Touring Feb/Mar

[mcguyver]

Hi all My wife and I are heading your way in feb for a 3 week tour around both islands. Can anyone please give us some advice on the following.
Accomadation. How busy will places be? Is it necessary to book ahead.?
Same with the ferry's- Is it absolutly neccessary to book ahead? Our problem is we don't know exactly what day we will doing the crossing.
I remember reading somewhere that we should take our own tie downs. Is this the case?
Can you reccomend any prepaid wireless internet providers or is free wireless readily available in most places?

We are planning on doing some couchssurfing while we are there and keen to meet the locals. Perhaps even go for a ride.

Sorry for the thousand questions

[madmal64]

Accomodation... what you looking for? Should be fine over that period. Most of us are back to work.
Ferry.... I reccomend just rocking up when you are ready. They are realitivley cheap to ship a bike. I do suggest getting your own set of tie downs because the one on board are crap.
Wireless.... Starbucks I thinks are free along with eqsuires coffee place that are definetly free. Telecom doe prepaid @ $30 per 500meg if you like to pay that sort of money.
BTW
Welcome to the mad house & when you are ready to cross the strait & in towm make yourself known and Im sure some of the locals including myself will hook up and either ride or drink or tell lies or help you have a great trip.

[shafty]

MacGuyver, you'll be sweet with accomodation - it is still 'high season' but there will be availability, as Madmal says, most Kiwi's are back at work (poor blighters).

The Ferrys can usually squeeze a bike on - bikes take up little room and the spaces they use are often no good for a car. I take my own tie downs - peace of mind - but a bit of a pain, as you carry them for weeks to just use them for a few hours, but as you are upstairs on the Ferry wondering how your bike is fairing the seas, it does make you feel better!

What will you be riding? Have a blast Mate.

[mcguyver]

Thanks madmal & shafty
We will be on our 1000 Vstrom and really looking forward to it.

[Blackbird]

This is your "must have " book with all the great rides in it: http://www.aucklandmapcentre.co.nz/default,324,new_zealand_motorcycle_atlas.sm;jsessi onid=243387FD61045B6FC2E00987F89F9426

You should be able to get a copy in good Oz bookshops. Spend most of your time in the south island!

[mcguyver]

Thanks Blackbird....Yep I already have that.


Any other tips ....must sees etc all comments welcome.

[Blackbird]

Well, if you're going to spend some time in the north island, there are some things to see on your way south. The Coromandel Peninsula is worthwhile, both for its scenic and motorcycling road value. Hot Water Beach where hot water bubbles through the sand towards low tide is good for a soak! Working further south, a visit to one of the better geothermal areas is also worthwhile. You've got 2 reasonable choices:
- Stop at Whakatane on the east coast and go out to White Island, an active volcano offshore (http://www.whiteisland.co.nz/), then continue round East Cape on your way to Wellington and the ferry.
- Visit Waiotapu geothermal area part way between Rotorua and Taupo (http://www.geyserland.co.nz/) and you can also pick up a really good Maori concert just up the road (http://www.maoriculture.co.nz/).

You want at least 2 weeks in the south island, dog-legging across the mountain passes. If you want to see some of the things we did on our 2007 trip in addition to riding, here's the ride report: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/52569-South-Island-ride-report. Whale watching in Kaikoura was great but my personal highlight was a trip up the Matukituki river near Wanaka by jet boat (http://www.wanakariverjourneys.co.nz/), then being met by helicopter part way up the river and being taken into Mt Aspiring National Park before the return trip in the jet boat. There's also a very good blog by an American biker that should give you some ideas: http://kiwibound.livejournal.com/2009/03/27/.

Hope that helps a bit and enjoy the country!

BTW: Have you seen this thread? http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/98782-10-000km-4-weeks-2-islands?highlight=australian+Vstrom

[Firestormer]

Hi Mcguyver. I agree you should get your own tiedowns for the ferry. Regarding accommodation; in 4 years riding all around NZ I've never booked ahead, and never been stuck for a bed. You should be fine.
I've just started putting up a blog about some of the NZ trips I've made - have a look at www.motorcycling-nz.blogspot.com (http://www.motorcycling-nz.blogspot.com). I'm biased of course, but the South Island has lots of great rides - allow plenty of time in the Mainland. We've ridden most places in NZ (much of it on a V-Strom) - email me if there's anything I can help with.
Hope you have a great time in NZ.

[mcguyver]

Thanks everyone for the info.
Is there somewhere in Wellington to purchase some tire downs?

[Blackbird]

Best prices are in Bunnings, Mitre 10 etc. They'll cost you less than $15 for two . Get ratchet types, not the toothed ones as ratchets won't slip.

The pic shows my bike using ratchets on the front. You don't need to tie up the front wheel - I've just done it to keep the excess length of the ties clear of the wet deck as I was late on the ferry and the bike was out in the open amongst the trucks. I've just used some thin rope to stabilise the rear. You don't need 4 ratchet ties. It really isn't a big deal at all.

[clint640]

My usual strategy when touring over the peak season is to consult the accomodation guide at lunchtime & call ahead to book something for the night.

Have fun! Keep us posted as to your travels & we may be able to catch up for a beer if you go through Rotorua.

Cheers
Clint

[Edbear]

Hi all My wife and I are heading your way in feb for a 3 week tour around both islands. Can anyone please give us some advice on the following.
Accomadation. How busy will places be? Is it necessary to book ahead.?
Same with the ferry's- Is it absolutly neccessary to book ahead? Our problem is we don't know exactly what day we will doing the crossing.
I remember reading somewhere that we should take our own tie downs. Is this the case?
Can you reccomend any prepaid wireless internet providers or is free wireless readily available in most places?

We are planning on doing some couchssurfing while we are there and keen to meet the locals. Perhaps even go for a ride.

Sorry for the thousand questions

We have a 1brm unit, fully self-contained, fully furnished set up like a motel unit. Very quiet area in Orewa, PM me if you're interested.

[mcguyver]

Edbear
Thankyou very much for your very kind offer. As it happens we are sorted for the Nth Island and have had quite a few similar offers . (thankyou to all) We still havnt had any offers from The Sth island if anyone is interested.

[Pixie]

Cheap <$20 a pair tie downs from Mitre 10 are perfectly adequate.Get 4

[TimeOut]

Edbear
Thankyou very much for your very kind offer. As it happens we are sorted for the Nth Island and have had quite a few similar offers . (thankyou to all) We still havnt had any offers from The Sth island if anyone is interested.

Hi mate, we have a sleep out you're welcome to use, it has shower,toilet cooking comfy bed. I have beer & food and a garage for your bike.

My arm could even be twisted to go for a ride with you lol.
We're at Moeraki between Oamaru and Dunedin

[mcguyver]

Hi Timeout. I might try and contact you when we get closer, even if you just come for a ride that would be great. :-)

[Laava]

Hi McGuyver, I left you a message in the Stromtrooper site as well to say if you are up north etc, I will dust off the DL and join ya if timing is good. Anyway, have fun! Al 021 0796444