Motorcycle & Scooter rentals in Canterbury

Firstly I’d like to thank John,Gordon,Perry and their crew for their help on our South Island motorbike trip. I admit that after reading a couple of dodgy reviews online I was a bit sceptical so I called John and had a conversation with him that put my mind at rest (it seems a disgruntled customer got his mates to leave bad reviews even though they didn’t hire motorbikes from Te Waipounamu!).John kept us in the loop by contacting us via email and phone in the weeks before the trip which was much appreciated.We arrived in Christchurch from Australia and went round to check on the motorbikes the day before our hire period where John and the crew allowed me to set up our motorbikes to our preference and fit intercoms and GPS in their workshop and using their tools all with that famous kiwi banter and good humour.We had an absolutely fantastic lap of the beautiful South Island including a couple of roads recommended by Gordo.Both motorbikes ran perfectly and started easily every day even in torrential rain on the west coast and it was good knowing that if we did have problems help was only a phone call away.On returning the motorbikes I was again allowed into the workshop to remove our intercoms and GPS and given a beer to boot!To follow on from this great service as we were trying to organise a taxi John stepped up and offered us a lift to our accommodation which was over and above the call of duty!Te Waipounamu Motorcycle tours come very highly recommended from both Belinda and I,don’t be put off by negative reviews these guys are fantastic and I wouldn’t have any qualms about renting from them for my next South Island motorbike trip and neither should you.Steve Herbert.

May 12, 2018

I just got home from an amazing motorcycle tour of New Zealand. I spent 15 days on a Suzuki V-Strom 650 rented from Te Waipounamu and led by Fred Rau. The motorcycle performed flawlessly and was in perfect condition (as were the other 5 motorbikes on our tour). I highly recommend renting motorcycles from John and going on a tour led by Fred Rau.

March 1, 2018

Rented a motorbike for two weeks and roamed around the south Island. Service in and out was friendly and helpful, with lots of advice from experienced riders. The motorbike (a 2015 DL650) was delivered tuned up and ready to roll, and it purred like a kitten for 4500 km worth of mountains and chaos. Price was about 300$ less than competing companies. To improve : the gear I was loaned (at a bargain price of 50 bucks for head to toe equipment) was all well worn. Serviceable but showing age and wear. That's ok, I came to ride not to win fashion shows.

Oct. 25, 2018

March 2024, I rented a RT1200 for 24 days and the motorbike was top shape with brand new tires. Man, the owner was amazing, full of good advise and easy going, especially because we pick up and return the motorbike on a Sunday. Thanks Nan for everything and long life to Te Waipounamu and you. Jocelyn, Montreal, Canada

March 26, 2024

Highly recommend. Great motorbikes, very affordable and John and the team were great to deal with. A great way for locals to see the country or rent a motorbike if your own isn't suitable for touring. Looking forward to our next trip. Cheers

Oct. 19, 2020

I had the best experience with this company. I bought a DL650 from them when I came to NZ at the end of 2016. It had close to 100k on the clock and did not miss a beat during my 10k trip in the country. The guys at the shop where most helpful and after I finished my trip even let me do all the maintenance work on the motorbike at their workshop and helped me get the parts I needed (filters, oil, brake pads etc.). Special thanks to John who helped with everything motorbike registration/insurance related and gave some great route suggestions. They were a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts and the atmosphere at the shop was great!

April 26, 2017

We first rented a Suz VSTROM 1000 from 2016 in Auckland for 04 days. The friendliness of the New Zealanders is no longer to be demonstrated, .... and delighted with the service, we rented a second time, this year, F700 GS (06 motorcycles) for 14 days. We were delighted on all points. The motorcycles are well maintained and meet our requirements. The welcome with John, Gordon, Perry and the others was TOP. We were going on our own for a motorcycle trip and John's advice on organization and discovery was welcome. THANKS once again for everything and the pleasure of seeing you again .... and renting, once again, your motorcycles on the occasion of a future trip. VV

May 16, 2017

Excellent service and very helpfull. They are professional and determined to give their customers the best time possible on their motorcycle trip. We rented 2 motorbikes for a 3 day trip, assisted us with getting a motorbike my wife could ride comfortable on and supplied all the gear we needed. Good advice and at the end a trip to the busstation for further travels. Thanks Perry, John and all the others for a great experience. We can and will recommened you to all.

May 7, 2017

Had a great ride around the South Island. Kudos to Perry and the team for their support before and during the ride. I highly recommend them to anyone planning a motorcycle trip around NZ.

March 23, 2019

Hired a motorbike for 3 weeks to tour South Island. Easy going and friendly bunch of guys run this place, and offered good advice on fuel, distances and places to go. Their knowledge of NZ was exceptional. Easy and pragmatic check in and check out. The motorbike was in great condition and performed faultlessly for 3 weeks and 1800km. Highly recommended!!

Feb. 28, 2019

When I was a boy growing up in Iowa there was a small local sporting goods store whose posted slogan was, “In Business for Fun”. That is the feeling I got from Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours Ltd: completely professional, but in business for the fun of motorcycling. John Rains is the proprietor of Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours. The motorbikes were well sorted out. The price negotiated for our extended rental was fair to both of us. In addition, both of us really appreciated John’s willingness to mount a Ram ball on my motorbike for a GPS and the throttle lock we brought with us, on my friend’s motorbike. Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours’ courtesy was further extended to us when they agreed to store our flight luggage and clothing during our 25 day tour of discovery, which did in no small part, make it all possible. John took the time at the end of our trip to sit down and talk with my friend and me at the end of tour supper, which was a welcome surprise and very much appreciated. Although John wasn’t seated near my passenger, she commented to us that John had been very kind and gracious to her. She appreciated the personal attention and courtesy. The personal touch impressed all of us. Top flight service can be a rare commodity in today’s fast paced world, whether here in the States or in New Zealand, but we found it at Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours Ltd. Congratulations on a shop well run and best wishes to you and your men down the road. Sincerely, Craig Ament

March 8, 2019

The Best Motorcycle Rental Company in New Zealand. Nan and his crew were the best in making a 3 week tour of the South Island a true dream ride. I rented a late model BMW F750GS and had a trouble-free trip. Nan was always available through the holidays to help me out and answer questions. Book with Te Waipounamu and save grief from renting at other discount rental companies in Christchurch. BTW: second time renting from Te Waipounamu, first time being in 2011. Both great experiences.

Jan. 31, 2024

My husband and I toured New Zealand (both islands) for 21 days on a BMW rental from Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours. From planning our trip to support once we were in New Zealand, the experience was outstanding! Given we were renting a BMW of the same model we own, we were able to ship our custom seat to John, and his staff had it on the motorbike when we arrived. One small example of the above and beyond customer service. New Zealand is a beautiful place to tour, and we had a great partner in Te Waipounamu to celebrate our retirements.

April 28, 2015

From reading some of the reviews before we went ... I must admit I was very worried ....Well, let me tell you: I don't know who wrote these bad reviews....but we had the totally opposite experience !!! These guys bent over backwards to make sure the motorbike we rented was exactly the way we wanted it ...making sure I (the passenger) would be super comfortable for the 14 days trip, and I didn't make their life easy ...they were patient and accommodating beyond expectations !!! So DO NOT hesitate renting from this crew !!! and don't miss out on riding the most beautiful place on earth New Zealand !!!

April 24, 2017

Had a great week in New Zealand and these guys were wonderful. They were extremely friendly and helpful, and provided highly detailed information that made the self guided tour a breeze. The hotels booked under the package were all surprisingly nice and clearly well selected in each region. I don't know what all these one star reviews are talking about but I find them highly suspect. First of all, you would only be charged for damage if it was done by you. They went over every little preexisting scratch and mark with me during my preride check and documented everything. There wasn't much there because the motorbike was in very good condition. Upon my return, they gave the motorbike a quick 10 second once over and handed my security deposit back. But even beyond my personal experience, I think there's some extortion going on. All the one star reviews have the same strange type of spelling and grammatical errors. I understand English isn't everyone's first language but ALL of them with the same English ability?!? Come on, if you're going to extort someone, put some effort into it. I wouldn't hesitate to use these guys again. Matter of fact, I might have to since my wife wants to go back. New Zealand was just stunning.

Nov. 9, 2017

We where greatly surprised by the welcome at the shop and the care to the details of our motorcycle trip. We really had a good experience during the motorcycle trip and with the all team. Thank you very much John, Perry. I hope we'll See you soon, for another ride! We were very pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome on our arrival at the store, and the care they took in advising us on the itinerary. We had a very good experience during our trip as well as with the whole team. Thanks a lot John, Perry. Hope to see you soon for another trip :)

May 4, 2018

Very professional, knowledgeable team. Nowadays offering motorcycle serviceing WOF as well. They also have a good selection of tyre, I wearing the second set from them. Good service, from good people.

July 27, 2021

Just did a one-week self guided tour of the South Island on BMW GS1250. Had an amazing week that I will never forget. The motorbike was great and the trip was seamless. Nan and the crew are very caring and responsive, and a pleasure to work with.

March 21, 2024

We hired three motorbikes (2 R1200Rs and a R1200RT) from this company and travelled from the north island to the South Island for over a month, one motorbike appeared to have a fault but was rideable, but when we reported it, Perry immediately came down with another motorbike and we were on our way. They were a fantastic company to deal with. Any minor problems we had were rectified on the spot and they were contactable 24/7. We have hired motorbikes in Australia and Canada and this company was superior in their service to us. Perry was our go to person and nothing was to hard for him to fix. Can't wait to go back to NZ and hire another motorbike with these guys.

April 28, 2015

I highly recommend the folks at Te Waipounamu!!! Their primary concern was making sure we had a great time! Riding the South Island of New Zealand was a "Bucket List" trip for me and my wife. I do not think it is possible to overstate the beauty of New Zealand. There is no better way to see the country then on the back of a motorcycle. Te Waipounamu could not have been easier to work with or more straight forward. We rented a BMW R1200RT and it was beautiful. The perfect motorbike for riding two up. The trip was great. Our thanks to John & Perry for all their experience, route advice and making sure our trip was a blast!!!

April 28, 2018

Absolutely great experience!!! The staff and folks running this outfit were amazing to work with and helped me make my trip a one of a kind. Was a last minute trip during the high season and still got set up with a great motorbike a great price and some great advice on where and what to see. 100% recommend and look forward to coming back sometime.

June 5, 2018

Wonderful experience. John is super flexible and understanding. I moved my reservation twice and never heard any complaints. The motorbike is in excellent condition and all the safety kit you could need is available.

April 18, 2018

Touring New Zealand by motorcycle with Te Wai was one of the best decisions my wife and I have ever made. The two weeks spent being guided through this gorgeous country ranks as one of the most incredible experiences either of us has ever had and continues to enrich our lives through the close personal friendships we developed, with both the clients and the Te Wai staff. The company is experienced, honest, friendly, and dedicated, and one of the best motorcycle touring values going.

April 29, 2015

John hooked my father up with an awesome triumph 800 tiger for the day. top motorbike at a very reasonable price. john was friendly, helpful and accommodating. will be back. 100% recommend TeWaipounamu Moto Tours for your next moto rental. thanks again John

Jan. 1, 2021

Hired a motorbike from Te Waipounamu Motor Cycle Tours, The guys were so welcomeing & gave me great advice & tips before I departed, They fully kitted me out & made sure I was ride ready. The motorbike I hired was probably undersized from what i was used to BUT I chose the motorbike based on relyability & economy . The motorbike was superb & never missed a beat. it was well maintained & the motorbike became my trusty steed . I toured both islands without incident other than foreign tourists that couldnt stay on the correct side of the road. I cant wait to get back there & Te Waipounamu Motor Cycle Tours will be my 1st contact when i revist . Thanks Guys for making my tour so enjoyable & memorable.. Tony.

April 28, 2015

I was lucky to get a new motorbike with about 1000 km on the odometer. So the bike was in a perfect condition, the approach of the rental company was excellent. They were very helpful with everything we needed. One thing that is important to advice to customers is to bring their own inner bags for luggage boxes. They are not included. Waipounamu people were nice enough to get us some they had but it may potentialy be a problem.

Feb. 9, 2025

We worked with John Raines and his crew to setup a self-guided motorcycle tour of New Zealand. Being experienced motorcyclists and NZ being English speaking, we didn't desire a fully guided tour which Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours also offers. Our group consisted of 4 couples from the USA and 1 from Sweden. We were all able to choose our own motorcycle to rent and John was able to meet all are needs. The routes that John setup on both islands were fantastic and offered options for both short & longer rides. Hotel and ferry reservations that they made as part of the package were "spot on"! We did not have any conflicts during the full 3 weeks. The one occasion that we had an issue with one motorbike, they were able to respond with a substitute within 24 hrs. I guess having business locations (rentals) on both islands helps. John knows New Zealand and I couldn't see going with anyone else! 5 stars for Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours!

May 9, 2017

We did a two week tour over both islands and the motorbikes had no issues at all. Good people there. We even damaged one motorbike and the people were extremely fair in the cost to cover the damage, no markup at all. I would highly recommend renting here.

March 27, 2024

John over at Te Waipounamu Motor Cycle Tours runs an amazing operation! I bought a old rental motorbike off of them to do a trip around New Zealand and they were very helpful and informative on how to run and treat my motorcycle. Before I left on my trip they helped me check it out and service it to make sure it was ready for the journey even though they had no obligation to help me since I had purchased the motorbike from them and was not renting it. I Would highly recommend Te Waipounamu Motor Cycle Tours if your looking to do a motorcycle trip across one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Nov. 16, 2017