Three days of riding nirvana in the land of the long white cloud
The Yamaha Motor New Zealand supported event was open to all Yamaha owners but the model of choice was clearly Ténéré 700 and its World Raid variant, with 100% of riders turning up on the capable 689cc twin. Each day riders were offered the option to tackle breakout sections that were graded for difficulty between 1 and 5. The breakouts featured stunning views and technical tracks on private farm property. Access was negotiated by the team at BT’s 101 Adventures which often involved making a donation to the local school. Riding on these farm tracks is not normally possible, and the access to them is what makes the Yamaha NZ Rally unique.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that New Zealand’s Yamaha Adventure Ride offers some of the best ADV riding anywhere in the world. The combination of scenery and tracks is second to none with the farm access allowing riders to explore remote locations not normally accessible to the public,” claims YMA Marketing Manager Sean Goldhawk.
“Plus with the adrenalin still pumping from the day’s ride you can unwind each evening at the team dinner and swap stories and marvel at how easily Yamaha’s Ténéré twin covers the wide variety of challenging terrain,” he adds.
Starting in Havelock North on the North Island, the welcome dinner included the first Kiwi sighting of the new MY25 Ténéré 700 featuring many customer feedback inspired updates. The next day’s first breakout offered eye-popping views of the South Pacific Ocean after a short climb through farmland. Riders needed to focus to balance the panoramic views with the slippery grass trails – a constant challenge that forms a major part of the event drawcard. Night one and two were spent at Gisborne on the east coast – famed for its Maori culture and lush beaches. A loop ride on day two contained four breakouts of various difficulty and yet more stunning views, while day three took the riders from Gisborne to Whakatane via the snaking gravel Motu Road.
“Our aim is to showcase some of what New Zealand has to offer Yamaha adventure riders,” says Yamaha ambassador Ben Townley. “And whether it’s the epic South Island or stunning areas like the East Cape this year, we like to deliver the best possible experience. The view from day one’s first breakout section for example I rate as the most spectacular we’ve yet seen on any of the rides,” he adds.
And many riders agreed. Content creators for the Aussie Adventure Bike Show Brendan Bell and Aiden Gale were guests of YMNZ on the trip and enjoyed their three days filming the ride. “Every time we pulled the camera out, we said to each other this can’t get any better. Then we put the camera away and rode around the corner and guess what – it got better,” explains producer Brendan Bell. The NZ Yamaha Rally episode of the Aussie Adventure Bike Show is due to air in Australia on Channel 7Mate at noon on Saturday in mid-July.
Look out for the seventh edition of the Yamaha New Zealand Adventure Ride in 2026 by checking www.yamaha-motor.co.nz or https://101adventures.co.nz/
