Don’t Feel Sheepish About This Trip

Group tours: Our 17-day trip was organized by Berkeley-based Backroads Bicycle Touring, which leads five New Zealand tours between December and March every year. The company is one of five U.S. and several New Zealand firms that lead New Zealand bike tours.

In our case, Backroads planned the route, arranged meals and lodging and sent two trip leaders. It operated a small van to carry luggage, water, tools, spare parts, first aid and anyone with enough ego strength to admit they were too tired to continue.

Land costs: $2,400. Round-trip airline fare: $1,723. Backroads also provided touring bicycles, if needed. We brought our own, packed fairly easily in boxes scrounged from bike stores and purchased from airlines. None of the bikes were damaged.

Here are five U.S. companies that offer New Zealand tours:

* Vermont Bicycle Touring Co., P.O. Box 711, Bristol, Vt. 05443, (802) 453-4811.

* New Zealand Pedaltours. Reservations through Adventure Center, 1311 63rd St., Emeryville, Calif. 94608, (415) 654-1879.

* Back Country Bicycle Tours, P.O. Box 4029, Bozeman, Mt. 59772, (406) 586-3556.

* Paradise Pedalers, P.O. Box 32352, Charlotte, N.C. 28232, (704) 335-8687.

* Backroads Bicycle Touring, 1516 Fifth St., Berkeley, Calif. 94710-1713, (415) 527-1555.

Preparations: You should be able to ride at least 40 miles a day over hilly terrain and want to do it again the next day. If regular, long-distance bicycling is not feasible, stationary bicycle riding or running will build up endurance.

Pack biking shorts, T-shirts, one warm shirt, a sweater and a couple pairs of pants. Take a pair of biking shoes, walking shoes, socks and underwear. More important: Bring a helmet, biking gloves and reliable rain gear. And bring film. It costs two to three times as much in New Zealand as in the United States.

When to go: New Zealand’s summer--November through March--is best. Temperatures were in the 60s and 70s in January. Expect intermittent rain, especially along the west coast, where some towns receive more than 200 inches a year.

For more information: Contact the New Zealand Tourism Office, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1530, Los Angeles 90024, (213) 477-8241 or (800) 388-5494.