Ride the long white cloud – Te Ika-a-Māui
Bike Touring Collection by Vincent Reboul
11
days
3-7 h
/ day
730 mi
36,000 ft
36,100 ft
This Collection is an adventure at the antipodes of Europe. Over these 11 stages, I invite you to travel the length of the North Island of New Zealand, Te Ika-a-Māui, also known as ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’ by the Maoris.
The route I propose starts in the city of Auckland and ends 1,171 kilometres (728 mi) further south in Wellington.
New Zealand is one of the last lands in the world to have been populated by humans. The first inhabitants were Polynesian sailors who colonised these two large islands only 900 years ago. They named the northern island Te Ika-a-Māui (‘the fish of Māui’), and the southern island Te Wai Pounamu (‘jade waters’). It is in this northern part, especially in the Rotorua region, that the majority of these people are concentrated. They are made up of a multitude of tribes, each with its own history. Today, New Zealand's population of just over 5 million is 68% European and 14% Maori.
The country is part of the Commonwealth and has a deep respect for the different cultures that inhabit its lands. It is very easy to understand Maori culture as it’s an integral part of life in New Zealand.
You only have to watch the All Blacks team perform the famous haka before each rugby match to see that this traditional dance and song is a source of great pride for the whole country. Among the villages and places that make up this Collection, you’ll find very few English names. Maori became the official language of the country in 1987 and many of the original names have been restored.
This nation was a pioneer in giving women the right to vote, granted as early as 1893. It was also the first nation to recognise the legal identity of a river in 2017.
The land is unfortunately not as well preserved as it once was. Large-scale sheep farming has weakened many already fragile ecosystems. Invasive species such as possums are a real scourge, which the authorities are trying to eradicate as best they can. Nevertheless, nature is sublime and outdoor activities are popular everywhere.
During this trip, you explore remarkable natural sites such as Tongariro National Park, but also relax in the hot baths of Rotorua, follow the course of beautiful rivers, learn about the Maori culture during hangis (traditional dinners), discover visual arts such as wood or jade carving, as well as moko, the traditional tattoo. And why not try bungee jumping or tandem skydiving?
Cycling in New Zealand also combines well with Woofing (voluntary work on organic farms).
The weather is also milder than on the South Island, where it can rain a lot. However, you should bring rain gear, as the conditions can still be harsh. The best time to visit is during the austral summer, which runs from November to March.
There are many flights to Auckland. You can travel with your touring bike in the hold, packed well in a box. There is an additional charge for this.
At the end of the journey, in Wellington, you will have the choice to go to the South Island by ferry across the Cook Strait to Nelson or take the train back to your starting point.
All that remains is for me to wish you kia pai to haerenga! Have a good trip!
On The Map
Do it yourself
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Last updated: January 24, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- Expert04:2855.6 mi12.4 mph2,425 ft2,550 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
For this first day of cycling, prepare to be out of your element. Your journey begins with the exploration of Auckland, the most populous city of this North Island. At the end of the stage, you will arrive at one of the best preserved secret places in the district: Kawakawa Bay. The contrast is striking…
- Expert06:1363.8 mi10.3 mph1,175 ft1,150 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Unless there is a contrary wind, this day will be easy because it presents only a slight difference in altitude. Only the first 16 kilometers which are further inland will be difficult, the rest will be made up of fairly narrow gravel roads and cycle paths on flat ground.
The bay is part of the great…
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- Expert06:5278.7 mi11.5 mph2,600 ft1,700 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The great lake of Kahumatamomoe, or simply Rotorua, is the destination for this day. The eponymous city of 65,000 inhabitants, which is located near the lake, is with Taupo one of the jewels of the North Island of New Zealand. It brings together many geothermal curiosities, such as geysers, lakes and…
- Expert06:0164.8 mi10.8 mph3,325 ft3,025 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Today you are leaving a city on the edge of a lake to find this evening a small town also located on the edge of a huge body of water. Lake Taupo is the result of the explosion of a super volcano. It formed around 26,500 years ago. This volcanic explosion is one of the largest known. It must have been…
- Expert06:3673.0 mi11.1 mph4,725 ft4,700 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
If you think a walk around a lake is just a health walk, you'll have to reconsider your point of view! This stage, which bypasses Lake Taupo by its western part, turns out to be quite difficult with many climbs and descents. On the other hand, you will have a lot of well-paved roads to cover, which will…
- Expert05:0053.5 mi10.7 mph3,975 ft3,325 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
You will spend the entire day riding on the edge of the Tongariro National Park, and you will get closer to the volcanoes. The roads are very diverse, ranging from the path to the perfectly asphalted road. It's a day which, if the weather is nice, will leave you with lasting memories. Also try if possible…
- Expert05:3569.7 mi12.5 mph4,225 ft6,125 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Finally ! Today you will have more descents than ascents. It must be said that you are leaving the mountains to find yourself this evening by the sea.
You will take in the second part of the day, for more than 65 kilometers, the unknown but splendid Whanganui river road. Following this majestic river…
- Expert03:4643.5 mi11.5 mph2,750 ft2,175 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This transition stage takes you back inland.
You will see while pedaling on small roads and gravelled paths, a landscape shaped by man. These undulating hills and its many waterways will undeniably remind you of Scottish or Irish landscapes. New Zealand is unquestionably a breeding ground, and the sheep…
- Expert07:1673.7 mi10.1 mph4,925 ft5,250 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
During this stage, you will progress towards the south and this evening you will be at the gates of Palmerston North, one of the major towns in this southern part of the North Island. Most of this day will take place on small well paved and uncrowded roads of the Manawatu Cycle Way.
At Kilometer 37, you…
- Expert06:4980.0 mi11.7 mph3,525 ft3,425 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This 11th stage connects two important towns on the North Island: that of Palmerston North affectionately called Palmy by its inhabitants - with Masterton the largest town in the Wairarapa region, located 85 kilometers northeast of Wellington. Between these two major cities, you will pass through the…
- Expert06:2673.5 mi11.4 mph2,350 ft2,700 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Plains, mountains, lakes, bay and sea, we could very succinctly summarize the last stage of this adventure.
Departing from Masterton, you will indeed have about 40 kilometers of journey to complete in the plain, and the successive passage of three villages: Carterton, Greytown and Featherston, before…
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance730 mi
- Duration65:02 h
- Elevation36,000 ft36,100 ft
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