NSX2601 NORTH ISLAND EXTENSION

11 Jan 2026

/Domenico Schiano Moriello

/Axel Gert Schneider

Our New Zealand adventure continues! After 15 days exploring, we’re heading north from Auckland - all the way to Karikari, almost at the very tip of the North Island. Epic coastal drives, hidden beaches, and towering kauri trees that make you feel tiny in the best way, all this will be part of our journey through the north. Along the way, we’ll dive into New Zealand’s history, check out charming towns, and soak in some of the most unforgettable roads and scenery the North Island has to offer. Less mountains up here, but the coast will more than makes up for it—turquoise waters, winding roads, and sunsets you won’t forget. So buckle up—New Zealand Part Two starts now! Domenico & Axel

Good morning from the north of New Zealand. Well rested and after a deep night’s sleep, we continued our journey further north today. Our destination was the Karikari Peninsula, and along the way Domenico and I had prepared a few highlights for the group. The only thing we couldn’t influence was the weather – and today it couldn’t quite make up its mind. It was already pleasantly warm when we set off, and on top of that Petrus decided to enchant us with some rain. No problem though, because our highlights weren’t dependent on the weather. After a beautiful ride from the east coast to the west coast, our first stop was Rick. And yes – Rick is quite well known up here, as he is the last Kauri Tree Woods Master. A true legend who has given lectures all over the world about the uniqueness of the Kauri trees and the art of working with their wood. So what makes Kauri trees so special? Probably the shortest – and most impressive – answer is this: they are one of the very few tree species that allow us to look thousands of years back into the past. The trees we can still admire today are around 2,000 to 3,500 years old. And if that already sounds impressive, this number is truly mind-blowing: Rick works with wood that is over 45,000 years old!!! The Kauri wood Rick collected over many years – before it became forbidden – was preserved thousands of years ago in New Zealand’s swamp land by tsunamis. In Rick’s hands, this ancient wood takes on a new form. Even though we had visited the Kauri Museum yesterday, this encounter was something very special. And it’s worth mentioning that this is only a small part of the story of New Zealand and its Kauri trees. The rest, Domenico and I will tell you when you are here with us. That was highlight number one – and number two was not far away at all! Because even after Sue (his wife) and Rick had introduced us to the wood and its history, we wanted to see more. And when it comes to “more,” our second highlight of the day hit the nail right on the head. We continued riding north, and almost without noticing, a beautiful, winding road led us downhill straight into the heart of the Waipoua Forest. Just take a look at the pictures: first an almost endless hilly landscape, and then suddenly deep rainforest. As a bonus, the road itself is a paradise for motorcyclists – even though it was quite wet today. Surrounded by Kauri trees, we rode deeper and deeper into the forest. And then? I turned on my indicator, and we followed a small gravel road to a parking area. Bikes parked, helmets off – and then a walk of about 15 minutes through the forest to admire the famous Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest). I could tell you much more about the Kauri trees at this point, but that would go beyond the scope here. As I said before: it’s much better when we show and explain all of this to you live. After the short walk, we continued on to Tāne Mahuta – the “Lord of the Forest,” the largest and oldest Kauri tree in New Zealand, before leaving the rainforest behind us. After so many impressions, it was time for a break and some food, so we parked the bikes in Opononi. The rest of the day was filled with curves that make every motorcyclist’s heart beat faster, and a small ferry crossing that took us to the other side – and to even more twisty roads. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate on this part of the route. Nevertheless, it was a truly wonderful riding day. We are now in Karikari, from where our journey will take us back toward Auckland over the next two days. So now it’s time for a good night’s sleep – because tomorrow will be exciting once again. See you tomorrow Domenico and Axel

A New Day Full of Memories!!! Today’s motto: From Manuka honey to the history of New Zealand. What a combination, you might ask!? Here comes the explanation: After a slightly damp start to the day, our route took us along the east coast heading south. The road itself is an absolute dream to ride — if it weren’t for that little word if. Due to heavy rainfall in the northern regions over the past weeks, several hillsides have slipped, and clean-up work is still ongoing. Luckily, these sections only slowed us down briefly. The rest of the ride to our first photo stop was beautifully curvy, with stunning views that left nothing to be desired. But today, the scenery played only a supporting role, because the real first highlight came right after our coffee stop: a visit to a Manuka honey apiary. After all, what would a trip to New Zealand be without visiting a beekeeping farm? Manuka honey is a true specialty, world-famous for its healing properties and highly valued in cosmetics as well. And the taste? Completely different from any other honey — a true one-of-a-kind. The uniqueness begins right at the source: the Manuka bush blooms for only 12 days, which means the beekeeper must choose the exact right moment to place the hives nearby. And once harvested, it doesn’t go straight into the jar — the process takes several months. As you can see, it truly deserves its nickname: New Zealand’s liquid gold. And once again, all I can say is: come and dive into the world of Manuka honey with us — we’ll tell you the rest of its secrets in person! Afterwards, our journey led us along the coast to Waitangi, the birthplace of New Zealand. It was here in 1840 that the treaty was signed, and the New Zealand we know today was born. But it wasn’t just the place itself that impressed us — we immersed ourselves in Māori history and visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Before watching the Haka, we were surprised with something special: lunch! We were guests of Tour Guide Domenico, who treated us to a wonderful picnic. As you can see, today was packed with one highlight after another. To finish the day, we headed back to the west coast for one last night before our journey takes us back to Auckland tomorrow. A fantastic day comes to an end — now it’s time for a delicious dinner and then off to bed. See you tomorrow, Domenico & Axel