Itinerary

 

Coastal Discovery South Island Motorcycle Tour

Duration: 12 Days/13 Nights
Start/End: Christchurch
Total Distance: Approx. 3,556 km (2,210 mi)
 

Day 1: Christchurch to Picton

Route: Christchurch – Kaikōura – Blenheim – Picton

Distance: 332 km (206 mi)

Highlights: Start your journey with a classic coastal ride up SH1, hugging the rugged Pacific shoreline all the way to Kaikōura. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, seals, and even whales offshore. After a seafood lunch, continue north through vineyard country in Marlborough, feel free to stop in Blenheim for a sip (just not too many). The final stretch to Picton delivers gorgeous views of the Marlborough Sounds, setting the tone for what’s to come.

 

Day 2: Picton to Westport

Route: Picton – Queen Charlotte Drive – Nelson – Murchison – Westport 

Distance: 380 km (236 mi)

Highlights: Twist your way out of Picton on the unforgettable Queen Charlotte Drive, a motorcycling favourite packed with tight turns and stunning bays. Cruise through sunny Nelson and onto the scenic Buller Gorge from Murchison to Westport, where the landscape shifts from forested hills to wild coastline.

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Day 3: Westport to Hanmer Springs

Route: Westport – Punakaiki – Greymouth – Reefton – Springs Junction – Hanmer Springs

Distance: 317 km (197 mi)

Highlights: Leave the rugged coastal town of Westport and ride south along the wild West Coast, where rainforest meets the roaring Tasman Sea. Stop at Punakaiki to see the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes - a surreal limestone formation shaped by the ocean. Continue through Greymouth, then turn inland toward Reefton, passing through peaceful bush and rolling hills. After a break in Reefton’s historic main street, head east through the dramatic Lewis Pass. Alpine peaks, rivers, and mossy forest line the way before you descend into Hanmer Springs, a relaxing alpine village where you can chill out in the famous outdoor hot pools in fresh mountain air.

 

Day 4: Hanmer Springs to Hokitika

Route: Hanmer Springs – Waiau – Ashley Gorge – Arthur’s Pass – Hokitika

Distance: 360 km (224 mi)

Highlights: Take the inland scenic route cutting across the island via Ashley Gorge, a hidden gem of twisting roads and native forest. Cross the Southern Alps at Arthur’s Pass (watch out for the cheeky native "Kea" parrot) before dropping down through Otira Gorge into Hokitika, a West Coast town famous for jade carving, driftwood beaches, and fiery sunsets.

 

Day 5: Hokitika to Wānaka

Route: Hokitika – Franz Josef – Fox Glacier – Haast – Wānaka

Distance: 418 km (260 mi)

Highlights: A stunning day of South Island riding, with the wild Tasman Sea on one side and rainforest-covered mountains on the other. Catch a view of the twin glaciers Franz Josef and Fox, then ride the legendary Haast Pass with flowing bends, native forest,  waterfalls and dramatic river valleys. Pull into lakeside Wānaka and unwind with mountain views and a craft beer.

 

Day 6: Wānaka to Queenstown

Route: Wānaka – Cardrona – Crown Range – Arrowtown – Queenstown

Distance: 75 km (47 mi)

Highlights: A short morning ride packed with bucket-list roads. Tackle the Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest sealed highway, and enjoy the sweeping curves through the Cardrona Valley. Pause in Arrowtown for coffee and history before rolling into Queenstown. The afternoon is yours to ride the Skyline gondola, take a jetboat, or just chill by the lake with a Fergburger.

 

Day 7: Queenstown to Te Anau

Route: Queenstown – Glenorchy – Kingston – Te Anau

Distance: 263 km (163 mi)

Highlights: This scenic loop begins with the incredible ride to Glenorchy along Lake Wakatipu’s edge, arguably one of New Zealand’s best. Backtrack through Queenstown then cruise south via Kingston to peaceful Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. It’s a relaxed day to catch your breath before an amazing one tomorrow.

 

Day 8: Milford Sound Experience

Route: Te Anau – Milford Sound – Te Anau

Distance: 234 km (145 mi) - (117km each way)

Highlights: Leave the luggage behind and ride light into one of the world’s most jaw-dropping places. The road to Milford Sound is a masterpiece with mirror lakes, alpine meadows, sheer cliffs, and the eerie Homer Tunnel. At Milford, jump on a boat cruise to experience the fiord up close, complete with waterfalls and possibly dolphins. Return to Te Anau full of awe.

 

Day 9: Te Anau to Invercargill

Route: Te Anau – Manapouri – Tuatapere – Riverton – Bluff – Invercargill

Distance: 240 km (149 mi)

Highlights: Take the scenic southern route to the coast through farmland and forest, stopping at the laid-back towns of Tuatapere and Riverton. Make a quick detour to Bluff, New Zealand’s southernmost town, for obligatory photos at the famous signpost. Then it’s on to Invercargill, home of the legendary Burt Munro and Motorcycle Mecca Museum.

 

Day 10: Invercargill to Dunedin

Route: Invercargill – The Catlins – Papatowai – Balclutha – Dunedin

Distance: 254 km (158 mi)

Highlights: Ride through the wild and remote Catlins region where waterfalls, coastal cliffs, and windswept beaches await. Don’t miss the sea lions at Surat Bay or the petrified forest at Curio Bay. The day ends in Dunedin, a lively student city with Scottish heritage, and steep streets.

 

Day 11: Dunedin to Mt Cook Village

Route: Dunedin – Moeraki – Oamaru – Omarama – Twizel – Mt Cook Village

Distance: 321 km (199 mi)

Highlights: Cruise north along the coast, stopping at Moeraki Boulders and Oamaru’s quirky Victorian precinct. From Omarama, the road climbs through wide glacial valleys into the heart of the Southern Alps. The ride up to Aoraki/Mount Cook is spectacular, take time to soak in the grandeur at the foot of New Zealand’s highest peak.

 

Day 12: Mt Cook to Christchurch

Route: Mt Cook – Lake Tekapo – Fairlie – Geraldine – Darfield – Christchurch

Distance: 362 km (225 mi)

Highlights: Your final ride winds down with postcard views of turquoise lakes, tussock plains, and distant snowcaps. Stop at Lake Tekapo’s famous church and grab lunch in Geraldine before returning to Christchurch via the inland scenic route. One last chance to enjoy NZ’s flowing back roads before handing back the keys, reluctantly, of course.

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