for the Phillip Island Moto GP
23rd-25th October 2020.
See
www.motogp.com.au/
Or take a 3-4 days excursion to Melbourne/Phillip Island for the 2020 World Superbike rounds after your New Zealand trip.  Friday 28th February to Sunday 1st March 2020. 
See
www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/
Do some shopping in Melbourne for the day.
Transalpine train ride/return for a relaxing day from Christchurch.
See
www.tranzscenic.co.nz/tranzalpine
Bullion Motorcycles in Nelson for your New Zealand wide biking needs/repairs/tyres. 
Phone: 03-5468838

Remember to take out Health and Travel Insurance
  • Home
  • About
  • Bike Info
  • What's Included
  • Your Trip To NZ
  • Fully Guided Tours
    • Kiwi South Adventure Tour 2021
    • Kiwi South Adventure Tour 12 Day Itinerary
    • Kiwi South Adventure Tour Dates
    • Kiwi South Adventure Tour Costs
  • Self Guided Tours
    • Self Guided 17 Day
    • Self Guided 25 Day
    • Self Guided 31 Day
  • Shipping Dates
  • One Way Shipments
  • Road Info
  • Links
  • Optional Extras
  • Terms
  • Customer Reviews
  • Payments
  • Contact Us