A New Zealand Bicycle Tour
Is A
New Zealand Adventure!
A New Zealand bicycle tour floods the senses with every twist, turn and straight run of the road you take. Off-road, mountain or hybrid, your bike will immerse you on a tour of New Zealand as nothing else can.
The tall tī kōuka or Cabbage Tree watches your passage and the Rimu throw long shadows across your path as you cycle past fields of lush pasture and onwards through bush brimming with fern, ponga and Rewarewa (New Zealand honeysuckle).
The kōwhai blooms yellow and the
scarlet pohutukawa
blossom shines against its dark silvery leaves. Summer cycling tours in New Zealand are made of this!
Further south grassland rolls into the distance. Red Beech, Silver and black beech dominate whilst enclaves of conifer broadleaf stand sentinel like.
New Zealand holidays by bicycle are inspiring (and don’t forget a massage if you get a little saddle sore!)
New Zealand bicycle tours come in many shapes and sizes. From a single days hire where you simply take off on your own to the more extensive island tours taking in the finest tourist attractions in New Zealand with full support on the tour, food and accommodation, support vehicle and organiser.
Top tips for a great New Zealand bicycle tour:In no particular order… • The sun is powerful in New Zealand. A depleted ozone layer adds to its strength. Do not underestimate the potential for burning. Sun cream is essential even when cloudy as is fresh drinking water. • New Zealand roads are either sealed or gravel. That’s tarmac or stone. Check your routes and be aware of this! • Always have a road map of New Zealand that shows not only your route but if the roads are sealed or unsealed. (Luckily for us most of the best roads for a New Zealand bicycle tour are sealed.) • There are rules to follow.
Click here!
and read our page on what to do and what to avoid on your tour to New Zealand. • Some cycle shops offer a buy back policy on new bikes for around 50% of the initial cost and, consider the mountain bike option if you are going off road. • Most public transport carries cycles, usually for a fixed charge regardless of the distance travelled. • There are plenty of bike shops from Invercargill to Kaitaia for spares and info. Make sure you have up to date information. Carry the basics for puncture repairs. •
Weather plays a part.
There’s wind and rain as befits a ‘maritime’ climate. Spring and autumn on the South Island can bring strong winds. The North island has a similar windy season. • Remember that a guided New Zealand bicycle tours can mean not carrying a lot of luggage and you don’t need to be super fit either. The support vehicle can carry you and the bike when you’re tired! Well, it’s what you paid for isn’t it? • Cycling independently means sleeping independently. Hostels, lodges, backpackers, cabins, motels and campsites are just a few of your New Zealand holiday options. You can even hire linen or sleeping bags.
There are plenty of books out there but make sure your choices are not just general guides to New Zealand holidays but guides designed for the cyclist in mind.Recommended by many, Pedaller’s Paradise by Nigel Rushton is a 2 book bundle written for your New Zealand bike tour by an avid kiwi cyclist. One book covers the North island and the other the South island. Check out Nigel’s site at paradise-press.co.nz on where you can buy your copy.
The Internet has opened up the prospect of making cycling around New Zealand that much easier to plan. Sites abound that provide tours, advice and of course bike hire.
There will shortly be a link here to a page on some of the great sites to take in on your New Zealand bicycle tour. In the meantime research and check out the rest of The complete New Zealand holiday guide!
Return from New Zealand bicycle tour to the Home Page
|
