Bay of Islands

North Island, New Zealand | 919km

Image: Mark Watson

Leave Auckland across the Harbour Bridge, head north on Highway 1 and make the biker-friendly Puhoi pub your first stop. Back on the highway at Bryderwyn, you will be confronted by the expanse of Bream Bay with its aqua-blue waters. Whangarei is good for food and fuel before the run into Opua to grab the ferry over to Russell and the glorious Bay of Islands. Ferry back and continue up the coast to Awanui to run up to Cape Reinga, the northernmost tip of NZ. Track down to the west coast and the dune-lined lagoon at Opononi before winding through the ancient Waipoua Forest – home to a 2000-year-old Kauri tree! At Dargaville cut across country to Bryderwyn and rejoin the highway back to Auckland. A long but worthy ride steeped in Kiwi history and Maori culture.

Classic Kiwi hospitality
Just 45-minutes north of Auckland, The Puhoi Pub in Puhoi is a proper old-school drinking establishment. The welcoming ambience is supported by an incredible array of bric-a-brac, curios, and memorabilia hanging off every surface.

The Māori connection
As the founding document of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi holds great importance in the nation’s history. Soak it up at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds just across the water from Paihia and check out the ceremonial war canoe.

Click here to view this route in the Harley-Davidson Ride Planner and start planning your next adventure.

Originally published in 2023.

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