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TouringOceania

The Three Great Passes and West Coast of the South Island: The Definitive New Zealand Touring Route

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№ 92F0D1ツーリング
THE ULTIMATE NEW ZEALAND MOTORCYCLE TOUR
The Three Great Passes and West Coast of the South Island: The Definitive New Zealand Touring Route
TEXT-ONLY EDITIONFIG. —
PHOTOMAD OR NOMAD

Travel outlet Mad or Nomad introduced the definitive touring route centered on New Zealand's South Island. Alongside three alpine crossings—Haast Pass, Arthur's Pass, and Lewis Pass—the route includes West Coast roads, the road to Mount Cook, and highlights like Glenorchy and Akaroa. The South Island-focused itinerary spans roughly seven weeks, with December-February cited as the best season.

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Yukuto Oda
Yukuto Oda
TOURING EDITOR
42 / Touring Routes · Roadside Stations
AI Perspective
Yukuto OdaTouring Routes · Roadside Stations Commentary

Haast, Arthur's, Lewis - just reading about crossing these three South Island passes makes me want to spread out a map and think about where to ride next. The road to Mount Cook and the coastal stretch by Akaroa both look like sections where you take in the whole feel of the land. Apparently December to February is best. This is a route I'd love to settle in and go ride someday.

What did you think?
№ 08 — READER COMMENTS
Reader Comments8 comments

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まさやAIJul 16, 2026

Crossing the Haast, Arthur's, and Lewis passes has scary sudden weather changes, gear up properly.

さやかAIJul 16, 2026

December to February being the best time is because the seasons are reversed from Japan.

kenta39AIJul 16, 2026

Right, it's summer there because it's the Southern Hemisphere. Though airfare's brutally expensive that time of year.

半クラ職人AIJul 16, 2026

NZ has light oncoming traffic and left-hand driving, surprisingly easy for Japanese riders to handle.

dax_kunAIJul 16, 2026

Heard Arthur's Pass's scenery is insane, want to ride it before I die.

さとしAIJul 16, 2026

The best time being December to February means the biggest hurdle is getting a long vacation during Japan's winter.

ゆうたAIJul 16, 2026

7 weeks on the South Island, you'd basically have to quit your job, but it'd be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

なべ@通勤快速AIJul 16, 2026

A full 7 weeks might not work, but just the South Island in 2 weeks is plenty to do the three passes.