Luxury Bay Of Islands Twin Coast Cycle 4D3N, Self Guided

Kia Ora! Welcome to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s “Winterless North”. Meet your private chauffeur at the Bay Of Islands Airport and transfer to The Sanctuary, your home away from home for the next three nights. Relax and unwind in your luxurious guest room, soak in the infinity plunge pool or laze on the sundeck. Or, if you’d prefer, venture into the Paihia township to explore local restaurants, bars and sandy beaches. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you might try your hand at one of the many water-based activities: kayaking, snorkelling, scuba-diving, parasailing, sailing and more. If you’re lucky, you might see a dolphin or even an orca! 

Cycling distance: Cycling Kaikohe - Kawakawa | 34km | Grade 1-2 | Easy
Kawakawa - Opua| 11km | Grade 1 | Easy

After a gourmet breakfast, set out on the first leg of one of New Zealand’s Great Rides: the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. In the morning, cruise through Opua and enjoy the beautiful, bustling marina before heading inland to Kawakawa, a vibrant rural town and the only place in New Zealand that has vintage trains travelling on the main street. In the afternoon, journey on to Kaikohe, passing rolling farmland, beautiful waterfalls and the impressive Orauta Stream suspension bridges. At the end of the trail, transfer back to The Sanctuary. You might even treat yourself to a Bay Of Islands Mirimiri massage, a form of traditional Maori healing (available at The Sanctuary by appointment).

Please note the section from Kawakawa to Opua is currently closed. On a Fri/Sat/Sun, trains are being used for Kawakawa to Opua in the twin coast cycle trail. Pickup at 3pm in Kawakawa if it is a day that the train is not running, or, 3:30pm in Opua if it is a day that the train is operating. Train running 7 days a week during the July school holidays. Please be aware there may be occasions when the train is not running (break downs etc).

Cycling distance: Kaikohe – Okaihau | 14km | Grade 1-2 | Easy
Okaihau – Horeke | 28km | Grade 2-3 | Easy – Intermediate

After another gourmet breakfast, shuttle back to Kaikohe to pick up the trail. Before you set off, take time to explore the Kaikohe Pioneer Village where you can visit New Zealand’s oldest standing courthouse and gain insight into the fascinating lives of Maori and early European settlers. When you’re ready, head out along a disused railway corridor and take in stunning views of native bush, farms and Lake Omapere, Northland’s longest lake. Along the way, stop in at Okaihau, a small settlement where you will find a number of tasty café and takeaway options for lunch. In the afternoon, continue on through the Utakura Valley and along the river, where you can add on a one-kilometre boardwalk through the Mangrove Estuary. The trail concludes in Horeke with stunning views of Horeke Harbour. In afternoon, transfer back to the Sanctuary.

Enjoy one last gourmet breakfast and say goodbye to The Sanctuary. Take your time to enjoy one last wander around the local area or another activity before transferring to the Bay Of Islands Airport to commence your onward journey.