Itinerary
Southern Safari Motorcycle Tour
Duration: 9 Days / 10 Nights
Dates: 23rd - 31st October 2025
Start/End: Christchurch
Total Distance: Approx. 2,569 km (1,596 mi)
Day 1: Christchurch to Hanmer Springs
Route: Christchurch – Kaikōura – Waiau – Hanmer Springs
Distance: 306 km (190 mi)
Highlights: Kick off your South Island ride heading north out of Christchurch, following the scenic SH1 toward the stunning Kaikōura Coast. As the Pacific Ocean hugs the road to your right and the Kaikōura Ranges rise dramatically on the left, this stretch delivers incredible seaside twisties with frequent wildlife sightings — keep an eye out for fur seals and seabirds. After a break in Kaikōura for fresh seafood or a short beach stroll, turn inland at Mt Fyffe and head west through rolling farmland. The route becomes more winding as you approach Waiau, offering gentle curves through pastoral countryside. From Waiau, it's a relaxed climb into the alpine thermal resort town of Hanmer Springs, where you'll wrap up the day with a soak in the famous hot pools.
Day 2: Hanmer Springs to Greymouth
Route: Hanmer – Lewis Pass – Reefton – Buller Gorge – Punakaiki – Greymouth
Distance: 346 km (215 mi)
Highlights: Depart Hanmer early and ride through the heart of Lewis Pass, one of New Zealand’s lesser-travelled but most scenic alpine routes. Expect smooth corners, native beech forest, and sweeping vistas. Descend into the West Coast region via the Upper Buller Gorge and pass through the historic gold mining town of Reefton, a great stop for coffee and a bit of old-time charm. Continue along the Lower Buller Gorge, a sensational section of twisting tarmac cut through steep rock faces and dense bush. Turn north for a side visit to Punakaiki, home of the world-famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes – well worth the detour. Finish the day riding the rugged coast south to Greymouth, a gritty town with strong West Coast character and dramatic Tasman Sea sunsets.
Day 3: Greymouth to Wanaka
Route: Greymouth – Hokitika – Franz Josef – Haast Pass – Wanaka
Distance: 418 km (260 mi)
Highlights: Leave Greymouth heading south down SH6, following one of the world’s great coastal roads through lush rainforest and wild beach views. Stop briefly at Hokitika for greenstone (pounamu) carvings or grab a coffee in Ross. Continue to the glacier towns of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, where towering ice fields tumble into temperate rainforest. Past Fox, the road narrows and becomes even more remote as you approach the sparsely populated region of Haast. From here, the mighty Haast Pass takes you inland over the Southern Alps. This stretch is jaw-dropping, with countless waterfalls, swing bridges, and misty forest scenes. As you exit the pass, the landscape opens into dry, golden hills as you cruise into the lakeside town of Wanaka, framed by the Southern Alps and the deep blue of Lake Wanaka.
Day 4: Wanaka to Queenstown (Rest Day)
Route: Wanaka – Cardrona – Crown Range – Queenstown
Distance: 75 km (47 mi)
Highlights: Today is short in distance but absolutely loaded with scenery and top-tier riding. From Wanaka, cruise past Lake Hawea then swing toward the historic Cardrona Valley, where you'll want to stop for a photo and drink at the Cardrona Hotel — one of New Zealand's oldest pubs. From there, ascend the Crown Range Road, the highest sealed road in the country, with panoramic switchbacks and alpine vistas all the way down to Arrowtown. Take your time — this is a dream ride. Continue into Queenstown, where you’ll have the afternoon off the bike to relax or chase some adrenaline: options include bungy jumping, the Skyline gondola, or a lakeside walk. Settle in and enjoy Queenstown’s vibrant nightlife or fine dining scene.
Day 5: Queenstown to Te Anau
Route: Queenstown – Glenorchy – Queenstown – Te Anau
Distance: 263 km (163 mi)
Highlights: Start with an early morning ride along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy, a world-famous road for its movie-like scenery and winding curves hugging the lake’s edge. This out-and-back detour is well worth it — you’ll be rewarded with mirror-like reflections and towering mountains. Head back through Queenstown, then ride the southern shore of Lake Wakatipu toward Kingston, where the road opens up into faster sweepers through rolling farmland. Continue through Mossburn into Fiordland, finishing in the tranquil lakeside town of Te Anau, basecamp for your Milford Sound adventure tomorrow.
Day 6: Te Anau to Milford Sound (return)
Route: Te Anau – Milford Sound – Te Anau
Distance: 234 km (145 mi)
Highlights: Today is a true highlight of the trip — and one of the best motorcycle rides in the world. Leave your luggage in Te Anau and ride the Milford Road out-and-back. This 240 km return journey weaves through lush temperate rainforest, across glacier valleys, past mirror lakes, and through the dramatic Homer Tunnel into Milford Sound, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Board a cruise through the fiord itself, gliding beneath vertical cliffs and cascading waterfalls. After soaking in the majesty of the sound, return to Te Anau with full hearts and tired camera batteries.
Day 7: Te Anau to Dunedin
Route: Te Anau – Manapouri – Gore – Balclutha – Dunedin
Distance: 309 km (192 mi)
Highlights: Ride south past Lake Manapouri, with the peaks of Fiordland fading behind you. The landscape transitions into wide, open plains as you pass through Gore, the "country music capital" of NZ, and Balclutha, where you cross the mighty Clutha River. The roads here are more relaxed and rolling, with far less traffic. As you approach Dunedin, the scenery becomes more coastal and dramatic. Arrive in this Scottish-influenced city with time to explore the historic buildings, Baldwin Street (world’s steepest street), or the Otago Peninsula if time allows.
Day 8: Dunedin to Tekapo
Route: Dunedin – Moeraki – Oamaru – Omarama – Tekapo
Distance: 312 km (194 mi)
Highlights: Trace the east coast north from Dunedin, stopping to marvel at the perfectly round Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach. Then ride into Oamaru, home of Victorian streetscapes, steampunk art, and little blue penguins. Continue inland past Duntroon and over the Waitaki River, climbing steadily through golden high-country terrain to Omarama. From here, the road ascends the dramatic Lindis Pass before arriving at Lake Tekapo, where turquoise glacier-fed waters meet the Southern Alps. Don't miss a visit to the Church of the Good Shepherd or some late-night stargazing — Tekapo is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Day 9: Tekapo to Christchurch
Route: Tekapo – Burkes Pass – Geraldine – Inland Scenic Route – Oxford – Ashley Gorge – Rangiora – Christchurch
Distance: 306 km (190 mi)
Highlights: Your final day starts with an easy cruise through Burkes Pass and into the rich farmland of the Mackenzie Basin. Ride through Fairlie and Geraldine, then follow the quieter Inland Scenic Route toward Mount Hutt and Oxford. As the foothills rise again, take the loop through Ashley Gorge, a final twisty, forested ride before descending into the Canterbury Plains. Return to Christchurch, full-circle, after an unforgettable journey through some of the most beautiful motorcycling terrain on the planet.
