This tour is our premier motorcycling adventure. This is the one to book for the ultimate scenery in a motorcyclist's paradise. The routes we travel on this tour are virtually only known to locals and you would be unlikely to find your own way, or gain access, around this mostly offroad route. The route takes in several key back roads and trails which New Zealand bikers frequently ride to avoid the highways. Take a look at the photos on this page and see how you spend most of your time riding through what could well be Lord of the Rings sets. In fact many of the places we go were used as locations for the trilogy!
Roads: We ride mainly unsealed gravel roads and tracks. Where we do ride on the sealed highways, this is to travel between the various back road start points. On some of the roads there will be small stream crossings or fords. On one of the back country roads there are 25 fords. Provided you have some experience in off-road riding (see "How Important is Your Riding Experience" below) this trip will be a lifetime experience! You will see: Forests, rivers, ravines, mountains, rain forest, glacial lakes, rolling hills, flat plains, rugged coastlines, glaciers, tussock & rabbits, farms and sheep
The bikes: You will ride on a BMW F650GS which is ideally suited to these roads. The GS is a 2004 model and has clocked up about 10,000kms only. The bike won't be loaded down with your luggage as that travels in our support vehicle. Therefore you are riding a lightweight & very maneuverable bike which is the perfect machine for our back roads.
The Support: Trailing the biking party will be our support 4WD vehicle towing a trailer. The support vehicle will carry your luggage meaning your bike is not weighed down with panniers. You may simply take a day pack with you which can be strapped to the rear bike rack if necessary. Should you wish to have a break from biking you may choose to ride awhile in the support vehicle and your bike is loaded into the trailer. In the event of punctures or where running repairs are needed the support vehicle will be on hand to provide all the spares needed.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Christchurch - Kurow
Day 2: Kurow - Cromwell
Day 3: Cromwell - Queenstown - Cromwell
Day 4: Cromwell - Queenstown leisure day - Cromwell
Day 5: Cromwell - Maniatoto - Cromwell
Day 6: Cromwell - Lake Tekapo
Day 7: Lake Tekapo – Christchurch
How Important Is Your Riding Experience: It is true to say that this tour, unlike our on road tours, takes you over roads & trails which would test a novice motorcyclist. While the roads could not be described as badly-maintained farm tracks, there are some parts of the route which follow 4WD trails and some previous level of riding experience in off-road country is very desirable. It is our guide's responsibility to ensure that the tour party is kept within sight of each other and if there are any nervous or inexperienced riders this could detract from the tour, as well as enhance the risk of accidents. In summary we recommend customers booking this tour have had some experience in off-road riding including minor stream crossings & gravel road biking. Chances are you will be fine for this tour, however we do emphasize the difference between back roads and highways. In New Zealand back roads are unsealed, prone to surface wear yet offering some of the best and exciting riding routes in the country. Due to the type of terrain we go through we disallow pillioning or two-upping. It's one rider per bike.
Insurance Explained: As part of the tour price you have fully comprehensive insurance on both the motorcycle you are riding and any 3rd party vehicle which may be involved in any accident. However our insurance cover is subject to an excess of $2,000 which is payable by you in the form of a 'security bond'. We take a credit card charge voucher from you for $2,000 and hold this, unprocessed to your credit card a/c, until you return at the end of the tour. If the bike is undamaged then the voucher is returned to you. If the bike has been damaged then we make an assessment of the likely repair bill to restore the bike to the condition in which it left 7 days earlier. We bank your $2,000 bond and, following the actual repairs, will refund to your credit card any unused portion. Therefore your liability is limited to $2,000. We do not offer an option to 'buy out' this bond due to the enhanced risk of damage to the bikes given the rougher nature of the roads being ridden.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- Hire of BMW F650GS motorcycle
- Transfers to/from your accommodation or airport
- Support vehicle
- Guide
- Riding gear (helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, boots)
- Packed picnic lunch for Day 5
- Accommodation in shared twin room at each nightly stop.
Not included:
- Fuel
- All food & beverages apart from Day 5's picnic lunch
- Any activities or attractions optionally chosen to do on leisure Day 4
- Optional accommodation single room supplement. Our tour price above is based on sharing a twin room with another member of the tour group. You may elect to pay an additional $110 per night to have the room to yourself.
On confirming the booking we take a 50% deposit to hold your bike which is typically a credit card charge. If you cancel the booking more than 30 days in advance of the commencement of the rental, we will refund the deposit in full. If the cancellation is within 30 days of the commencement of the hire, the deposit is non-refundable.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Motorcycle Tours
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
| Check out these similar vacation offers: |
|
|
