The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

North Island Tour-New Zealand

March 8th to March 23rd

Ride Coordinator: Albert Balingit
Report by: Patricia Olson

Kia Ora! - from New Zealand; where car hoods are called ‘bonnets’ and coolers are called ‘chillers’.   Kiwilandia - where bicycle mirrors are switched from the left side to the right side and riders yielded left instead of right in roundabouts. Yes, we were mostly speaking the same language, but the differences reminded us we were definitely on an ‘overseas BAC trip’.

This BAC North Island bicycle tour will undoubtedly be a lifetime memory for all involved. It’s irresponsible reporting NOT to acknowledge the global pandemic breathing down our necks as we headed from our starting point in Auckland to our destination of Christchurch.

 What is like to be cycling far from home while other countries are exploding with the increasing incidence of the global pandemic called COVID 19?

With BAC leaders who were fastidious and conscience of public health protocol, we were most fortunate.  From the first Happy Hour - introduction dinner we were instructed on hand washing stations, wiping down surfaces, having a quarantined support van if someone contracted the virus and so forth.  The nature of this ride kept the riders and support crew separate from public spaces for almost the entire trip.  That set-up created a cohesive unit onto itself and I am not aware of any person in the group coming down with even a mild cold for the entire tour.  

What better way to spend our daytime hours than riding our own bikes through New Zealand’s countryside, breathing fresh clean air and eating local nutritious food with our fellow riders and support team?  We were in a bubble of COVID-free wellness & health.

Nonetheless, we all were aware of reports from home & family of the growing concern of our being far away.  The ‘noose’ was tightening as we traveled south each day….

This was a 3C ride and the ride description accurately portrayed the level of difficulty and distance ridden each day.  Road conditions were all asphalt but it was rough and the wider tires recommended for this ride were helpful.  Some roads had signage to increase awareness of cyclists sharing the road, but traffic was in close proximity at higher speeds than many riders are used to.  The transfer vans moved our luggage and also transported us to avoid the most heavily trafficked areas on several occasions.

Accommodation were sparkling clean, easy to find and very comfortable.  They varied from family run motels to historic lodges to modern urban high-rise hotels in Auckland & Wellington to our charming BnB in Christchurch.  It was a treat to have such accommodations at the end of some big days.

When we weren’t riding or resting, we were eating:  green-lipped mussels, an incredible array of fresh seafoods, local wines from the Martinborough region and the Marlborough wineries, local beers and a wide variety in international flavors.  All served up with the Kiwi hospitality that is famous throughout the world.

Highlights varied by rider, but it’s safe to say we were all charmed by sharing the road with sheep and cattle drives, the majestic Kaikoura region and sea lion colonies, multiple one-lane bridges, the seascapes & birdlife of the Coromandel Peninsula, the well-deserved 2 night stay in Chateau Tongariro & National Park, visits to Hobbiton, the unusual & intriguing flora, the calmest ferry crossing of Cook Strait one could ever hope for and a wonderful group of new cycling friends. This trip was superbly supported by NZ Bicycle Tours – thank you~