OVERVIEW
Explore remote coastlines, untouched hinterland and stunning back country trails on this remarkable North Island traverse from Auckland to Wellington. Following the dramatic mountain "spine" of the island, you’ll journey through a landscape of active volcanic plateaus, mystical native forests, and rolling emerald farmland. From the rugged Shorebird Coast to the thermal heart of the central plateau, this tour showcases the raw, natural diversity that makes New Zealand legendary.

Our journey begins on the historic Hauraki Rail Trail, winds through towering gorges, and follows the mighty Waikato River  through a lush tapestry of forest and pasture. The adventure deepens at Lake Taupo before heading into the ancient Pureora Forest for the iconic 87km Timber Trail. Here, you’ll cross soaring swing bridges and enjoy two nights of off-grid luxury at the purpose-built Timber Trail Lodge, nestled deep within the forest canopy.

Enjoy an immersive day in Whanganui National Park, where jet boats and canoes carry you through dramatic gorges on the Whanganui River before a scenic backcountry cycle leads you to the coast. After traversing the hidden gems of the Manawatu and the soaring cliffs of the Ruahine Range, you’ll arrive in the world-class wine region of Martinborough. Celebrate the journey’s end with a glass of local Pinot Noir and a farewell dinner at the historic Martinborough Hotel, a local landmark since 1882.
The tour concludes with a short drive into the vibrant capital, Wellington. Whether you choose to explore the city’s famous café culture or catch a flight south to join BAC’s South Island tour, you’ll leave with the spirit of the North Island firmly in your heart.

Detailed daily ride description in Ride Docs: BEST of NEW ZEALAND NORTH ISLAND GREAT RIDES 

Combine with New Zealand Canterbury and Otago Off Road for back-to-back tours in NZ.

RIDE RATING
The ride is rated 2B* with 9 required riding days based on an average daily distance of 33 miles and 1563 feet of climbing. The ride includes 1 day above the 2B* rating, day 10 (3B) with 36 miles & 2827 feet. In total, the trip covers approximately 300 miles over 9 riding days, but with most riding off-road the pace of riding is slower than on sealed roads. The cycling will mostly be on purpose built Grade 1 & 2 (50%) cycle trails and a small amount of Grade 3 trails (15%), gravel roads (15%) and paved roads with light traffic (20%). The tour is fully supported on accessible trails including a trailer for luggage and bike boxes. If at any stage you feel like having a rest from cycling, you will be able to ride in the support vehicle. It should be noted, however, that some sections of the Great Rides do not have van access for significant stretches, but the group will be supported by a cycle guide carrying appropriate safety and repair equipment. There will also be alternative ride options for any riders uncomfortable with riding any of these more remote rides.

BIKES
Hybrid Mountain Bikes with front suspensions are INCLUDED in the trip price (a $600 value)  The Avanti Discovery hybrid mountain bike allows a relaxed upright riding style and has wide ranging 10‑speed Shimano gears, 29” wheels, front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes and comfortable saddles. These bikes are available in a low rise, step‑though bike frame.  Also offered are Sinch e-Bikes with pedal assistance at an additional rental cost of NZ$750. All rental bikes can be fitted with flat pedals, MTB SPD pedals and/or your own pedals and seat. Bike helmets are supplied with rental bikes, along with a 15L saddle bag for daily personal items. If you bring your bike, it should be equipped with wide tires (min 42mm) due to the off-road nature of the tour as well as sub 1:1 gearing for steeply graded sections.This ride is not suitable for Tandems due to the nature of the off-road route.

WEATHER
February is a great time to visit the North Island of New Zealand with temperatures reaching as high as 25ºC (77ºF)  and only as low as 10ºC (50ºF) on “cooler” nights. The weather is usually fairly predictable and consistent and it's one of the best months to do outdoor activities in warm and dry weather. Although New Zealand experiences rain year-round, February is the “driest” season to visit. 

LODGING & MEALS
Accommodation is on a double room basis, with private facilities in comfortable motel/lodge/hotel ensuite accommodations. Included in the tour price are 11 hotel nights, 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners  catered to all dietary requirements, as well as a daily happy hours (except days 3&12) with snacks and drinks featuring NZ wines & craft beers and non-alcoholic drinks. Snacks, water and electrolyte powder are available in the van while riding.

LOGISTICS
Riders should arrive into Auckland (AKL) and depart from Wellington (WLG), New Zealand . There are numerous transportation options from the airport to hotel including public transit buses, Uber, taxi or Super Shuttle. On February 14, 2028, meet your guides and fellow travellers at 1pm at The Parnell Hotel in Auckland. After a short introduction and trip overview, you will be driven to a location where any saddles and pedals you have brought with you can be fitted to your bikes. This is followed by a short introductory shake-out ride. Afterwards, we will return to the hotel for a group orientation, safety briefing and welcome dinner.  

See a detailed daily ride description here 
The tour ends after breakfast on February 25, 2028 with a drop off at a hotel in central Wellington.
Shuttles: To reach these great off-road trails , we have one hour shuttle transfers on most ride days.
Most participants (i.e. from the USA/Canada) will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).  Tourism eTA: Travelers can submit the eTA application online (23 NZD) or via the NZeTA app which is available for free from both the Apple App store and Google Play (17 NZD). At the time you pay for the NZeTA you will be required to pay for the International VIsitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of 100 NZD. Once the application is approved, travelers receive their eTA confirmation electronically which is then linked to a passport and valid for up to 2 years. 

COST & ADMINISTRATION
The tour cost is $6360 (which includes bike rental, a $600 value) per person based on a currency exchange rate of $1 USD equals 1.69 NZD. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment.  The actual Commercial Operators charge is NZD$10,465 per person. Also included is tour cost is the BAC payment processing fee of 3% plus currency contingencies.  At the end of the tour, riders will receive a refund of any remaining money in the budget.  Tour Deposit on booking is $1500 USD with the final payment of $4860 USD due on October 1, 2027. 
The cost Excludes flights, meals or activities not mentioned in the itinerary, beverages other than breakfast, trailside or happy hour, airport transfers, water bottle (help us save the environment and bring your own bike drink bottle), guide team gratuities (at participant discretion but a standard range: $100-150 USD) and travel cancellation, interruption and delay insurance (highly recommended)

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
There are a maximum of two solo supplements available at $1266 USD (NZ$2140) based on the currency exchange rate of $1 USD equals 1.69 NZD. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by November 14, 2027. The solo supplement payment can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle: In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org, then initiate a payment, In Message block, enter ride name
-If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
-We encourage single riders who are willing to share a room to sign up. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Singles will be asked to stay on the pending list until they find a roommate.

HEALTH & SAFETY
Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please inform the Ride Leader  of any special requests and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENTS
BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.
Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).
While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee and $150.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.