Motorcycle trip

New Zealand

Geography New Zealand

During a motorcycle trip in New Zealand, you will venture into a territory covering 1600 km from the northernmost tip of the North Island to the southernmost tip of the South Island. Surrounded on all sides by the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand has fabulous coastlines alternating between cliffs, dunes and huge expanses of deserted beaches. The two islands are very different, the North one, which is smaller in size, is home to the volcanoes of the National Park of Tongariro and the two big cities of Auckland and Wellington. The South Island is the most mountainous and more spectacular one in terms of diversity of landscapes. In the mountains along the western coast, the snow-covered ridges of the Southern Alps attain an altitude of 3 754 m with Mount Cook, the highest peak of the country. The western coast overlooks the Pacific Ocean and extends southwards through Fiordland, the land of fjords. In the far north of the South Island, the region of Marlborough is known for its wine. Nearby, Tasmal bay, which is under tropical influence, is the entry point for the Able Tasman National Park. New Zealand’s flora and fauna are one of the main attractions of the country. As it is protected territory, the animal and plant species evolved independently. 75% of the plants in New Zealand do not exist anywhere else.  

History and Culture of New Zealand

Aotearoa, “the land of the long white cloud” in Maori language, is the name that the first settlers who came from Polynesia used for what we call today New Zealand. During your motorcycle trip in New Zealand, you will discover this mountainous and fertile land, which remained untouched till the arrival of the Maoris between the 11th and the 14th centuries. The Maoris adapted to the temperate climate and started to explore the two islands and form clans. In 1769, the British navigator James Cook landed in New Zealand. The country became an English colony in 1840, when the Waitangi treaty was signed. Very soon, war started and even though the Maoris were formidable fighters, they were overwhelmed by the British arsenal. Late in the 19th century, the discovery of gold contributed to the country's prosperity. New Zealand became independent in 1947 and continues to have, even today, very cordial relations with Great Britain with Queen Elisabeth still playing a symbolic role. The country is known for its multi-cultural identity, its respect for nature, and the role played by Maoris and their culture in the society.