Maori TourCycle from Auckland to Queenstown

We carefully select the places where we stay based on their personality and the hospitality of our hosts. New Zealand is a young country so you won’t find any castles or centuries old monasteries converted into hotels, instead we have modern hotels, many of them set amongst beautiful forest more ancient than anything you could find in Europe.

Inspired by New Zealand’s landscape and culture and boasting panoramic views of Waitemata Harbour, this beautifully designed hotel is a true landmark destination. Superbly located on the waterfront in the heart of Princes Wharf.

Overlooking Lake Rotorua, this modern hotel 4-star hotel is in the centre of town and a short shuttle to Te Puia, a Maori cultural centre, a geothermal preserve with a dramatic geyser & crafts institute. The hotel offers a heated indoor pool, spa area, sauna, hot tub and a casual restaurant with a warm bar and fireplace.

Situated beneath the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s West coast within walking distance from the impressive Fox Glacier, this Boutique Hotel offers modern, spacious rooms with balconies overlooking the lush native forest

Skotel Alpine Resort is New Zealand’s highest hotel, nestled on the edge of Whakapapa Village in the heart of the Tongariro National Park, with stunning views of Mount Ruapehu.

Incomparable views over the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and breathtaking peaks of the Southern Alps set the scene at QT Queenstown. Sitting pretty in nature’s playground, this lush lakeside resort emulates nostalgic alpine and après-ski ambience – perfect for our final night on tour.

We choose our restaurants because they are exceptional and unique. New Zealand is world renowned for its seafood, coffee culture, dairy and lamb as well their Marlborough Sounds South Island Sauvignon Blanc. The good news is that New Zealand isn’t defined by what they export so what’s locally available is even better.

Our signature lake front restaurant. In this elegant Taupo restaurant the food is as fabulous as the views over the lake. Savour its award-winning local and international cuisine, crafted with the freshest ingredients daily.

Situated at the heart of Queens Wharf this is one of Wellington’s most diverse venues with the ability to cater to every need. Housed in a historic waterfront shed it enjoys stunning views from every aspect, with a maritime theme throughout.

Adventurous foodies will be enticed by the rousing hustle and bustle of its interactive marketplace. The space is alive, tempting you to take part in the delicious and theatrical mosaic of international cuisines. Chefs cook before your eyes in a buzzing setting. Their creations draw inspiration from the fresh, local produce.

We pride ourselves on providing the best picnics. These are always in spectacular locations, be it at a historical site or a breathtaking view. The produce will always be local, fresh and exceptional.

The Māori New Zealand Cycling Tour follows the journey of a fascinating and inspiring people as they travelled across the ocean 700 years ago to arrive on the North Island near the start of our tour. The Māori, as they came to be known, with only what they brought with them adapted well to a land that had never seen humans. Isolated from other landforms for 80 million years it had moved further east away from Australia and grew through volcanic activity in the North Island and mountain ranges in the South Island. A process that continues today.

This strange land was the last to be discovered of all the habitable land masses in the world and was different in that, apart from bats that had managed to fly there, it was completely devoid of mammals. New Zealand was and still is a land of birds and reptiles. As the newly formed settlements grew the Māori travelled south down through the land of volcanoes, geysers and colourful bubbling hot pools. This geologically active part of New Zealand became an important part of the mythology of Māori culture.

While the culture may be young, it is rich, diverse and has built on its Pacific island origins to become unique in its own right. Using their impressive boat building skills the Māori continued south crossing the Cook Strait to reach the South Island where they settled the coastlines and mountain valleys right to its most southern point.

The Māori population in the South Island remained much lower than in the North Island as the winters are difficult and the terrain tough. This is as true today as it was 150 years ago, with three-quarters of the New Zealand population residing in the North Island. It’s for this reason the South Island is thankfully still a part of the world that showcases how the earth once was with its largely untouched nature.

We hope you can come and explore it on the best form of transport of all, your bike