
New Zealand on Motorcycle
Best Motorcycle Roads in New Zealand

More resources for finding the best ADV roads in New Zealand:
- Adventure Riding NZ – a huge page and forum dedicated to ADV riding with GPS tracks and maps.
- Adventure Guide – a passion project with meticulously recorded tracks of different levels on South Island. We also recommend downloading their app (Adventure Guide Navigator) where all the tracks are easily visible on a detailed map.
- Best Motorcycle Routes in NZ by Mad or Nomad
Camping & Accommodation

- Paid Campsites $6-15 per person
- No Wild Camping
- Watch out for sand flies kea birds
- WikiCamps and Rankers Camping apps
There are plenty of campsites in New Zealand, although many get cramped in the busy months. Our favorite ones were the DOC campsites. They are more basic, but cheap and in beautiful wild places.
When we needed a solid roof over our heads we chose small cabins in holiday parks or hostels.
Budget

- Camping $0-9 USD per person
- Fuel ~$1.5/L
New Zealand is more expensive than other popular motorcycle travel destinations. However, it is not out of reach, if you’re willing to camp and avoid eating out.
Logistics

- Carnet de Passages is not required, but makes your life easier
- Bike needs to be spotless for biosecurity check
- Easy to buy/sell a bike on a tourist visa
- Motorcycle insurance not mandatory, but recommended
- IDP not required if original license is in English
Shipping your bike to New Zealand is quite expensive and involves a lot of paperwork. We found that buying a bike locally is a better option for us, and it’s also quite easy.
Must Know

- Be ready for all weather conditions
- Camping in non-designated spots is NOT allowed
- Respect private property and watch out for livestock when crossing farmlands
- Bike thefts in Wellington and Auckland are common
Our Trip
- 20,000 km | 12,50 miles
- Feb - May 2024
- Honda CRF 300L & Yamaha WR250R