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New Zealand Roadtrip Travel Route Map

New Zealand is'nt exactly what you call a straightforward country that can be ridden in a few circles. Don't go on it's relatively dimunitive size, the place has got loads to offer to the willing motorcyclist with sceneries so beautiful you will finally understand why Lord of The Rings was shot here. I had 22 Days at my disposal, with the riding days being at around 17. I would strongly recommend you taking out at least 14 days (not counting time in flight from your home country) to explore this jewel.

My route is graphically shown above with some photos that I had taken around those places to give you a very quick idea on what to expect. The details are given below.

I had refered the New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas by Peter Mitchell (published by HEMA Maps). You should get one and stick it right in front of your nose before starting your ride. My final route is a cocktail of the finest roads to tour in NZ, a few like Mt.Cook have been missed owing to bad weather and limited time at hand, but I still managed to cover 6600 kms in 22 days, 6100 kms were on a Kawasaki Concours 14 and 500 kms on a 2008 Kawasaki ZX6R. You will find their reviews in the gadgets section.

Resources used while mapping:

After you are done scanning the route you can choose one of the links from top of this page or read blogs for each day below.

 
Day Route Blog
NORTH ISLAND
Day 1 : 16th Feb 2008

In Auckland
Largest city in NZ.

Day 2 : 17th Feb 2008 Auckland -Paeroa - Auckland : Approx 250 kms roundtrip.
The home of the 'World Famous in New Zealand' drink L&P (Lemon and Paeroa). The headquarters of BikeRider magazine (the editorial partners for this trip) as well.
Day 3 : 18th Feb 2008 In Auckland
Day 4 : 19th Feb 2008 Auckland - Paihia - Rawene : Approx 325 kms.
Paihia, where New Zealand's first game of cricket was held.
Day 5 : 20th Feb 2008 Rawene-Cape Reinga-Pahia : Approx 450 kms.
The second northernmost point in NZ.
Day 6 : 21st Feb 2008 Pahia to Auckland : Approx 250 kms.
Day 7 : 22nd Feb 2008 Auckland-Coromandel-Whangamata : Approx 300 kms.
Day 8 : 23rd Feb 2008 Whangamata-Rotorua-Opotiki-Gisborne : Approx 450 kms.
Rotorua, experience geysers and mud pools. Gisoborne, one of the first cities in the world to greet the sun each day.
Day 9 : 24th Feb 2008 Gisborne-Masterton : Approx 460 kms.
Masterton was the first town in New Zealand to introduce the emergency number 111.
Day 10 : 25th Feb 2008 Masterton to Wellington : Approx 100 km
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and the home of Peter Jackson, the director of Lord of the Rings.
SOUTH ISLAND
Day 11 : 26th Feb 2008 Wellington-Picton-Nelson : Approx 220 kms.
Nelson is one of the few New Zealand cities to have its own flag.
Day 12 : 27th Feb 2008 Nelson-Greymouth (via Motueka-Murchison-Punakaiki) : Approx 375 kms.
Day 13 : 28th Feb 2008 Greymouth-Queenstown : Approx 540 kms.
Queenstown, some of the most spectacular mountain ranges in New Zealand.
Day 14 : 29th Feb 2008 Queenstown-Te Anau : Approx 180 kms.
Te Anau, the second lake in New Zealand.
Day 15 : 1st March 2008 Te Anau
Day 16 : 2nd March 2008 Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau : Approx 240 kms.
Milford Sound, Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World.
Day 17 : 3rd March 2008 Te Anau-Dunedin (via Invercargill) : Approx 360 kms.
Baldwin Street, the world's steepest street is in Dunedin. Burt Munro, the bike racer on which the movie 'World's Fastest Indian' was made, hailed from Invercargill in NZ.
Day 18 : 4th March 2008 Dunedin-Akaroa-Christchurch : Approx 470 kms
Christchurch has one of the highest-quality water supplies in the world, rated one of the purest and cleanest water in the world.
Day 19 : 5th March 2008 Christchurch-Picton-Wellington: Approx 350 kms
NORTH ISLAND
Day 20 : 6th March 2008 Wellington-Wanganui : Approx 200 kms
Day 21 : 7th March 2008 Wanganui-Auckland : Approx 450 kms
Day 22 : 8th March 2008 Auckland-Coromandel-Auckland on the ZX6R : Approx 350 kms
Day 23 : 9th March 2008 Auckland-Pukekohe-Auckland : Approx 100 kms
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