22 DAY TOUR (New Zealand – Forgotten World)

CHRISTCHURCH – LAKE TEKAPO – DUNEDIN – INVERCARGILL – TE ANAU – MAGICAL MILFORD SOUND – QUEENSTOWN – FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER VILLAGE – WESTPORT – HAMMER SPRINGS VILLAGE – PICTON – WELLINGTON CITY – STRATFORD –  FORGOTTEN WORLD HIGHWAY – TAUPO – GISBORNE – ROTORUA – THAMES – PAIHIA – AHIPARA – AUCKLAND

(Distance: approximately 5,700 km / 3,550 miles)

Some of the very best motorcycling roads in the world are to be found in the South Island of New Zealand thanks to the Southern Alps spine that runs virtually down the middle. Roads are often empty, with fantastic sweeping bends and great visibility. In contrast, the North Island also offers great riding, with its volcanic plateaus, rolling hills, beach-lined peninsulas, and thermal highways.

QUICK FACTS

• 21 Days & 5,700km+ motorcycle riding
• Motorcycle hire
• Riding Tour Guide
• Support Staff & Luggage Van
• Side Paniers or Top Box (if required)
• GPS Routes if required
• Mechanical breakdown assistance
• Technical and medical support
• Accommodation for 21 nights
• Daily breakfasts
• Welcome dinner on the first night
• Farewell dinner on the last night
• Transfers, Ferry Crossings, Road Tolls
• Full comprehensive motorcycle insurance
• Tour T-Shirt

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

• A minimum of 8 riders are required for the tour to proceed.
• The maximum number of participants is 12 riders.
• Riders are accompanied by a riding tour guide and a support/luggage van.
• The tour guides are locals with international participants, the tour language is English.
• Solo participants will be allocated a ½ twin shared room. The room will be shared with another participant of the same sex.
• Single room option is available for an additional cost, please see the pricing page.

TRAVEL, EXPLORE, DISCOVER…

On arrival in Christchurch on Day 1, transfers have been arranged from Christchurch Airport to the accommodation for the first night. A welcome dinner is included in the tour package on the first night where you will meet the staff, tour guides, and other tour participants.
Day 2 will start with a transfer to our depot where we will have our Pre-Tour Briefing, this includes:

• Welcome & Introduction – tour overview
• Tour check-in – final paperwork and any extra payments
• Bike handover – individually run over each bike setup and functions with each rider
• Tour Description – outlining the route and some of the sights and activities
• Riding in New Zealand brief – road rules, conditions, hazards, and what to expect
• Health & safety briefing – what to do in case of any emergencies.

After the Pre-Tour Briefing and morning tea, we will then gear up ready for the first day’s ride to the stunning turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo!

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

Start: Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
Finish: Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

TOUR DEPARTURE TIME

Please arrive in Christchurch at least one day before the tour starts. We recommend two days before the tour start date to acclimate and avoid jet lag.

TOUR RETURN TIME

The tour will finish in the afternoon in Auckland. You will need to depart Auckland on the following day or afterward.

GEAR

We recommend bringing your own gear for the best comfort. All your excess luggage will be transported in the support van which will accompany the group for the duration of the tour.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING

While we provide most things you need for the 3-week tour of New Zealand we can’t supply absolutely everything, particularly personal items. You will need to bring with you the following items:

• Personal Clothing – At the end of each day’s riding you will want to change out of your riding gear into something a little more comfortable. Please bring with you changes of clothes for 3 weeks of travel. New Zealand has very changeable weather so make sure you have packed some warmer clothing if it gets cool. Most of our accommodation selections will have a laundry service or laundry available for you to do your own clothes washing when required.
• Personal Toiletries – All accommodation will have towels and basic toiletries such as soap and shampoo.
• Personal Items – e.g. wallet, mobile phone, camera, GoPro, chargers
• Personal Medicines – Any prescription medicines, asthma inhalers, etc
• Motorcycle Riding Gear – It is best if you bring your own riding gear to ensure accurate fit and comfort.

We do have a selection of riding gear for hire at additional cost however for your own comfort we suggest you bring your own gear. We do not hire boots. We suggest bringing the following as a minimum:

Essential

• Helmet
• Armoured Jacket
• Armoured Pants
• Warm Touring Gloves
• Lightweight Gloves
• Suitable motorcycle riding boots
• Base layers, thermal pants & top
• Warm removable mid layers
• Waterproof outer shell

Recommended

• Neck warmer/Buff
• Hydration backpack
• Goggles
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen

We have a selection of new riding gear and accessories available at our online store and in our depot in Christchurch. If you would like to order any items we can have them ready for you at the start of your tour. Please contact us for more information.

PAYMENT POLICY

A non-refundable deposit of USD$ 2,000 is required to secure your place on the tour and confirm your motorcycle selection from available models.

• Once the booking is placed we will send an invoice for deposit payment. Payment can be made via Direct Credit bank transfer or Credit Card.
• An invoice will be sent to you for the outstanding balance with full payment due 60 days before the tour departure. Payment can be made via Direct Credit bank transfer or Credit Card.
• If Big Bike Tours Part. Ltd. has not received your final payment within 60 days before the start of the tour, the deposit will be forfeited and the booking canceled.
• A Bond of USD$2,000.00 is required per motorcycle hire at the commencement of the tour. (See Insurance terms and conditions below.)
• All prices shown are in United States Dollars ($USD)
• All prices include New Zealand Government Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15%

CANCELLATION POLICY

If canceled 60 days before the start of the tour we will refund you 100% of the paid tour cost, less the non-refundable deposit.

• If canceled within 60 days of the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.
• If you are a no-show at the scheduled start time of the tour for any reason, 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.
• We advise taking out your own personal travel insurance for any unforeseen circumstances that would prevent you from attending the tour.

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

• Full comprehensive motorcycle insurance is included in the tour fee for all motorcycle hires.

SECURITY DEPOSIT (BOND)

• At the commencement of the tour, a bond of USD$2,000.00 is required to be held for each motorcycle rental in the event of any damage or loss to either the motorcycle, any accessories, or third-party property. This sum is fully refundable if the motorcycle and any accessories are returned at the conclusion of the tour without any damage, loss, or expense. Any damage will be deducted from the insurance bond with the balance being refunded. The hirer’s maximum liability is limited to the full insurance bond plus any cost of recovery of the motorcycle. (All damages paid by credit card will incur a 2.9% credit card surcharge.)
• The bond must be taken in the form of a pre-authorization on your credit card at the commencement of the tour and is held for the duration of your hire. Please ensure sufficient funds are available on your Credit Card for the bond pre-authorization hold at the commencement of your tour. Note: Pre-authorization holds can only be charged to a Credit Card. Debit Cards are not valid.
• After the bond hold pre-authorization is canceled it may take up to 3-5 working days for the funds to be available again on your Credit Card depending on your bank.
• No transaction fees apply to Pre-Authorisation credit holds. If damage is deducted from the bond, standard credit card fees will apply to the charged portion.

TOUR PREREQUISITES

• Minimum age 25 years old
• Full motorcycle licence valid for riding in New Zealand, or an international driver’s permit.
• If your drivers licence is not printed in English then an international driver’s permit is required.
• Experience – This tour is not suitable for beginner riders.

MOTORCYCLE CHOICE & AVAILABILITY

• Kiwi Motorcycle Rentals provides the motorcycles for the tour.
• There are limited numbers of each make and model motorcycle available for each tour.
• Motorcycles are available on a first-come first served basis and your first-choice motorcycle may not be available for the tour at the time of booking.
• Models available are shown at the time of booking on the website booking system in the motorcycle selection dropdown menu.

RIDER FITNESS, HEALTH & SAFETY

All tour participants enter into a tour contract with Big Bike Tours and in doing so state that they are in suitable physical and mental condition and that they are capable of participating in the tour without risk to themselves or others.

Big Bike Tours participants:

• are responsible for riding at their own pace and level of experience at all times during the tour, and
• should at no time exceed any of the local traffic laws and speed limits or their riding experience level, and
• are prohibited from exceeding laws in relation to the consumption of alcoholic beverages while operating any vehicle/ motorcycle during a tour, or the taking of ANY drugs that may impair judgment while riding.
• Big Bike Tours reserves the right to cancel a participant tour and motorcycle rental agreement at once by giving either verbal or written notice for any infraction of the above, or if we reasonably believe that your driving is negligent, careless, or will likely cause danger to themselves or anyone else.

Big Bike Tours reserves the right to accept or deny anybody from participating in any Big Bike Tours tour. Big Bike Tours does not and will not discriminate against any sex, race, or religion.

Big Bike Tours owners, operators, or tour guides may for any reason deny a participant(s) continuance of the tour if they feel that the participant(s) is a danger or disruption to himself or herself, the tour group, or the general public. Any participant(s) denied continuance of the tour is responsible for his or her own accommodation, meals, airport shuttle services, or any other costs incurred as a result of their denial. No refunds will be issued to any participant(s) who are denied continuance of a Big Bike Tours tour.

COVID-19

New Zealand has various rules and mandates in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These rules and mandates change with the current COVID response level in New Zealand. The official response rules can be found on the NZ Government Covid website  https://covid19.govt.nz/

TOUR CANCELLATIONS

Big Bike Tours reserves the right to cancel any scheduled tour at any time due to lack of participation, severe weather, natural disaster, world unrest, pandemic, or any other given reason whatsoever.

If any tour is canceled, Big Bike Tours will:

• immediately notify tour participants of any such occurrence, and
• offer the possibility of rescheduling another tour on another date, or will refund the tour cost less any deposits paid to cover pre-booked accommodation, activities admin fees, etc. which will constitute a full settlement. All deposits required at the time of booking are non-refundable,
• not be liable for any additional cost or losses incurred by the participant due to a cancellation of any tour.

This may include, but not be limited to:

• personal airline tickets,
• other accommodation reservations,
• any other pre-planned trips/travel and/or associated expenses.

EXTRA FEES & CHARGES

• All motorcycle fuel for the duration of the hire is at the tour participants’ expense.
• At the end of the tour, the motorcycle must be returned with a full tank of fuel. Failure to return the motorcycle with a full tank of fuel at the completion of hire will incur an extra charge for the refilling of the motorcycle fuel tank plus a $25.00 administration fee.
• Traffic and/or parking violation fines that come in after the hire has ended will also be charged to your nominated card.

PRIVACY POLICY

Big Bike Tours values our customers and respects their privacy. We recognize the trust you place in us through your dealings with us. We take all reasonable steps to maintain that trust. Under the law, your rights to privacy are also protected. Privacy laws place requirements on us to treat certain information collected as confidential, to store information securely, and to allow you access to check and correct your information. We comply with the Privacy Act 2020.

RENTAL AGREEMENT

All participants will be required to read and sign a Vehicle Rental Agreement to participate in the tour. This will be given to tour participants at tour check-in for signing. You can download a copy of the Vehicle Rental Agreement at https://www.kiwimotorcyclerentals.com/rental-agreement

5 TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLE TOURING IN NEW ZEALAND

1. Allow time to get over jetlag, you may have just crossed 10 time zones in just over 24 hours. Not many of us get the chance to go to New Zealand more than once in our lives, so don’t rush it.
2. Stopover en route, how many times in your life do you get to visit Asia? Depending on who you fly with, why not use this opportunity to visit places like Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Los Angeles, Hawaii, or the Cook Islands? Ask your flight agent.
3. Speed cameras, the myths are true! They are hidden in bizarre places. And they are NOT painted in bright garish colors, so you can spot them a mile off. You have been warned.
4. ‘Metal’ roads are gravel, not tarmac. Many side roads in New Zealand will show a sign stating metal road. We do not encourage riding on metal or un-made roads – in New Zealand, you can get up close to unsurpassed scenery of imaginable beauty without leaving the tarmac.
5. The sun is deceptively strong, so wear plenty of sun cream to prevent yourself from getting burnt, especially your face.

ROAD CONDITIONS

The famous New Zealand motorcycle touring roads make for terrific riding, in some districts, it looks like the designer who created the roads has a phobia of straight lines! Due to a small population, the roads are empty and the surfaces on the routes we choose are fantastic. We avoid the main truck routes and stick to the bendy inland highways, we take you to the best biking roads this country can offer, and some that many other companies don’t know or have time for.

ROAD RIDING

Motorcycle riding in New Zealand is generally relaxed, so you can take in the scenery and see this wonderful country at a comfortable pace, it’s certainly the most important thing to us in the world that everyone enjoys the ride. This is why we use the best bikes, maintain them to exacting standards, and equip them with the best touring tires to provide the best grip possible, we never cut costs and are proud of our high-quality service.
Some routes are challenging, so you will need some degree of experience with riding the size of the motorcycle you have chosen for your trip.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

New Zealand’s North Island is subtropical and the South Island is temperate, to get the most enjoyment out of the weather December through to March is the best time to visit. June, July, and August are the coldest months, and the mountainous areas often close due to snow.
During our summer our temperature ranges between 20 – 40 Celsius Degree (68F – 104F)
During winter it can be anything between 0 – 20 Celsius Degree (32F – 68F)
The summer sun can be fierce so sunscreen is highly recommended, also wear layers and be prepared to ride in both hot and colder weather.

BASIC ROAD RULES
It is important to view the road rules before you ride, below are some brief tips, we’ll always give you a safety briefing before you depart, but for the official New Zealand road code visit the NZ Transport Agency website.

• Speed Limits: 100 km/h max on the open road and 50 km/h in built-up areas, all speed signs are well signposted.
• Giving Way: In general, give way to the right. When at a STOP sign you must stop completely and give way to all traffic until it is clear to proceed.
• Traffic not turning at cross junctions (going straight) have the right of way over turning traffic.
• Signs at single-lane bridges advise who has the right of way, to slow down, and be prepared to stop.
• Corner Speed: There are speed recommendation signs on most bends in New Zealand and can be used as a rough guide to judge your speed into corners.
• Driving Licence: You must hold a full motorcycle license or be able to legally ride the requested size motorcycle in your country of residence, proof will be required in the form of your physical driver’s license. Any overseas licenses will need to be translated before arriving (check with your travel agent).
• Safety: When riding in New Zealand you are required to wear a helmet by law, we can provide all your motorcycle gear, but for comfort purposes, you can bring your own. Tinted visors are okay during the daytime but bring your clear with you.
• Alcohol: Riding/Driving in New Zealand while intoxicated is a very serious offense and random breath testing happens very often all over the country, even in rural areas. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100mls of blood, in other words, you could go over the limit with two pints of normal-strength beer or a large glass of wine. If you have a heavy night drinking you may still be over the limit first thing in the morning so delay your riding till later, if you are caught drinking you automatically lose your license, and the bike, and will incur a large fine or be imprisoned until your court hearing. i.e. Vacation Over.
• Overtaking: You may not cross a solid yellow line to overtake, they are there to warn of hidden dangers so abide by this rigidly. Broken white lines are fine and you should stay within the speed limit. You are not allowed to cross the center line if you are not overtaking and must keep left when driving normally.
• Parking: Consider your parking carefully, for your convenience remember to park the back wheel down to the curb, this will make it easier to ride away, it is also illegal to park on the opposite side of the road facing traffic.
• Beware of Kea Parrots. If you are near the mountains keep an eye out for Kea parrots as they will happily peck a hole in your seat within seconds (we’re not joking), and their sharp talons will instantly damage your seat if they land on it. We provide kea parrot insurance options to reduce damage costs.
• New Zealand is generally a very safe place, but make sure your motorbike is tucked away at night or even kept under cover if at all possible. Lastly, be aware of Kiwi drivers generally, they are used to driving in a quiet country on very empty roads and many do not have the same experience with motorcycles as in other busier countries.
• Roadworks: Roadworks are seldom motorcycle-friendly in NZ. Whilst some are easy to navigate, others can be a little daunting. Slow and steady.

DISCLAIMER

Big Bike Tours reserves the right to alter or amend any details, pricing, routes, and inclusions which may be amended at any time and without notice.

Tour Highlights: Christchurch, the ‘Garden City’; Lake Tekapo; Aoraki Mount Cook; Pacific Ocean; Otago Peninsula; Catlins Coastline; Classic Motorcycle Mecca; Burt Munro’s legendary ‘World’s Fastest Indian’; Fiordland National Park; Magical Milford Sound; Devil’s Staircase; Lake Wakatipu; The Remarkables; Queenstown, the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’; Mount Aspiring National Park; Haast Pass; Tasman Sea; Franz Josef Glacier; Tree Top Walk & Café; Hokitika; Punakaiki Rocks; Buller River; Reefton; Southern Alps; Lewis Pass; Hanmer Springs; Seaward Kaikoura Ranges; Kaikoura; whale-watching; Marlborough wine region; Marlborough Sounds; Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city; Te Papa; Rimutaka hills; Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre; Tongariro National Park; Forgotten World Highway; a tour of the Hobbiton set in “Middle Earth”; Rotorua; Mitai Village; Coromandel Peninsula; Hot Water Beach; Whitianga; Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’

Day 1. Christchurch, Arrival

Day 2. Christchurch – Lake Tekapo (270 km)

Day 3. Lake Tekapo – Dunedin (254 km)

Day 4. Dunedin – Invercargill (244 km)

Day 5. Invercargill – Fiordland National Park (191 km)

Day 6. Magical Milford Sound (240 km)

Day 7. Te Anau – Queenstown (213 km).

Day 8. Queenstown – Franz Josef Glacier Village (351 km)

Day 9. Franz Josef Glacier Village – Westport (273 km)

Day 10. Westport – Hammer Springs Village (216 km)

Day 11. Hammer Springs Village – Kaikoura – Picton (337 km)

Day 12. Rest Day: Picton Ferry & Wellington City

Day 13. Wellington – Stratford (384 km)

Day 14. Stratford – Taupo (via the Forgotten World Highway) (292 km)

Day 15. Taupo – Gisborn (359 km)

Day 16. Gisborn – Rotorua (274 km)

Day 17. Rest Day in Rotorua

Day 18. Rotorua – Thames (350 km)

Day 19. Thames – Phaihia (339 km)

Day 20. Phaihia – Ahipara (367 km)

Day 21. Phaihia – Auckland (345 km)

Day 22. Auckland, Departure

2024 Tour Starts
| 04. March – 23. March |
| 25. March – 14. April |