This self-supporting tour will take you on 7 days of riding and sightseeing through Northland. Northland, New Zealand is world famous for the Waipoua Forest, with its giant Kauri trees, many of which are thousands of years old. The Bay of Islands is one of the most beautiful regions of Northland, offering spectacular coastline and stunning scenic beaches. At the very north of Northland, lies Cape Reinga which has spiritual significance for the Maori. Legend has it that the souls of the dead travel north towards the ancestral lands of ...  More...

This self-supporting tour will take you on 7 days of riding and sightseeing through Northland. Northland, New Zealand is world famous for the Waipoua Forest, with its giant Kauri trees, many of which are thousands of years old. The Bay of Islands is one of the most beautiful regions of Northland, offering spectacular coastline and stunning scenic beaches. At the very north of Northland, lies Cape Reinga which has spiritual significance for the Maori. Legend has it that the souls of the dead travel north towards the ancestral lands of their Polynesian homeland and at Cape Reinga they look back at Aotearoa (New Zealand) for the last time before they depart forever.

The route of this tour will take you through the farmlands of Northland to Dargaville and then to Waipoua Forest. After visiting the Kauri trees, you will continue north to Hokianga Harbour with its magnificent sand dunes sloping steeply into the Tasman Sea. The route will then continue to Rawene, where you take a short ferry ride across the inlet of the Waihou River to Kohukohu. From Kohukohu the route will head inland through undulating farmland terrain and on to the town of Kaitaia. At Kaitaia it will head north before turning east to follow the coastline (on and off), all the way to Paiha in the Bay of Islands. From the Bay of Islands, the route will continue south and inland again to Kawakawa, before heading to Whangarei for the last leg of the tour where it ends.  Less...

Cycling in Northland can be quite enjoyable any time between October and December and February through May and into early June. If you are planning to visit during December and January, it is advisable you make lodging reservations.   Less...

These directions assume you have already arrived in Auckland, New Zealand by the transportation of your choice. If you have not yet planned your travel to Auckland, New Zealand, check Air New Zealand and other major airlines for schedules. For North American cyclists, Air New Zealand has direct/non-stop flights that operate several times a week from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Auckland. If you are traveling domestically, Air New Zealand and other New Zealand regional airlines operate daily flights within New Zealand to Auckland.

The starting destination of this tour is Brynderwyn, which is nothing more than a gas station with café and a small motel at the intersection of SH 1 and SH 12. There are several bus companies (InterCity, Northliner Express, and Newmans) which serve this area, about a two-hour bus ride north out of Auckland. They all accept bicycles, but check on the web for their policy on bikes, latest schedule and fares. If you are traveling with a tandem without S&S couplers, check with the bus service to find out if they can accommodate you.

It is not recommended that you ride your bicycle from Auckland to Brynderwyn. The route is quite hilly, the traffic is very busy, and there are no shoulders to shield you from the traffic.

The tour ends at Whangarei from where you can take a bus back to Auckland.  Less...

Most of New Zealand's accommodations are clean and well serviced and relatively affordable. You can simply camp (if you prefer to carry your own tent) or stay in a basic hostel, or you can select a more comfortable option such as motel, hotel, private flat, or B&B (Bed and Breakfast).

You will find that many private and B&B accommodations in New Zealand offer shared bathroom (generally for lesser rate) which may have a shower but not bath, or vice versa. If you prefer a room with private bath or shower (or both) look for accommodations advertising "ensuite" and always ask if the bathroom has a bathtub (There is nothing more soothing than a good bath after a hard day's ride).

If you are traveling during high summer season (unless you are camping), it is recommended that you arrange for reservations ahead of time. The accommodations on day 2 and 3 of the tour are quite sparse. You can pick up one of the many free accommodation guide books available from any tourist information center in New Zealand (mind you they can add some weight to your bicycle load), which offer an extensive list of lodging from campgrounds to hotels. Alternatively, you can stop at the tourist information center in Dargaville before you set out on day 2 ride, and they can assist you with finding the accommodation that suits your needs.  Less...

The quality of roads on this tour is good. However, you will find that most of the roads on this tour are "chip seal" (majority of New Zealand roads are chip seal) and therefore somewhat less suitable for thin high pressure tires (too much vibration).

The roads can be somewhat narrow in places, especially through the Waipoua Forest. The descent towards Waipoua Forrest is quite twisty and has occasional road damage, so descend with care.  Less...

Besides the standard touring gear & spare parts, it is recommended that you bring at least two extra foldable tires with strong Kevlar casing. Clothing layers and cycling rain gear is absolutely essential for this tour. Additionally, if you like to use rearview mirrors, whether they are helmet mounted or bicycle mounted, make sure you bring one that can be switched for riding on the left hand side of the road. As previously mentioned, a cycling helmet is required by law in New Zealand and if you ride after sunset, your bicycle must be equipped with rear reflective lights and front headlight.  Less...