I Know Jack Kiwi Adventure – WAITLIST ONLY

GRAVEL, GLACIERS AND GRAND VIEWS

The New Zealand Off-Road Adventure is a 13-day tour featuring spectacular riding on both paved and unpaved roads, with some especially exciting challenges along the way. The Adventure begins in Christchurch on the South Island and ends in Auckland on the North Island.

This Adventure includes smooth and hard-packed gravel roads, as well as beautiful, twisty, paved roads. Riders will have the option each day to choose between paved and off-road. Challenging route options, including water crossings and 4×4 tracks, are available for the more adventurous, experienced off-road riders. This tour features off-road riding and mountain passes that are popular within the New Zealand adventure-riding community.

Riding on the South Island includes spectacular valleys, canyons, and twisty mountain passes. On the North Island, gravel roads are mostly smooth with great riding through rainforests, farmlands, and on narrow, twisty roads with very little traffic.

Highlights of this Adventure include:

• Two-night stay in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown
• Riding along New Zealand’s spectacular West Coast
• An optional ride to Abel Tasman National Park
• Spectacular riding and scenery both on and off-road
• Rotorua Māori cultural evening and traditional dinner
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves natural wonder

At a Glance Your New Zealand Off-Road Adventure

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH

Welcome to New Zealand! The tour leaders will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. If you arrive early you can take time to explore the city’s many attractions, vibrant city square, local cafes, and great shopping.

In the late afternoon we will meet for the motorcycle handover followed by a brief kickoff meeting. Afterwards, we will enjoy our first dinner together at a nearby local restaurant to celebrate the start of our journey.

DAY 2 – CHRISTCHURCH TO LAKE TEKAPO ~ 170 MILES

On our first riding day we will travel through the open landscape of Mackenzie Country and across the alluvial Canterbury Plains. Paved roads and a relaxed ride will get us to Burkes Pass, where we will stop for coffee at the small historic town at its base.

Burkes Pass is not far from our final destination – Lake Tekapo. For those who would like additional riding, we will take the gravel loop along the bank of Lake Pukaki, towards Mt. Cook. On a sunny day, views of turquoise-colored Lake Pukaki and the snowy mountain peaks are incredible.

DAY 3 – LAKE TEKAPO TO QUEENSTOWN ~ 165 MILES

Be prepared for a stunning ride on gravel roads as we make our way through the Hakataramea Valley. As we approach Wanaka, Queenstown is just an hour away, but there are many interesting and challenging rides that we can explore along the way.

For those who are eager for some very challenging riding, there will be the option to ride along the Nevis road, famous for its 27 river crossings and for being the highest public road in New Zealand at 3,510 ft (1,070 m). Of course, the views along the way are breathtaking. We finish the day in Queenstown, where we spend the next two nights.

DAY 4 – FREE DAY IN QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown, known as the adventure capital of the world, offers an abundance of activities to select from on this free day. Bungee jumping, para-sailing, a thrilling jet boat ride, hiking and swimming are just the beginning of the possibilities.

There are a number of beautiful rides available from Queenstown including an all-day ride to Milford Sound or a short ride to nearby Arrowtown, which offers a nice selection of restaurants, cafes and small shops.

DAY 5 – QUEENSTOWN TO HOKITIKA ~ 250 MILES

Leaving Queenstown, we head north to experience a spectacular ride along New Zealand’s wild West Coast. We will enjoy beautiful, paved roads winding through mountain passes and coastal alpine valleys.

Our destination tonight is Hokitika, known as the Cool Little Town on the West Coast, which has many small galleries featuring pounamu (greenstone) jewelry and artwork. The nearby Arahura River is a traditional source of the greenstone, also known as New Zealand jade.

DAY 6 HOKITIKA TO NELSON ~ 200 MILES

We begin today with a fantastic morning gravel loop ride to Lake Kaniere – one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand.

After returning to our main route, we will enjoy a beautiful paved ride heading north through Springs Junction. Leaving the main highway as we near our destination, we will have a stunning ride on twisty gravel roads as we make our way to Nelson, where we will spend the next two nights.

DAY 7 – FREE DAY IN NELSON

There are many options for our free day in Nelson. You may wish to take a vineyard tour or perhaps visit the region’s famous arts and crafts designers, including world famous Hoglund Glass. Or, just relax at one of the many nearby delightful cafes, restaurants or bars.

For those who would like to do more riding, there is a wonderful ride to the famous Takaka Hill. The route is on twisty roads with breathtaking views and there is the option to ride through the famed Abel Tasman National Park.

DAY 8 – NELSON TO GREYTOWN ~ 150 MILES

We begin today with a ride to Picton, where we will board the inter-island ferry for a three-hour ride to Wellington – ‘Gateway to the North Island’. On the ferry, we will have the choice of staying inside or on the deck, where we can enjoy the beautiful scenery as the ferry navigates its way through Marlborough Sound.

Leaving Wellington, we face a brisk, exciting ride over the twisty Rimutaka Hill. The last part of our ride will lead to Greytown, our destination for the evening. Greytown is located in one of New Zealand’s exceptional wine producing areas.

DAY 9 – GREYTOWN TO NAPIER ~ 220 MILES

Today’s route will be on nice gravel roads that lead through small, remote villages and alongside some beautiful rural landscapes. We will have the choice of riding on backcountry roads through the scenic Makuri Gorge to Pahiatua or taking alternative backcountry routes toward Masterton.

The final leg of our ride brings us to Napier, located at Hawke’s Bay, which is famous for its world-renowned Art Deco architecture.

DAY 10 – NAPIER TO ROTORUA ~ 220 MILES

Today we will ride one of the most beautiful roads on the North Island as we make our way from Napier toward Lake Waikaremoana. There is an option to start on the paved road through Wairoa, or to take the more challenging gravel Waihi Road.

We will ride through the rainforest toward Mokau Falls, where we will actually ride over the top of the falls before continuing our journey. Our destination is Rotorua, where we will enjoy a magnificent cultural evening and traditional dinner at a local Māori village.

DAY 11 – ROTORUA TO WAITOMO CAVES ~ 170 MILES

After breakfast, our route will begin on wonderful gravel roads through the Pureora forest. From there, we will transition into excellent twisty paved roads as we head toward the small town of Piopio.

From Piopio, we will have the option to take a scenic side loop to visit Waitanguru Falls and Hairy Feet Waitomo, both of which are famous for Hobbit filming locations. To maximize the adventure, riders can connect to remote unsealed backcountry gravel tracks just past the falls as we head toward our destination. Tonight we will stay at a hotel near the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

DAY 12 – WAITOMO CAVES TO AUCKLAND ~ 210 MILES

We will start the day off with a visit to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, one of the most stunning natural attractions in New Zealand. After the caves, our day of riding will take us onto narrow, twisty gravel roads through Pirongia Forest Park.

We will stop at the picturesque Bridal Veil Falls before continuing on to the coastal town of Raglan, a small beachfront community known for its surfing and black volcanic sand. From Raglan, nice, twisty, backcountry roads track us north to our final destination of Auckland.

Tonight, we will enjoy our final dinner together to celebrate our fabulous New Zealand Off-Road Adventure!

DAY 13 – DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND

After a relaxing breakfast, the tour leaders will arrange a transfer to Auckland Airport (AKL) for your flight home.

TOTAL MILES: ~1,655 MILES