Aspen Hotel – Auckland affordable small hotel

New Zealand is renowned for having some of the best scenery in the world. Nothing like cycling around a country to appreciate it more than zooming past in a car. If you are planning on a cycling holiday find places to stay that are bike friendly. Backpackers often bike around the country – it’s so easy and people are so friendly. There are lots of B&B’s in the city and the country to stay in.

An inner city  B & B (bred and brekafast hotel), recommended by Lonely Planet is Aspen House Hotel. With a spacious basement garage your bike can be safely stored in their on-site secure carpark. The friendly team at Aspen Hotel can also get rid of backpackers large and unwieldy cardboard boxes if you travel with your own bike.  However if you don’t bring your own bike there are many options for people wanting to bike around the country. You can hire one easily enough. The roads around New Zealand are generally well-maintained, uncrowded and can take you anywhere you want to go from the sub-tropical north to the scenic Lord of the Rings country down south.

There’s a huge range of accommodation options for backpackers through to luxury. You can cycle by yourself or get some advice from those who know the best routes.

Have a look at cyclehire.co.nz for more advice on self guided or independent trips. Whether it is an overnighter or trips of 3 weeks they can give you friendly and helpful information. Guided tours are a fun way to cycle with other people and meet new friends. The benefit too, is all your gear can be carried by a support vehicle. You won’t have to worry about accommodation, everything is done for you.   If this sounds like you there are companies like Beach it- Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours who can arrange a four day trip from Auckland to the Bay of Islands where you are have some great cycling trips. Warm water, beaches, rides and hikes are a great way to enjoy the ‘winterless north.’ This trip can take as long or as little as you like – create your own timetable the bus will pick you up every 9 days!  Some would say that takes the adventure out of cycling! Down South there are more operators. In Renwick, in the gorgeous Blenheim district you can hire bikes and cycle the wine trails for the famous Marlborough wineries, check out Watson’s Way Backpackers Lodge for bikes. Marlborough is flat so its easy countryside to cycle.

There are 25 wineries within a 5 km radius.In Christchurch there is cyclehire.co.nz, they can fit you out with a bike, a map, tours –self guided or group from Christchurch down to the stunning countryside around Queenstown.