I had a great time there. Weather was nice on summer and the road are great with stunning view everywhere.
Should book your bike a while before your arriving date just to make sure you and your friends get your favorite bike. Must understand the traffic rules before taking off. Get the motorcycle travel map its show you everything you need to know.

I completed a 14 day self guided tour through the South Island in December and had a great time. Overall I was very happy with the service from South Pacific Motorcycle Tours (SPMT) and would recommend them to anyone who is planning a trip like this.

Prior to the trip starting, I received a detailed itinerary that outlined the route, rules of the road (specific to NZ) and lodging. Although originally based on the standard 14 day tour, SPMT allowed me to customize things so that I was able to spend a night in Wellington; I really appreciated the flexibility in this approach.

After arriving in NZ, SPMT picked me from my hotel in Christchurch, provided a detailed walkthrough of the bike, stored my bags (after allowing me to pack up the bike) and provided some last minute advice. The bike was in good condition and performed admirably throughout the two weeks I had it. I would recommend renting a GPS with the bike; SPMT preloads the entire route, steering you to the most “motorcycle friendly” (read: twisty) roads – it really made getting around quite simple.

I personally went with the “Bed and Breakfast” option which worked out well; all of the lodgings were well run and clean. In retrospect, I probably should have skipped the breakfast upgrade as I generally just have a smaller, healthy breakfast in the mornings even though this option entitled to a larger cooked breakfast. This is just me not really thinking things through as opposed to an issue with service.

As for the overall experience … it was just incredible. The roads are purpose-built for motorcycles – well paved, twisty and not very much traffic. When I say this, I don’t mean a few sections that have some good corners; I mean thousands of kilometers of crazy, twisty, challenging roadway. I have never seen anything like it. In addition to the biking, nearly all of the people I met were friendly and the scenery was absolutely stunning.

I rented a Honda VFR800 for 10 days in January 2012. Mike, Carol, Simon and the team were absolutely wonderful. Carol picked me up from my motel and took the time to explain the bike, roads and rising conditions around the South Island (and even made Tea & biscuits!). The bikes are in great condition and my VFR800 didn't miss a beat, making a for a great holiday and biking experience.

Mike and crew were very helpful and the bikes were in great shape. Do not miss mt cook and milford sound.