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General Info
Included in this section is important information in addition to our general Terms & Conditions
Headings are in alphabetical order to make it easy for you - email us with anything you are not completely sure about.
ACC
Accident Compensation Corporation - (also see Insurance - Terms & Conditions) New Zealand's ACC will automatically cover any medical expenses incurred by you if you suffer an accident during your New Zealand motorcycle vacation.
Accommodation
We have fantastic accommodation available near our main Christchurch base, it's the perfect place to start your vacation whether you're rental only or using one of our self guided tour itineraries. Based on the Inland Scenic Route the gorgeous Stonefield B&B delivers fantastic views of the mountains accross the Canterbury Plains and when leaving the next day you can easily head North, South or West without the hassle of traffic and complicated city roads.- Fully guided tours - we have hand-picked superior quality, comfortable and interesting accommodation. Dependent upon your budget, these are in categories of Classic (motel), and Supreme (Hotel), we specialise in Private Guided Tours which can be a luxury motorcycle tour staying in top lodges and hotels or a normal group motorcycle tour where we can arrange your own group accommodation.
- Self-guided tours - For your tour to be successful it's important to pre-book your accommodation - we've taken all the hassles of this away for you and we are sure you will be really pleased with either Classic or Supreme levels of accommodation.
In both cases we endeavour where at all possible to ensure that your accommodation is close to main attractions and restaurants, so you won't have to put all your riding gear back on to go out for the evening.
Accessories
A comprehensive range of accessories are available for hire (see the Accessories for hire section in ‘the prices")
Additional motorcycle rental
You may hire a motorcycle from us at any time before or after your intended motorcycle tour in New Zealand, subject to availability. If you damage your motorcycle before your tour commences that motorcycle contract will finish, we are not obliged to automatically provide you with an alternative for the planned tour, and you will not be eligible for a refund for the remaining tour period. If a motorcycle is available it will be at an additional cost and a new contract will be created, if a motorcycle isn't available you may either hire a car or continue your tour in the support vehicle.
Airfares
Our main base is in Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand. Shop around for prices and fair deals. We would be very happy to give advice on flights, Our prices do not include airfares or airport taxes, but we'll be there to pick you up.
Arrival/first day
If you are on one of our fully-guided tours we ask you to arrive in New Zealand allowing time to get over any jet lag. In most cases we will arranged hotel bed & breakfast accommodation, and the following Day One we"ll collect you, introduce you to your bike, and make sure you are completely comfortable with everything before we set off. There's time for a familiarisation ride to the mountains or sea, and a special activity.
If you are a rental only or self-guided tour we'll collect you from the city or airport and help with getting to know your bike before you set off.
Booking
We have worked with our web host to ensure that when you use our encrypted booking form to make your deposit, your details are completely SAFE AND SECURE. Remember that when you provide us with your details, this is NOT an online credit card or other payment transaction. When we receive your booking form details your credit card or bank account details are ENCRYPTED, which means we, or anyone else, cannot see it. It is not until we contact our web host using our special passwords and codes that we can obtain your credit card details for payment processing. So please be confident when you use our booking forms. So when you are ready and we have answered all your questions, please complete the booking form which you will find on our ‘Make A Booking" section, and forward to us, when we shall respond immediately to confirm its receipt.
This system can be by-passed with our reservation system, by knowing exactly what you want already we can supply a quotation for you to complete your personal and credit card details and return to us securely.
It"s as simple as that! Please note that there are terms and conditions which we ask you to read carefully, as when you submit your form to us it confirms your acceptance of these.
Cancellation Policy
See Refunds in Terms & Conditions
Climate
The north of New Zealand is subtropical but the south is more temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC so don"t forget your sun protection lotion, and in winter it"s between 8 -15ºC so woollies are needed.
Clothing
(see also Luggage) We recommend you bring your own motorcycle gear with you where at all possible. As a motorcyclist you have already spent a lot of time (and probably money) ensuring that your helmet, jacket and pants are perfect for you.
Whilst we do hire high quality accessories (see the prices - Accessories for Hire), they may not be as good as your own. Remember you can leave any other luggage items with you at our premises, and our support vehicle (if on tour) will ensure your other clothing is always nearby.
For normal wear, New Zealand dress is usually very casual, with shorts and tee-shirt acceptable at most locations. But bring some smart casual clothes for some activities, restaurants and night spots.
In addition to your motorcycle gear, bring a fleece, warm jacket and sweater for cooler weather and higher altitudes. You can expect some rain in the deep south so bring wet weather gear too. If visiting between May and September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing. Remember you can hire protective/rain jackets, over-trousers and gloves from us if you wish. Make sure you bring sunglasses, lotion, and a cap for sun protection, the sun will shine, the UV is high and it can get very hot!
Damaged motorcycles
Whilst every effort will be made to replace a damaged motorcycle, this cannot be guaranteed. See the insurance section in our terms and conditions for further information.
Deposits
Flights
The cost of your flight and airport taxes are not included in our prices. Flights from Europe can take around 24 hours in total, but this is halved if you are coming from the USA. From Japan a flight can take around 11 hours. Your travel agent or airline will be able to provide further details. Let us help you with your travel arrangements! If you have any questions, just email us at enquiries@motorbiketours.co.nz. Although our expertise remains with motorcycle tours and hire we have a lot of travel experience and may be able to make your holiday plans a little easier.
Fuel
Fuel is included with our Supreme fully guided tours only. It is not included in our classic guided tours, self guided tours or for rental only.
Group Numbers
We keep our group numbers small, and there will usually be no more than six bikes on the tour. This means you have our undivided and personal attention whenever it is required, it's easy to grab a table at a restaurant, stay in the same accommodation and generally makes the whole tour smoother making it a lot more fun.
Helmets
The wearing of helmets in New Zealand is compulsory. We highly recommend you bring your own helmet with you on the tour, however if this is not possible helmets can be hired from us for a small fee (see the prices - Accessories for Hire) Insurance - see terms and conditions.
Insurance
See Terms & conditions South Pacific Motorcycle Tours Ltd include your motorcycle Insurance, however if you wish to pay more to reduce the excess or purchase additional cover for un-insured items of your hire you can do this on the day you collect your motorcycle.
Lady Riders
Lady riders are always welcome at South Pacific. We have smaller bikes available which are lower to the ground and often more suitable for the ladies, and on our guided tours we stop frequently for breaks. So come on girls, give it a go!
Licence requirements
Full motorcycle licence required, International Licences are easy to obtain and make it easier for us to see your driving endorsements. If we can't read a foreign language by law we cannot hire you a vehicle. See our Terms & Conditions for more information.
Luggage
(See also Clothing) Our fully guided tours include a support vehicle, it means that you can bring as much luggage as you wish, obviously within air travel limits if applicable, and your belongings will be safe. Luggage can be stored at our depots and we also offer a forwarding service to any onward destination.
Most of our motorcycles come with lockable luggage, where lockable luggage isn't available ie some Harleys and Triumphs we recommend packing your gear into a bag that is easily removed from the bikes pannier when you arrive at your accommodation.
Regardless of whether you are on tour or just renting, if you wish to leave any luggage or belongings at our base we can guarantee it's safety and this service is completely free of charge.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all our guided tours, evening meals are only included on our Supreme fully-guided tours. We do our best to offer you an excellent range of cuisine to suit all palates and have researched out some top-quality and very special places to eat on every tour. New Zealand is renowned for its food quality and freshness and by the time you have visited our recommended restaurants we're sure you'll agree.
Motorcycle Gear
(See also clothing) We have a range of motorcycle clothing and accessories which you can hire from us on a per hire session basis, and we'll do our best to kit you out. However, for your comfort and safety we recommend you bring all your own motorcycle gear with you if at all possible. (see the prices - Accessories for Hire)
Motorcycles
We have been certified by the New Zealand Land Transport Safety Authority to operate a motorcycle rental service (see Terms & Conditions), and this has incorporated taking the appropriate examinations and having a full understanding and knowledge of the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989. The motorcycles we hire out to you are the latest models, and are all regularly serviced and maintained to a high quality standard, well above our government standards by experienced motorcycle technicians.
We can keep our prices down because we own our own fleet of bikes and we own the property the business operates from.
Should you wish to ride a motorcycle that we are not currently advertising, please contact us as we are able to acquire almost any bike for you to Ride New Zealand and live the dream!
Not Included
Not included in fully-guided tours are sightseeing activities (except where mentioned), tea/coffee/snacks, your flight ticket and travel insurance. Anything else not mentioned in our tour descriptions.
Passports
You will need a valid passport to enter New Zealand. All visitors require a passport which is valid for at least 3 months after their planned departure, so please do check your expiry date, as we would hate this easy oversight to ruin your plans. Visas are not normally required in many circumstances but please check this with your travel agent.
Payment
Payment methods
You can pay your deposit by credit card or wire transfer. If paying by credit card, we ask for your credit card details when you complete our booking form. The booking form has been developed by our web host to ensure that your details are encrypted for complete SAFETY and SECURITY, (please see 'booking'). By submitting to us your completed booking form and details, this gives us your permission to perform a "cardholder not present sale transaction". This transaction will take place upon confirmation of your correct account details by our bank. If paying by wire transfer, we will email you with our bank account details which you take along to your bank.
Pillion Riders
Pillion riders are especially welcome to South Pacific Motorcycle Tours. If your partner is riding you can pillion for part of the way, and should you feel weary you can ride in our passenger licenced support vehicle and see the wonderful scenery in luxury.
Qualifications
Your hosts are fully qualified to operate South Pacific Motorcycle Tours efficiently, responsibly and safely. Our guides have been trained by the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists and have many years of tour guiding experience, for example Mike has been leading motorcycle rides for over fifteen years and knows all the good biking roads to guarantee you an extremely satisfying tour.
Refunds
Responsibility
Returning your Motorcycle
We expect you to return your motorcycle to us at the time and day indicated on your Booking Form, this is very important as in many cases the motorcycle will need to be serviced and inspected ready for the next tour or rental. If you are unable to return the motorcycle to us on time, or if we need to collect it from elsewhere, or the motorcycle is damaged, there be will extra charges. For this reason we ask you lodge a security "bond" NZ$1000 with us before the tour begins.
(see Terms & Conditions)
Riding Off-road
Our tours are all on tar-sealed roads.
Although the South Island has many unmade shingle tracks and gravel roads we do not permit our customers to use these unless special arrangements have been made. So if you are just renting our bikes you must keep to tar-sealed roads. If you damaged one of our bikes and you weren"t on a tar sealed road, you would be liable for total costs incurred.
(see Terms & Conditions)
Road and speed restrictions
The South Island"s tar sealed roads are in excellent order, and pot-holes are very rare indeed. You drive on the left side of the road in New Zealand.
There are only a few miles of motorway in the whole of the South Island, and even this is only two lane. But this doesn't mean you can't make good progress when touring. The maximum speed restriction is 100 kilometres per hour on the main roads, obviously speeds are reduced when travelling through villages, but as these are few and far between you are guaranteed one awesome smooth ride. And of course if you feel the urge to beat the rest of us guys to our next destination - well we can't stop you can we!
Security - Motorcycle
Disc locks are provided free of charge when you go on a South Pacific Motorcycle tour or rent or hire a motorcycle from us. Additional locks are only provided for motorcycles without any security devices such as chipped keys, immobilisers and alarms. Please use them - if you are negligent you could lose your bond! Although New Zealand has an excellent track record when it comes to honesty and freedom, do not assume anything. When you leave your motorcycle always lock it, and if possible arrange to have someone you can trust to keep an eye on it for you e.g. accommodation owners, tour operators, restaurant owners, etc.
South Island vs North Island
The South Island really does reign supreme for motorcycle touring, the roads are often deserted and you will believe you have gone to heaven on most of them. The South Island has it all, vast majestic mountain chains, clear brilliant blue mirror lakes, sweeping coastlines, deep fiords and ancient lush rainforests. Its a real haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers.
Of course if you have time to see both islands there are some great must-see attractions and superb motorcycling roads in the north island, but expect to share the roads with a lot more traffic. We are based in the South Island for a reason, so plan to fly in to Christchurch International Airport to start your dream vacation and we'll do the rest for you.
Special Requests
Do you have any special requests? Just let us know what these are. Because we are a family-run business we can be very flexible and will do our utmost to accommodate anything you require.
Support Vehicle
Our main support vehicle is our flag ship 9 seater Land Rover Defender which follows us on our fully guided motorcycle tours and is big enough to carry your luggage, tools and equipment, spare fuel, etc. It’s also handy for giving weary pillions a lift, and for taking groups out to dinner etc. And if your partner does not wish to ride pillion at all there is always a spare seat.
Travel Insurance
South Pacific Motorcycle Tours strongly recommend taking out travel insurance if you are travelling overseas.
Visas
In most cases you will not require a Visa to enter New Zealand but there are exceptions. For all information regarding entry into New Zealand please ask your travel agent.
Have we forgotten something?
Please let us know if we have missed something, we will be only too pleased to fill you in and then add it to our website so that we can assist other fellow motorcyclists. If you have decided that this is not your ideal motorcycle touring company, would you please tell us why so that we can improve on the service we are providing - we will not be at all offended!
To send your comments please click here.
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