Drop Down MenusCSS Drop Down MenuPure CSS Dropdown Menu

Transport

Over land, across the sea and in the air


You might want to use public transportation to get to the start of the tour and/or return from the end of the tour. Although the tour itself is about cycling, there are some parts that will require you to take ferries.


DURING THE TOUR

Ferries

Ferries always take bikes. The Interislander ferry charges $15 per bike, and the Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry charges $10 per bike. Most other ferries don’t charge extra for bikes.

There are five boat trips on the tour:

  • Hokianga Harbour to Rawene – runs regularly for most of the day, costs $2, and takes 10 minutes. Take cash.
  • Kaipara Harbour – special charter boats from Pouto Point to near Helensville run on demand. You need to book in advance. Costs vary depending on group numbers. The trip takes 2-3 hours. Contact  Kaipara Cruises, Ph 09 420 8466,
    kaiparacruises@xtra.co.nz, www.kaiparacruises.co.nz
  • Whanganui River from Maungapurua Landing to Pipiriki – need to book one of the jet boats that runs regularly. It will cost around $90. Trip takes about 1 hour. Only two operators (Whanganui River Adventures and Bridge to Nowhere Tours), accept credit cards
  • Cook Strait Ferry, Wellington to Picton – a few regular sailings every day. Costs about $55 and including boarding time takes 4 hours.
  • Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown to Walter Peak – regular sailings and you can charter a boat, costs $50 - $60 dollars and takes about 1 hour.

You can find more details about these boats in the Tour Aotearoa Official Guides.

TO/FROM THE TOUR

Buses

Some long-distance buses will take up to two bikes, but you can’t prearrange space for them and drivers reserve the right to refuse them if there isn't enough room on board. Bus drivers charge $10–15 per bike and usually expect you to take the wheels and pedals off, and wrap the chain in newspaper. It’s best to check with the bus company when you book.

Planes

Air New Zealand does not charge for bikes but does charge for any additional luggage ($15 for a bag up to 23 kg). Budget airlines will charge an arm and a leg! Air New Zealand sells bike boxes for $25 or you can often pick one up from a bike shop for free. Small planes (e.g. Great Barrier Airlines) often don’t have space for bikes.

Pack most of your gear into the bike box with your bike, until you estimate it weighs just under the 23 kg limit. Everything else should fit into one bag (under 7 kg) and can be taken on board as cabin luggage.

Shuttles

In all major cities, both shuttles and taxi vans usually take bikes.

Transport from Auckland to Cape Reinga


Shuttle to Cape Reinga: Johanna Maaka, Real Far North Tours,  Ph 09 409 8152 or 020 4152 8785, www.realfarnorthtours.co.nz.
Also try Tuatahi Airport Shuttle, Ph 021 0875 3196.

Public transport from Auckland to Kaitaia is no-longer straightforward - InterCity have switched to using buses on this route with too little cargo space, so that option is no longer available. 


Timing your trip to Cape Reinga

Before you start planning how to get there, check the tide times so that you know whento go! 
Go to www.niwa.co.nz/services/online-services/tide-forecaster, and type in ‘Ahipara Bay’ for the location, and then the dates you are considering. 

Remember that you can start riding on the beach three hours before low tide and finish four hours after low tide, and that if there's a headwind you may need all of that time!

Transport contacts

InterCity buses - they don't take bikes from Auckland on their double decker buses
Shuttle service to Cape Reinga: Real Far North Tours offer services to the Cape, see www.realfarnorthtours.co.nz

What to do with your bike box or bag?

If you are flying into Auckland Airport, your bike will be in a box or a bag. Boxes can be left at the Airport at the west end of the International Terminal beside the bike stands. Or you can leave your bike in the box if you are busing up to Kaitaia, then discard the box somewhere.

After you have finished your tour, bike boxes can be bought from Invercargill Airport for $25 (phone ahead to check they have them in stock). You could also try a bike shop in Invercargill, but it's highly likely they will have run out. If you do get a bike box from a bike shop they are unlikely to charge you for it, but etiquette suggests you should buy something from the shop (you always need some bars, or a spare tube, or lights, etc).

Another option is you can post your bike bag to Poste Restante, Invercargill Post Office. NZ Post will hold a parcel for as long as you need - it'll cost about $20. Just post it to [your name], Post Restante, 51 Don Street, Invercargill 9810.

For more info check: https://www.nzpost.co.nz/personal/receiving-mail/poste-restante