If you are like me and love New Zealand, then these are some bikepacking routes you gotta put on your dream list! I have not been to New Zealand, yet! But I have heard so much great things about the place and from pictures those mountains looks stunning!
I have always wanted to go and do a epic bikepacking adventure over there. And I think I have found it! In this article I researched all over the web for some bikepacking routes to do in New Zealand. From my research I was unable to find that many. If you had better luck then me or you have been on your own bikepakcing made trail in New Zealand do please let me know.
But for this post we have 5 potential amazing bikepacking routes to choose from or you could do them all. Starting from easy weekenders to a epic 3000 Km mission. I think I am going to head over to New Zealand soon to have a crack at the 3,000 Km one!
The criteria for making this list is the route has to be epic! In distance and in scenery! But I have also include some routes that are probably better for the beginner or someone just getting starting in this wonderful world of bikepacking. The first three are the ones I want to have a crack at most especially the first route mentioned below.
I should have been to New Zealand earlier, being from Victoria, Australia. You know it is just over the pond! I have been touring in many other countries but not the neighbours. Oh, look now I am starting to plan this epic adventure. Are you as excited as me? Lets get into these routes.
- Tour Aotearoa
- The Old Ghost Road
- Northern Loop No. 8 Wired
Tour Aotearoa
| Distance | Ascent | GPX File Link |
| 3,000 Km (1,864 Miles) | 88782 ft | Find Here |
Route map for Tour Aotraroa COMPLETE by Roger Leary on plotaroute.com
The Tour Aotearoa route is a 3,000 Km epic bikepacking adventures, from Cape Reinga to Bluff it follows a combination of riding conditions. Varying from rough single track, to beaches, to dirt roads, gravel roads, sealed roads, cycle lanes, trails and paths, and 5 boat trips.
It is a annual ‘race’ well I should call it more of a ‘brevet’ whatever that means! if you want to get in for the upcoming 2020 on February the 7th it is maxed out to 1000 riders you can apply here it is free (for a fee to a charity) read more here.
Or if you are more like me a would rather tackle it at your own pace to truely soak in every moment. You can set off when you like to give this epic route a crack! Here are two A3 printable maps (for free) if you would find it helpful!
The Tour Aotearoa route is open to the public all year round, however, the best time to ride is in the late summer and early autumn. Keep in mind that the later you embark the less daylight you will have, but that there will also be less traffic on the roads and more options when it comes to accomodation. But try a prevent yourself for attempting it in winter if you can as the tracks will be too muddy! Also if you can try and word around going between 24 December – February as the summer holidays can make the roads busy.
For accommodation, depending on your pace you will be on the road for a few weeks. So where can you stay each night? You could just camp on the sit of the road! Or there are other options with general prices as follows.
- Camping: up to $18 per person per night
- Backpackers dormitory room: $15-25 per person per night
- Backpackers twin room: $40-80 per person per night
- Standard motel/hotel twin room: $70-180 per night
- Luxury hotel twin room: $180-350 per night
- Five-star hotel room with a chocolate on your pillow: $300-3000+ per night
Transportation is something to consider if you want to get a lift to the start of the route in Cape Reinga to follow it all the way south to Bluff. If you are flying into a main city like Auckland. You could get a shuttle and taxi vans that usually take bikes. Or planes or buses. However as a recent, transport from Auckland to Kaitaia (which is still 111 km from the Cape Reinga starting point) is no-longer straightforward. InterCity have switched to using buses on this route with too little cargo space, so that option is no longer available. You can fly with Barrier Air or hire a car. From Kaitaia you could get a one way shuttle that might be the best bet or just ride out to Cape.
With ferries if you choose to follow this route to a tee it will involve 5 of them. They are more costly then I have experienced with ferries in other countries. But if you wanted you could possibly look at alternative ways to navigate around, I am not sure if it is possible have not looked that far into it as of yet.
- Hokianga Harbour to Rawene – runs regularly for most of the day, costs $2, and takes 10 minutes. Take cash.
- Kaipara Harbour – special charter boat (Shamrock) from Pouto Point to near Helensville. Needs to be booked in advance, costs $50 if you are with ten or more other riders, and takes 2-3 hours. Accept cash.
- Whanganui River from Maungapurua Landing to Pipiriki – need to book one of the jet boats that runs regularly. It will cost around $90. Trip takes about 1 hour. Only one operator (Whanganui River Adventures), accept credit cards
- Cook Strait Ferry, Wellington to Picton – a few regular sailings every day. Costs about $55 and including boarding time takes 4 hours.
- Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown to Walter Peak – regular sailings and you can charter a boat, costs $40 – $60 dollars and takes about 1 hour.
You can find more details about these boats in the Tour Aotearoa Official South and North Island Guide
Transport contacts
- Air New Zealand
- Interislander (Cook Strait ferry)
- Bluebridge (Cook Strait ferry)
- InterCity buses
- Naked Bus
- Barrier Air
- Shuttle service: Oli Lancaster shuttles people from Kaitaia to Cape Reinga, Ph 09 409 7500.
If you want anymore information check out the offical Tour Aotearoa page here
The Old Ghost Road
| Distance | Ascent | GPX File Link |
| 84 Km (52 Miles) | 8,992 foot or 2,741 M | Find Here |
If you are looking for something shorter but still epic the Old Ghost Road has you covered! It is one of the best longest singletrack rides in New Zealand.
In the North West corner of the South Island of New Zealand a ghost has awakened. A long-forgotten gold miners’ road has been revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. The 85km-long Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.
Find out more here at the offical site and more information for cyclists.
Northern Loop No. 8 Wired
| Distance | Ascent | GPX File Link |
| 150 miles or 242 Km | 14,455 foot or 4406 M | Find Here |
If you are up for something a little less demanding then the previous 3,000 Km route, this one might be for you! It is a great route for a weekender or maybe allow 4 days. A little longer then the Ghost route but not as much climbing per Km.
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