Dust and Delight

Christchurch to Auckland - Auckland to Christchurch

This tour takes us to some very remote, untouched areas and since we travel on many gravel and unsealed roads; off-road experience is recommended. We leave Christchurch heading west to Lake Lyndon on the Canterbury plains and continue south towards Lake Coleridge, Rakaia Gorge and Mt Hutt. We then ride on the inland road to Burkes Pass where we follow the Hakataramea river trail to Kurow.

In Queenstown we have a longer stay so we have a chance to explore and try some of the action sports and activities that the region offers. With our bikes we board the Earnslaw, an old steam boat that takes us across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station and Mavora Lakes. From here we continue to Re Anau and the Fiordland National Park. We visit the beautiful fiord and Mitre Peak in Milford Sound. This area is inhabited by the alpine parrot, the Kea, which will try to eat anything from helmets to bike tyres!

Leaving this behind we ride northwards to one of the last areas where gold prospectors are still trying their luck, the Nevis River. After negotiating pot holes and avoiding roaming sheep we descend to Cromwell. We continue north through Haast Pass to the deserted west coast rainforest and the glaciers. From Greymouth we turn inland to Nelson Lakes National Park and St Arnaud. Here we begin the Rainbow Valley Track which takes us through one of the largest stations (farms) of the country.

In Hanmer Springs we wash off the dust and enjoy a well deserved soak in the hot springs. We have another full day of high country riding as we depart Hanmer and head up towards the Kaikoura coast. Before reaching the day's end destiantion Picton we make a visit to one of the many Wineries in the Marlborough region. Up bright and early to catch the ferry to Wellington and the North Island. A visit to the Te Papa Museum is to recommend.

After a day relaxing and sightseeing in Wellington we ride along the east coast to Napier, a well preserved art deco city. Leaving the coast behind we continue through the Kaweka Forest to Waiouru where we have a splendid view of the volcanoes in Tongariro National Park. Amongst volcanoes and hilly countryside we make our way across Kings Country where you will see more sheep than people. We ride on roads with many hairpin bends and deep gorges taking us through the Urewera National Park to Lake Waikaremoana.

This area has changed little since the time of horse drawn carriages. We reach the east coast again and camp by Whakatane where we have a chance to visit White Island, an active volcano off the coast.

Our next stop is Rotorua where we visit the Maori villages, go sightseeing and relax in the lakes or hot springs. From Rotorua we ride to the Coromandel Peninsula and Hot Water Beach where we can dig our own hot pool in the sand.

Cruising along coastal roads of the Firth of Thames and the Hauraki Gulf we reach our final destination, Auckland, where we have a days sightseeing to complete the tour.