Newbie from US visiting, where can I get an offroad ride (tour)?

[BS Racing]

Hey there everyone, first time poster here. I am going to throw this out today but might not get back to it for a couple of days so if I don't respond right away... don't think I am not interested.

I am going to be visiting NZ (Napier) in late September, I would love to take a day (or two) and go play/explore on a dirt bike. I am even open to a "tour" style group just to get to see some of the country side. I have see a group called "Over the top" but it sounds like quite a drive to get there... could be wrong though. I think they are just outside of Auckland.

I guess I am asking for suggestions from the local riders. I would really hate to come all that way and miss out on an opportunity of riding some different country side. Not reallly interested in street riding, just offroad.

Any suggestions??

Edited because I forgot to mention that I would need to rent the bike and gear. Thats why I am thinking the tour thing.

Thanks
Dewayne

[cheese]

Napier has not much to hire in the way of bikes and not much in organised riding areas. Over the top is brilliant and has some awesome tracks to ride on. Its about 3 -4 hours to drive to Wahi. There is plenty of accommodation there. Other options are to go to Thunder park just out of Hamilton (4-5 hours drive) and rent a bike, they have DRZ250 and 400's and some quads and that is $200 for the day or go to woodhill in Auckland (5-6 hours drive) and they are $250 for the day and you can get a WR250 or a KDX200. All include gear.

[cheese]

Forgot to say, Wahi is rock and clay based. Over the top is run more as a tour to you get photos taken etc and its great if there is not many of you. Thunder park is clay based and is just a farm really, a bit of a bog hole if it gets too wet.... Good fun to ride there, but you get given a bike and off you go. Woodhill is sand based and has very well groomed tracks and alot of variety. If you can do all the tracks in the day you are doing very well. Good thing about woodhill is that you ride there in rain/hail/sunshine.

[Ktmboy]

Try this.
http://www.endlessdirtbiking.co.nz/adventure-tours-rentals-coaching.html

All things dirt biking. Web site is not quite finished yet but the nuts and bolts are all go.

[camchain]

Hey Dewayne, it'd be a serious shame to come all they way to NZ and not see a bit more of the country. Sounds like your visit not as a tourist, but you only live once.

'Over The Top Adventures' would be a great bet if you can get yourself there, Coromandel also being a good North Island tourist destiniation. Should be a very different riding experience for you as well.

If there's any way you can extend your stay (and budget), suggest Offroad Adventures in Queenstown South Island as a great experience: www.offroad.co.nz
Columb family running it are serious dirt-bikers too, Scott did a stint at World Champs in Europe. Short flight down there is pretty cheap and Central Otago is just amazing country.

Pic is from a half day I did with them. (Incidentally, guys in centre pic were American).
About NZ$3-400 from memory, and totally worth it for something unforgetable.

What's the riding like where you are in Az, Any pics?

[barty5]

Not a bad looking web site Joined up already the forums will be interesting not so many of the roadies will be found lurking in there.

[Taz]

There is this place in rotorua
http://www.puredirttours.co.nz/

[BS Racing]

Okay, I am back. Now I am really wondering about the south island. Was thinking about it before but.... hmmmm... Very excited to come and visit your beautiful county!

I will make some calls and see what I can come up with.

A little background on me for those that are interested. I am from Phoenix AZ and we have lots and lots of desert here! So, simple enough, I mostly race desert. Have multiple bikes but the race bike is a CRF 450R with lots of goodies. Just put a new wide ratio transmission in it from CRFS Only and hoping to get 110 mph (177 Kph) out of it. We have been hitting the limiter around 98 mph and could not get any taller gears because it was getting 1st gear too tall.

I am attaching a couple of pictures in this one of the Vegas to Reno race in 2009. It was a 1000 miles (1609 kilometers). We had a two man team and finished it in 20 hours and 36 minutes. By far my biggest accomplishment ( I am 48 years YOUNG! )! We finished in the top 10 in the motorcycles and 23rd overall (370 entries) Had the time of my life! This was with Trophy Trucks, Class One Cars, etc. Just like Baja.

The last pic is a local race but still desert. Lots of rocks, dust, cactus etc.

[BS Racing]

More local riding pictures.... These are pictures of Glamis. It is a sand dune area in California. I go there when I am not racing because it is a blast. Throw on a paddle tire and it just hooks up! Lots of fun. Threw in a picture of my sand rail, Mighty Mouse LOL.. It is about 1000 lbs.... hmmm not sure of what weight you use. I have a Hayabusa in it, just a little motorcycle motor :) It has a turbo and I have it runs 28 lbs of boost with a 75 shot of Nitrous to get rid of the turbo lag.... fast is an understatement!

Anyway here are some pics.

[BS Racing]

One more thing.... since you have ocean everywhere around your. Anybody rent stand up jet skis? I guess I could get on a different forum but I figure if you ride a bike... you might ride a ski?

[barty5]

Talk to booom he rides ski's as did i till i sold it and he lives down that way might be able to sort you out a ride.

[cheese]

Pity you aren't here in a week, you could have done the tarawera 100!!

[cave weta]

Hey there everyone, first time poster here. I am going to throw this out today but might not get back to it for a couple of days so if I don't respond right away... don't think I am not interested.

I am going to be visiting NZ (Napier) in late September, I would love to take a day (or two) and go play/explore on a dirt bike. I am even open to a "tour" style group just to get to see some of the country side. I have see a group called "Over the top" but it sounds like quite a drive to get there... could be wrong though. I think they are just outside of Auckland.

Any suggestions??

Edited because I forgot to mention that I would need to rent the bike and gear. Thats why I am thinking the tour thing.

Thanks
Dewayne

Hey there Dewayne- Stuart here from over the top adventures. click on my signiture to hit the website. things here in the Coromandel hills are challanging at the moment - but good fun for competent riders. by september it will be warmer and the terrain will be friendlier .