New Zealand : Motorcycle Nirvana Ride

The day starts with a ride towards the resort town of Hanmer Springs – a ride up towards the alps, through some mind blowing scenery, passing through limestone rock formations. A little later, you will get a chance to soak your aches away in natural hot water springs surrounded by glacial mountains and towering forests.

After a good rest, we move on towards Lewis Pass, part of an old Greenstone Maori trail, stopping at the old mining town of Reefton for lunch. We push on towards the wild west coast and our final destination for the day, Greymouth. In the morning we set out towards Punakaiki to see the 30 million year old wonder that is Pancake Rocks and its blowholes. The water columns here shoot from rocks that resemble pancakes.

Turning back and on our way towards Glacier Country, we follow the west coast road, named as one of the top ten coastal drives in the world - a curvy road through forests and lakes. Interestingly, outside of Argentina this is the only place where glaciers and rain forests coexist.

The Franz Josef Glacier was first explored in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is 5km from the town of the same name, and a 20 minute walk will take you to its terminal face. Today’s drive takes us out of Glacier Country, winding through lush forest and eventually back to the coast at Haast. We then catapult into the mountains and over one of the most spectacular passes on the South Island, the Haast Pass. We drive along the Crown Range, which is the quickest route to Queenstown. The views along this winding mountain road are some of the best in New Zealand. This brings us out near the lovely Arrowtown; from there it’s just a short drive into Queenstown.

Queenstown sits on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges; it’s rumoured that gold prospectors - captivated by the majestic beauty of the surrounding mountains and rivers - gave this now cosmopolitan town its name. With a smorgasbord of outdoor activities, Queenstown is the home of the ultimate adventure bucket list. There are activities, such as bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting all year round. A relaxed, fun filled day for the adventure seeker.

An early morning start, today we ride towards Te Anau in Fiordland. Fiordland is 1.2 million hectares of remote, primeval beauty. This is one of the few places on the planet with untouched wilderness. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and largest in the country by water volume, getting to depths of over 400m. In the afternoon we check out the Te Anau Glowworm Caves - a rare example of a living cave that is still under formation. A beautiful cruise across the lake drops you off at The Grotto, where a short walk and a boat ride along water from a fresh water spring. It then takes you deep into the (young) 15,000 year old cave, lit by thousands of tiny bioluminescent insects.

Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Milford Sound was carved by glaciers during the ice age. Milford Sound is breathtaking in any weather. The fiord's cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards, some as high as 1000 metres. When it rains in Milford Sound, and it often does, those waterfalls multiply with magnificent effect. We experience the Sound on a boat cruise.

Another day filled with exploration, today's route is a curvaceous ride that winds through central Otago. We pass through the fly-fishing capital of New Zealand – Gore – and visit the fascinating vintage aircraft museum and workshop. Alexandra is an attractive oasis of trees and civilisation within the weathered rock landscape of Central Otago. You can enjoy local apricots, peaches, cherries and apples.

Stop at Cromwell, the 'fruit bowl of New Zealand', then take on the Lindis Pass, the saddle of alpine landscape between Lindis Valley and the Ahuriri River, to Lake Tekapo. Picturesque by day and dazzling by night, Lake Tekapo is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it a perfect spot for stargazing.

On this final day, admire the bronze statue of a sheep dog and views of the turquoise lake. Ride on to Christchurch via Burkes Pass, Mount Hutt and the Canterbury Plains. We return the bikes and the ride comes to an end. But we get together for sharing our experiences over a glass of beer in the evening.

On the final day of the trip, we’ll drop you to the airport for you flight back home.