The Maori Meander 

Enjoy the excitement of discovery of a new destination! A tour of New Zealand may be as sedate or as exciting as you wish. The roads are never boring and rarely straight! Want to take a run up the steepest street in the world? Here it is! Ever consider bungee jumping off a 300’ bridge, or bouncing down a raging river in a jetboat? On the Maori Meander, just do it!

Auckland, being New Zealand’s largest city and center of commerce, has its fair share of noise, crowds, and traffic. For us, however, a delightful respite beckons. Our accommodation in Takapuna is the first real taste of New Zealand seashore at its finest. The tidal changes, the vistas across the bay, and the tranquility here will help us get into the swing of all things Kiwi.

Explore The Coromandel Peninsula

After becoming acquainted with the bikes, ride southeast and end the day on the Coromandel Peninsula, the scene of eons of volcanic activity. Violent upheavals and erosion formed the tortured topography, which the roads follow faithfully, thus translating to delightful up, down, over, and around riding!

Riding through the ancient lava fields near Mt. Tongariro

Many places on the North Island have an abundance of thermal activity—geysers, bubbling mud pools, and active volcanoes! This is an island visibly evolving. Sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two of the earth’s tectonic plates meet, the North Island is somewhat “thin” in places. Around Rotorua huge clouds of steam billow from a vast underground volcanic reservoir.

Visit Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay And Mount Tongariro

Quintessentially New Zealand, Rotorua has a large Maori presence, perfectly manicured lawn bowling pitches, and a beautiful lake with its own ancient legend.

A dash to the coast takes us to Napier, a city rebuilt in art-deco style following an earthquake in 1931. An outstanding day must end with outstanding accommodation—ours are private farmstays around Hawke’s Bay.

A street corner on the promenade, Napier.

Dinner, a walk about the farm, a nightcap and some banter on international trade or New Zealand’s Nuclear Free policy or the joys of traveling this wonderful country are followed by a restful night in an area so quiet that it is almost surreal. Or, skip the nightcap and take only a late night walk about the farm. You will find an inspiring view of the southern hemisphere’s night sky. The air is so clear that you can reach out and almost touch the Southern Cross!

Depart Hawkes’ Bay over the old Taihape road, 120 kilometers of pavement with enough turns and undulations to keep any rider happy. That wonderful ride ends at altitude near the base of Mount Tongariro, one of New Zealand’s most significant volcanoes. The park surrounding Tongariro is a dual World Heritage site.

Our last overnight on the North Island is in Wellington, the country’s Capital City. Much smaller than Auckland, Wellington is an inviting city that seems to have a perfect balance between the urban and rural.

A morning ferry across Cook Strait moves the group to the South Island, where an entirely different New Zealand awaits. Here you can ride for 20 minutes and not pass another vehicle, seeing only the impressive mountains, fjords, forests, rivers, and sparkling lakes.

Nelson And The South Island

A free day in Nelson provides a variety of options to spend the day as you please; riding, relaxing, or exploring. The area is known for excellent fishing, the roads nearby promise great motorcycling, and the local attractions offer a wealth of activity.

Playing around on one of the great gravel options on the South Island

Departing from a rejuvenating stay in Nelson the pulse quickens as we ride the impressive Buller Gorge on the way to Punakaiki. The Tasman sea will greet us with a roar for our first overnight on the wild west coast!

Turning back inland we cross the Lewis Pass, one of three passes across the Alps, to Hanmer Springs. Then, a ride though miles of open plain edged by the Southern Alps means Mackenzie country, the very rural basin in the center of the South Island.

Each day here offers an ever changing scenic tone. After crossing the mighty Clutha river the rugged coastline of the Catlins in Southland contrasts with the stunning mountains so recently experienced.

Larnach Castle, Otago Peninsula. Our digs for the evening near Dunedin

Invercargill has turned into the “motorhead’s” mecca in the southern hemisphere. Here, in a marvelous motor museum are countless Brough Superiors, and just around the corner in a little hardware store sits Burt Munro’s Indian.

Cruise Magnificent Milford Sound

Moving away from the man-made, nature takes over again with our ride to Milford Sound. A sunny day at this fjord will keep your camera busy. If it is raining (yes, it does rain on the west coast—over 350 inches a year!) the multitude of waterfalls will capture your imagination.

For the balance of this tour nature continues the show, as the ride follows a route through subtropical rain forests, along windswept headlands, and parallel to sandy beaches, all in the same day! Even more impressive are the glaciers. Two very impressive ones, terminating in tropical rain forest near sea level. The Maori Meander includes an extended helicopter flight over both, for views you will never forget.

Mount Cook dominates the sky over large parts of the South Island

The last day on the road is a big one, both in distance and altitude. After riding the length of the South Island, it is only fitting that the last riding day bisects this incredible land. Arthur’s pass does that, and once again demonstrates the diversity of New Zealand, as it begins in a wet, wild ecosystem and ends with a ride across grassy plains.

New Zealand seems to have been created especially for the motorcyclist. No place on earth offers such a combination of scenery, great roads, and old fashioned, down home hospitality. Take it all in—enjoy a Maori Meander!