BESPOKE GRAVEL EXPEDITION - If there’s a place that lives in the imagination of every rider but eludes most—it’s New Zealand. The Land of the Long White Cloud, Aotearoa, feels almost mythical: jagged peaks rising from the sea, roads that disappear into mist, and a sense of space so vast it swallows thought. On the South Island—Te Waipounamu—the Southern Alps run like a spine through the land, raw and wild. It’s here that RAID takes on one of its most ambitious undertakings yet.

Ten days. Seven hundred miles. Gravel, tarmac, and everything in between. Every climb a test, every descent a release, every mile its own quiet revelation. You’ll ride hard, eat well, sleep deep, and wake to more of the same—until you forget what day it is and start measuring time in sunrises, laughter, and grit.

One rider from our first expedition said it better than we ever could:

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world doing cool shit, so I’ve always thought calling something a trip of a lifetime was lazy. But somewhere along these roads, that changed. It led me to where I am now believing this truly was a trip of a lifetime. Hopefully not the only one, but an extra special one for sure. Thank you again for believing there are people like me out there seeking the adventures you create. Hope we can do this again sometime.”

That’s what this ride does. It strips things back. It reminds you what freedom feels like, what challenge really means, and why we ride in the first place.

Leave behind winter’s short days and long nights. Come ride Aotearoa—where every mile hits deeper, and the road might just change you too.

This RAID trip is all-inclusive, covering what matters most:

• Handpicked hotels — single or shared occupancy

• Professionally guided rides with full on-road vehicle support

• 5 - Staff + 3 vehicles

• Ride nutrition and hydration: energy bars, mixes, and more

• Most meals, plus a thoughtful selection of beer and wine

• Baggage transfers, porterage, and limited laundry service

• Daily recovery support

• All restaurant gratuities and third-party guided activities

• Limited airport transfers on some departures

• A standard staff gratuity is included in the trip price, so there is no obligation to tip during the trip. That said, if you feel a particular team member went above and beyond, any additional gratuity is always sincerely appreciated.

You ride. We handle the rest.

What's Not Included

• Airfare to and from your trip

• Travel insurance

• Airport transfers on select departures (details provided per trip)

• Personal expenses — souvenirs, extra drinks, etc.

• Bicycles — bring your own, or we’ll help line up a rental

RAID New Zealand — Arrival & Departure Information

This RAID expedition begins in Blenheim (BHE) at the top of New Zealand’s South Island and concludes in Queenstown (ZQN) in the heart of the Southern Alps — a journey that captures the full sweep of New Zealand’s wine country, alpine passes, and glacial valleys.

Arriving to Blenheim (BHE)

The most common way to reach Blenheim is via a short domestic flight from either Auckland (AKL) or Wellington (WLG) — both offering multiple daily connections. Flights are operated by Air New Zealand, typically 1 hour 20 minutes from Auckland or 25 minutes from Wellington.

For guests arriving internationally, the simplest routing is to connect through Auckland (AKL) and continue directly to Blenheim (BHE)**.

Alternatively, guests traveling from the North Island may take the scenic Interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton, followed by a short 25-minute ground transfer to Blenheim.

Departing from Queenstown (ZQN)

At the end of the trip, guests will depart from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) — one of the most spectacularly located airports in the world. Queenstown offers frequent domestic flights to Auckland (AKL), Wellington (WLG), and Christchurch (CHC), all of which connect easily to international departures.

We recommend planning onward or international flights after 12:00 PM on the final day to allow for morning transfers, bike packing, and a relaxed departure. *But we can work with earlier departures too!

Summary

• Start / Finish: Blenheim (BHE) → Queenstown (ZQN)

• Most common arrival: International → Auckland (AKL) → Blenheim (BHE)

• Most common departure: Queenstown (ZQN) → Auckland (AKL) or Christchurch (CHC) → International