North Island Indulgence: 7-day Luxury Cycling Holiday in New Zealand

Imagine a cycle tour where fine wines, gourmet food and luxury accommodation are the standard...

Cycle Turismo provides high quality guided cycling holidays in New Zealand. Each tour will allow you to sample the deliciously indulgent Classic New Zealand Wine Trail and serves up luxury accommodation, fine dining, world-class wines and abundant natural beauty.

THE NORTH ISLAND INDULGENCE TOUR

Our signature trip is a food and wine connoisseur's dream – match premium wines to your favorite gourmet food after beautiful rides amongst vineyards, olive groves, and acres of apple orchards, fields of lavender, rural splendor and natural beauty. A taste of Hawke’s Bay stylish art deco architecture then to off-the-beaten-track rural Wairarapa charm, finishing with the sights and sounds of our capital city, Wellington

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Sample & savoir premium wines & gourmet foods
• Learn the origins of wine making in New Zealand with a guided tour of the Wine Museum
• Sample wines with a local wine-maker; share their passion and understand their philosophy
• Learn the Maori myths and legends that surround Te Mata peak

SMALL GROUP TOURS:

Our small group tours (of 1 to 6 cyclists) enable you to have a more personalised and interactive holiday; to discover new favorite places, to stay in boutique lodgings surrounded by vineyards, to meet the locals; and to experience our “kiwi” culture. It allows us to modify and tailor the daily schedule and route to suit YOU, and your family or friends abilities, to ensure everyone enjoys themselves and gets as much challenge or recovery as they want. We think this sets us apart and helps us achieve the perfect ride.

LUXURY BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION:

Our accommodation partners have luxury or deluxe ratings. The majority of these are unique boutique lodgings often within or surrounded by working vineyards, and available to Cycle Turismo only because of our Small Group Tour policy.

We base ourselves in one place for several days allowing you to enjoy the best cycling, food and wine in that region. No getting up every morning and moving on. There's less time spent packing and more time to indulge and relax.

MEALS:

The Cycle Turismo team have been sampling and eating our way around New Zealand for years, fuelling ourselves for the next day's cycling effort! We've created our cycle tour itineraries with two things in mind: great cycling and great food. That’s why our tours follow, in part, the Classic New Zealand Wine Trial.

You will dine in some of the best slow-food restaurants in New Zealand, and enjoy some unique local delicacies. Each day we provide either lunch or evening dinner at an award winning restaurant; and enjoy a 3 course meal and limited wine with each meal. 3 lunch meals and 3 evening meals are provided with this tour package; in addition to breakfast each day. It is a truly indulgent cycling holiday.

FULLY SUPPORTED TOUR:

One of our minivans will accompany the tour. The minivan will offer refreshments, spare wheels in case of punctures (just like the pro’s, we replace the wheel to get you going faster), mechanical aid, and from time to time we’ll even offer encouragement! We also take photos for your holiday memoirs.

If you don't like the look of the next hill or have just had enough for the day, jump in the van and relax in air-conditioned comfort. It is also possible for those non-cycling partners or friends to come along and ride in the van each day.

At least two Cycle Turismo guides accompany each tour. One will drive the van at the rear of the field, while the other rides within the front pack acting as Road Captain. The Road Captain will point out highlights, offer commentary and give directions. You may even be able to persuade him/her to ride first into the head wind!

THE RIDING:

The rides are between 38 and 75 km (24–47 miles) per day, or 1.5 to 3 hours in duration. The routes are typically on flat to undulating terrain, though each day we have interesting or challenging diversions en-route, which we’ll point out, for those seeking a longer, more demanding ride. We specifically use back-roads with low traffic flows and fewer intersections

Many of our customers are cycling beginners relishing the opportunity to ride without traffic rushing by, though most are enthusiasts looking for enjoyable, social rides in beautiful, new terrain.

CYCLING INCLUSIONS:

• Cycling outfit (shorts and short sleeve cycling shirt) which is yours to keep.
• A brand new helmet to ensure your safety – also yours to keep after the tour.
• Water bottles (Brand new and yours to keep)
• Late model road bike with computer. The lightweight road bike has carbon forks front and rear for comfort.
• Daily ride snacks and energy drink provided

DAILY ITINERARY:

Day 1 The Mission: Our riding starts with the beautiful and rural Puketapu loop – a favourite for the Napier ramblers club. Dine tonight at Mission Estate – the birthplace of New Zealand wine, whose founders built the first winery in Hawke's Bay in 1851. Ride: 42km (26mi) Undulating

Day 2 Hawke’s Bay: Spin through the beautiful TukiTukiriver valley, past vineyards and outstanding river panoramas. For those looking for added challenge and there’s always the legendary 399m Te Mata peak! A fascinating and educational visit to a winery museum will tease you...while lunch is at the renowned Church Road Estate will reward you. Ride: 38km (24mi) Mostly flat.

Day 3 Vineyards and Vistas: Ride quiet back-roads through rural pastoral scenes and rolling hills to Sileni Estate for some wine tastings. Dine tonight at a local Hawke's Bay hotspot. Ride: 40km (25mi) Rolling with one major climb

Day 4 Tararua: Today we make our way south via transfer and cycle through the Tararua region and into Wairarapa; giving you the opportunity to ride for as long or short as you like. The planned route is 75km through interesting and changeable farmland to the Botanical Gardens in Masterton. Ride: 75km (47mi) Flat & rolling

Day 5 Tablelands: The tablelands loop is a favourite for the locals - and international race directors. Pretend you’re racing in the UCI Tour of Wellington, before collapsing at Coney Wines for award-winning wines, succulent cuisine and amusing tales from the irrepressible owner! Ride: 63km (39mi) Undulating

Day 6 Palliser Bay: Cycle to the wild coastline of Palliser Bay – but beware of the fur seals that sometimes sun themselves beside the road! – before a cold beer or wine over lunch at a local café. From here we transfer to Wellington city. Dinner will be a celebratory affair in the vibrant city centre. Ride: 46km (29mi) Mostly flat

Day 7 Wellington Harbour: Our farewell ride around the Miramar Peninsula provides a picturesque warm-down. Take it easy today with regular stops at famous coffee houses en route. Ride: 38km (24mi) Flat