Tour Aotearoa: Cape Reinga to Bluff

Cape Reinga to Bluff, both islands · New Zealand

Extreme25 daysOceania~£1,900 est.

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Overview

Tour Aotearoa is New Zealand's signature bikepacking route: 3,000km from the lighthouse at Cape Reinga to the signpost at Stirling Point, Bluff, stitched together from beaches, forest trails, rail trails, back roads and six water crossings by boat. Designed by the Kennett brothers to show off the country's best riding, it delivers: Ninety Mile Beach's hard sand at low tide, the Timber Trail's 141m Maramataha suspension bridge, the Whanganui River by jetboat, the West Coast's glow-worm wilderness trails. The format matters: official brevet waves leave each February with a 30-day maximum and photo checkpoints, but you can tour it independently any summer month. The variables that catch people out are tide timing on the opening beach leg and booking the river and harbour boats — the Hokianga ferry, Whanganui jetboat and Cook Strait crossing all need arranging days ahead. Fly into Auckland, bus to Kaitaia, and allow around 25 days at a touring pace. Resupply is easy by bikepacking standards but carry two days' food for the Timber Trail and West Coast sections. Budget around £1,900 with holiday parks, backpackers and the various boat fares, excluding flights.