New Zealand is on most riders' short list for a reason. The roads are quiet, the corners are constant, and you can go from farmland to coast to native bush inside an hour. The Waikato in particular is full of the sort of second class sealed road that touring bikes were invented for.
The catch, for most people, is that touring by motorcycle assumes you ride. There is another way in, and it is the one we get the most surprised reactions about.
Why the Goldwing is the touring benchmark
The Honda Goldwing has been the reference point for long distance motorcycling since the 1970s. The GL1800 generation is the one that cemented it: a horizontally opposed 1800cc engine, shaft drive, and a chassis designed around covering hundreds of kilometres without punishing anybody on board.
The engine layout matters more than the numbers. A flat, low mounted engine keeps the centre of gravity down, which is why a bike this size feels stable and unhurried rather than heavy. Power arrives smoothly instead of in a rush, which is exactly what you want on an unfamiliar road.
- 1800cc horizontally opposed engine, smooth power delivery
- A low centre of gravity that makes the size disappear in corners
- Shaft drive, no chain maintenance on a long run
- Genuine weather protection from the fairing and screen
- A pillion seat designed for hours rather than minutes
What riding pillion is actually like
The pillion position on a Goldwing is not the perch you get on a sports bike. It is a proper seat with a backrest, armrests and floorboards, set high enough that you see over the rider's shoulder rather than into their back.
The two things first timers notice are the view and the sound. Without a windscreen and a roof between you and the country, the Waikato smells like the Waikato: cut grass, wet bush, salt on the way into Raglan. The engine note underneath it all is a low, even hum rather than a bark.
You do not need a licence or gear
As a passenger you need nothing. No motorcycle licence, no experience, no gear of your own. A helmet is provided and is legally required, and the rider handles everything else.
It is worth saying plainly, because a lot of people assume Goldwing touring is a club activity that is closed to them. It is not. Riding pillion is the most common way people discover they like motorcycles at all.
- No motorcycle licence needed
- Helmet provided
- Wear long sleeves and closed shoes, bring a jacket
- Sunglasses are useful, and tie back long hair
- Let the rider know if you want to stop, you will not be the first
The best Waikato roads on two wheels
Everything we run in a classic car works on the bike, and some of it works better. Roads that are merely pleasant in a car are properly good on two wheels.
The Raglan run
Over the Te Uku hills to the west coast, with Bridal Veil Falls and Ngarunui Beach. The hill road is a sequence of open corners and it is the standout ride in the region.
The Waitomo Valley
South through limestone country and native fern forest, out along the Marokopa Road to the natural bridge and the falls. Narrow, winding and green the whole way.
Maungatautari and the river valleys
Rock formations, river valleys and bush on the way to Sanctuary Mountain, with a cafe lunch built in.
Hobbiton and Okoroire
East through farmland to the movie set, then on to the hot springs hotel for lunch and a soak before the ride home.
When to ride
Late spring through to early autumn is the sweet spot. The Waikato is green year round because it rains year round, and while the Goldwing's fairing handles a shower better than most bikes, a scenic ride is a poor trade in horizontal rain.
Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons on the west coast, which is worth knowing if the Raglan run is the one you want.
