Day one of New Zealand Adventure

My first day of riding in New Zealand has been a blast. The morning started with a mix of city traffic and bike paths. It was all road riding today, except for a short section through a county park. As usual, I've already met some great people—everyone's been very friendly and helpful. I’ve also enjoyed some delicious fish and chips, and the scenery is absolutely phenomenal. The photos below give a little glimpse of the day. My trips usually begin the same way as shown in the first picture, but they rarely end with a camping spot like the one in the last photo.

New Zealand Adventure February 2025 Tour Aotearoa

I’m fortunate enough to have the chance to go on another bikepacking journey. This time, I’ll be heading down south—way down south. I’m excited to explore New Zealand in my favorite way: on two wheels. The route I’ll be taking is called the Tour Aotearoa, which is the Māori name for New Zealand. The entire route spans 1,800 miles.

Here’s the link showing the entire route.

Originally, I had planned to start at the very northern tip of the North Island and ride all the way to the southern tip of the South Island. However, I’ve since decided to begin in Auckland and ride all the way to Bluff, the southernmost point of the South Island. This will be the longest ride I’ve done in a while, and it will also be the first time I’ve kept a blog in quite some time.

As with all my rides, I’m hoping to meet some new friends and experience another part of this beautiful world that God created. I’ll update this blog as often as possible, though my understanding is that cell phone coverage may be hit or miss, especially on the South Island.

Here are a couple of pictures of my bike and current setup. It’s quite different from what I used on my previous tours. I’ve been able to reduce the weight substantially while adding much more capability for off-road riding.

Next stop NEW ZEALAND