Ultimate North Island Cycling Tour: A Journey on Two Wheels

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Tonight you will enjoy an Authentic New Zealand dining experience like no other, at Ahi.

He Korero Kai ō Aotearoa – A New Zealand Food Story

4 snacks + 4 courses (vegeterian courses available)

The te reo Māori word ‘Ahi’ means ‘Fire’. The cooking connection is obvious but, for us, Ahi also speaks of the fire in our bellies to deliver the best New Zealand kai in the most authentic way.

The entire Ahi Whānau is united by its love of Aotearoa, its food and people, and sharing the warm feelings of Manaaki and Whanaungatanga.

Bespoke options today include:

• Visit the Maritime Museum
• Skydiving Adventure
• Dine at SkyCity Orbit 360
• City Cycling Tour
• Waiheke Island Wine Tasting

Plus, many more experiences tailored to your interests (please share what you love!)

YOUR DAY

227km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will head over ‘The Harbour Bridge’ and say goodbye to New Zealand’s largest city to be greeted by Northland ‘The Winterless North’, famous for its gigantic kauri trees, Māori culture and its stunning beaches.

En route you could visit the Kauri Museum to learn all about New Zealand’s most ancient tree and how its significance has developed over time (optional – extra cost).

You will then visit Whangarei, the capital of the Northland region where you can view the stunning Whangarei Falls, known as the most photographed waterfall in New Zealand due to its ease of access, picturesque bush surrounds and guaranteed 365 day of the year flowing cascade. From here you head north to Paihia, the hotspot of the well-known ‘Bay of Islands.

Bespoke options today include:

• Dolphin Watching Cruise
• Fishing Excursion
• Paihia or Langs Beach Relaxation
• Visit to Mangawhai, Matakana and Goat Island on your way up

YOUR DAY

68km, 1 hour driving

45 km cycling

This morning you will make your way to Kaikohe to collect your bikes, get fitted up and start this fantastic 2 day 82 km journey on the incredible twin coast cycle trail.

Today you will be cycling the Eastern Section of the trail. Between Kaikohe and Kawakawa/ Taumarere is mainly an old rail corridor 45 kms of easy riding. Passing through native bush and northland farmland over suspension bridges. In Taumarere station you will catch a train to Whangae with Bay of Islands Vintage Railway which adds to this incredible day out. From Whangae station you will ride the remaining leg to Opua where you will be collected by shuttle and driven back to Kaikohe after a fantastic day of riding.

Spend the night in Paihia and enjoy dinner in one of the many fantastic waterfront restaurants.

YOUR DAY

34km, 30 minutes driving

45 km cycling

40km, 30 minutes driving

This morning make your way back to Kaikohe to collect your bikes.

Riding the western section of the trail you will cycle along the old rail corridor to Okaihau where a few refreshment stops are available (it will depend on the season as to how many are open – if you have special dietary requirements we recommend bringing your own or pre buying in Kaikohe).

You then ride on out of town down into the Utakura valley and alongside the river through some fabulous native bush. Time for a picnic and a stop at Snow’s farm, a perfect place to have your lunch and have a there is a comfort stop there (no food kiosk available at present).

Ride on through early settled farmland and onto the boardwalk which takes you over the mangroves at the top edge of the Hokianga Harbour to Horeke, where a short ride on gets you to the historic Mangungu Mission House and your 3pm shuttle pick up point!

Spend a night overlooking the spectacular Hokianga Harbour.

YOUR DAY

261km, 3 hours 40 minutes driving 

This morning you will discover one of Aotearoa’s best cultural experiences – Manea Footprints of Kupe. A unique multi-sensory journey into the Māori world. Manea – Footprints of Kupe is a 75-minute multisensory journey of guided storytelling – through art, taonga (cultural treasures), film, performance, digital interaction, and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings. The descendants of Kupe welcome you, as do the spirits of our ancestors. Enter Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, our sacred cradle of tribal histories. Walk with us in the footprints of our ancestor – Kupe the intrepid, Kupe the voyager, Kupe the discoverer.

Following this, you will drive through Waipoua Forest where you will have the opportunity to see gigantic, ancient kauri trees on one of several forest walks in the area. New Zealand only has around 1 percent of its beautiful Kauri trees remaining and they can only be seen in the Northern part of the North Island.

Heading South to Auckland down the west coast through Dargaville, you arrive in Auckland in the evening.

YOUR DAY

114km, 1 hour 45 minutes driving

42km, 6-7 hours cycling (including lunch stop)

This morning you will leave New Zealand’s biggest city and head towards the small town of Thames. Located on the doorstep of The Coromandel, Thames was once a hotspot for gold mining and today serves as a peaceful coastal town known as a gateway to outdoor adventures. In Thames you will meet Jolly Bikes who will kit you up for 2 days days e-biking on the Hauraki Trail. (You will leave your car overnight in Jolly Bikes secure parking lot).

Embark on a journey through the Hauraki plains, following the Hauraki Rail Trail out of Thames with captivating views of the Kaimai Ranges. Ride over the numerous little bridges and pass the farm animals. Pause for morning tea at the Matatoki Cheese Barn before reaching the historic town of Paeroa, the birthplace of the ‘World Famous in New Zealand’ L&P drink. Explore antique shops and enjoy an overnight stay in Paeroa.

YOUR DAY

34km, 4-5 hours cycling (including lunch stop)

Ride from Paeroa through the most popular section of the Rail Trail following the Ohinemuri River through the dramatic Karangahake Gorge, a deep canyon cut through the Kaimai Ranges. This distinctly different landscape includes the cascading Owharoa waterfall, photogenic gold mining sites, and freaky Windows Walkway that burrows through a shadowy side-gorge. The pièce de résistance is an amazing 1100-metre long railway tunnel, wobbled through with the aid of a torch or headlamp. Ride through the Victory Battery, the largest quartz ore processing plant in Australasia and one of the biggest industrial sites in New Zealand in the early 1900’s. Visit the Gold Discovery Centre in Waihi. Get the inside story as you rattle the drill, crank the handles, push the plunger and become immersed in interactive activities before calling it a day!

You will conclude your journey with a 4 pm shuttle back to Thames. You will either collect your rental car, or re-meet your tour guide from the secure carpark at Jolly Bikes. From here take the drive over to the beachside town of Pauanui where you will spend the night.

YOUR DAY

YOUR DAY

Embark on a full-day guided e-bike adventure along the famed 42 Traverse Trail in the Central Plateau. Enjoy stunning views of forests, valleys, and volcanic landscapes as you tackle stream crossings, logging tracks, and exhilarating downhill sections with the assistance of a reliable eBike.

Travel through the Tongariro Forest, offering breathtaking vistas of Mt Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe, reminiscent of Middle Earth. Start your day in Turangi, where you’ll receive your E-Bike, a safety briefing, and transportation to the trailhead.

Ride through challenging climbs and thrilling descents, with scenic pitstops and a lunch break by a beautiful stream. After lunch, conquer the trail’s toughest climb followed by winding downhills. Conclude your adventure with a shuttle back to Turangi in the evening, possibly stopping for celebratory hot chips in National Park.

Today you will discover the incredible Remutaka Cycle Trail.

The flagship daytrip of the Remutaka Rail Trail, this is suitable for riders of all levels, and can be lengthened or shortened to suit you. 18/35km of easy/moderate riding.

We meet you directly at Port at 9.15am and shuttle you up to either Maymorn (for a 25-35km, slightly more challenging ride) or Kaitoke (for an 18-28km easy ride), where you start your adventure with a very gradual incline through native bush. Pass through tunnels (headlights provided!) and over bridges, while checking out information boards detailing the enormous task of constructing the old fell railway system. Reach the summit – a large grassy plateau perfect for a picnic or cold drink – then enjoy a fun (but easily controllable!) descent to Cross Creek in the Wairarapa, surrounded by some of NZ’s most scenic farmland. From Cross Creek you then follow a 2km single lane track to the Car Park, where you can either wait for the shuttle at 2pm, or continue biking up to the cafes and pubs at Featherston (a further 10km) and we’ll pick you up at 2:15pm before driving you back to Wellington’s Port.

Finish off a great day with dinner at the famous Logan Brown, on Wellington’s vibrant and exciting Cuba Street.

YOUR DAY

Come with us and explore the Coolest Little Capital in the World! To kick things off we will drive up to the Wellington Botanic Gardens to see a great view of Wellington City and the Wellington Harbour and take the historic cable car down to Lambton Quay.

Next up, Zealandia! This is the world’s first full-fenced urban ecosanctuary with an extraordinary 500 year vision to restore a Wellington Valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a ground breaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back in to the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years!

Following this we will check out some awesome exhibitions at Te Papa – New Zealand’s National Museum, as well as take a stroll about the wonderful Wellington waterfront.

Weta Cave is next, which includes a guided tour behind the scenes at Weta Workshop where you can learn about the digital effects and creation of props used in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Tonight perhaps enjoy a meal in the central city.

Today you will transfer to Wellington Airport. We trust you have had a fantastic time in our beautiful country and wish you safe travels to your next destination.

Please let us know if you want to extend your trip and enjoy our incredible South Island tour.