Thinking of going to New Zealand -- I need help!

[Spanish Beemer]

Hi Kiwis, how are you?

Just joined the forum searching for advice to take a decision.

My name is Jose from Madrid, together with my wife, we have traveled from Spain to Australia on a BMW GSA during the last 13 months, right now in Alice Springs planning our next destinations.

https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

We will ship to Africa after Oceania, actually we were going to skip NZ because of weather, time and money but lots of people keep telling us we have to go to because it is awesome country.

So we have some questions, I hope you can help us to decide:

- How is the weather in September??, we know it is not the best time of the year but that is the month we would ride. Is it very, very cold and rainy??? The plan would be north and south islands.

- How easy it would be to buy a bike and then sell it after 30 days?? Any dealer in Auckland that could help us with that?? Only for one month I don't think it is worth to ship to our bike to NZ

Thanks a lot

If finally going, I hope we can meet some people from this forum

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

[fridayflash]

hi and kia ora jose!

the weather in september isnt too cold, as winter is over although spring rains and the odd cold patch can arise. the south island is nice in september as you still get to see some of the winter beauty (snow!) but not too cold. the north island (where i live is quite warm in that month and even the odd hot day. id look at renting a bmw gs if i were in your situation, or if you do buy a bike of your own you may have to get someone to sell it for you once your gone. i have heard of dealer 'buy backs' for tourists but dont know quite how it works. if you do decide to come over, look us up in napier and good luck!!!!!

[dogsnbikes]

Hi Kiwis, how are you?

Just joined the forum searching for advice to take a decision.

My name is Jose from Madrid, together with my wife, we have traveled from Spain to Australia on a BMW GSA during the last 13 months, right now in Alice Springs planning our next destinations.

https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

We will ship to Africa after Oceania, actually we were going to skip NZ because of weather, time and money but lots of people keep telling us we have to go to because it is awesome country.

So we have some questions, I hope you can help us to decide:

- How is the weather in September??, we know it is not the best time of the year but that is the month we would ride. Is it very, very cold and rainy??? The plan would be north and south islands.

- How easy it would be to buy a bike and then sell it after 30 days?? Any dealer in Auckland that could help us with that?? Only for one month I don't think it is worth to ship to our bike to NZ

Thanks a lot

If finally going, I hope we can meet some people from this forum

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

Frank and Simone were here last year look at their website full off useful information

http://krad-vagabunden.de/

[Gremlin]

I've moved your thread to Coming or Going, have a look around, plenty of threads for visitors.

[Spanish Beemer]

Thanks guys!!

Encouraging information!!

Fridayflash, if going through Napier, we will let you know, thanks!!!

Cheers

Jose

[Paul in NZ]

The biggest thing to remember - and without wanting to sound negative is that this is an island. It has an island climate and not a continental one. That means the climate is dominated by the surrounding oceans without enough land mass to damp out some of the wilder fluctuations. That usually means wind - ie we get more wind here than say Alice Springs.

You can come here in september and the weather will be fabulous - or - it will rain cats n dogs, blow a gale and snow in deep drifts.... If it snows - wait a few days and it will be nice again and while cooler the views will be better.

That applies pretty well any time except for the 2 months of real summer (january/february) and 2 months of winter July/August. The rest is all spring and autumn.

30 days isnt long to do both islands and return. Distances here are better measured in hours taken than actual kilometers.

People are generally friendly BUT like everywhere (including Spain) there are ratbags who see tourists as viable income streams. Dont do daft things like leave gear on the bike in remote car parks etc and you will be fine!

If you ask - there are usually a few people on here that can assist with a bed for the night etc.

[Spanish Beemer]

The biggest thing to remember - and without wanting to sound negative is that this is an island. It has an island climate and not a continental one. That means the climate is dominated by the surrounding oceans without enough land mass to damp out some of the wilder fluctuations. That usually means wind - ie we get more wind here than say Alice Springs.

You can come here in september and the weather will be fabulous - or - it will rain cats n dogs, blow a gale and snow in deep drifts.... If it snows - wait a few days and it will be nice again and while cooler the views will be better.

That applies pretty well any time except for the 2 months of real summer (january/february) and 2 months of winter July/August. The rest is all spring and autumn.

30 days isnt long to do both islands and return. Distances here are better measured in hours taken than actual kilometers.

People are generally friendly BUT like everywhere (including Spain) there are ratbags who see tourists as viable income streams. Dont do daft things like leave gear on the bike in remote car parks etc and you will be fine!

If you ask - there are usually a few people on here that can assist with a bed for the night etc.

Thanks for the post Paul!! we take the advice!!

I am sure most of the people will be nice and friendly!!

Cheers

Jose

[the oldstuff]

free stay in Oxford if you make it to South Island

[tamarillo]

can be cool and wet but so can our summer and in september you miss the maddening crowds and snails (big hire camper vans that swarm our roads in summer).

how about asking folk selling bikes if they woudl like a private buy back? If someone is in no hurry and you offer them money they might say yes.
You don't need a big bike here - no high speed riding to do. Old BMW boxer would work well for instance and often have panniers on.

[tamarillo]

this woudl work if they wanted to deal

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/157626-Classic-BMER-1100?p=1130521665#post1130521665

[Spanish Beemer]

Hi there,

finally we will ship our GS there, with Qantas, good price and easy, no crating. Quarantaine is as strict as in Australia???

We will get there on this weekend

How is the weather??? It is nice and warm in Sydney

Cheers

Jose

[Spanish Beemer]

I forgot to ask, what steps do I need do before riding there??

Thanks

Jose

[sil3nt]

We have just come out of a warm winter and they are predicting a cold and wet spring.

Take a look here for a 5 day forecast over the country http://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain-forecast/rain-forecast-5-day

[Paul in NZ]

Quarantine is strict... Particularly dirt on vehicles and camping gear...

International drivers license is OK I think.

Happy to help with accom etc but of course we unfortunately have to work for a living and start very early. Plus Vicki has me redecorating the hall which wont stop there I tell you.. argh...

[Bald Eagle]

Hi Jose

if you need a bed passing through wellington we have shed for the bike, sofas to sleep on and home made alcohol aka ratt piison, pm me or ratti
enjoy your visit

[Grashopper]

I've got two spare beds and a garage in Taupo for a night or two if I'm here. Just give me a day or so notice cause that's usually my storage room :D

[Paul in NZ]

Hi Jose

if you need a bed passing through wellington we have shed for the bike, sofas to sleep on and home made alcohol aka ratt piison, pm me or ratti
enjoy your visit

Its a TRAP!

[leathel]

nasty piece of weather hitting but is passing fast...but followed by a couple more

http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=7

Weather can change fast and rain can pass and have blue skies afterwards...

I ride all weather but down south it can get quite a lot colder :)

[Spanish Beemer]

Thanks guys!!

We will see what we find when we get there

Cheersv:laugh:

[Spanish Beemer]

Hi,

Bike is already there I think and we will get to Auckland tomorrow.

One question, do we need to register the bike like in Australia?? What about insurance??

Willing to start riding around your country

Cheers

[Paul in NZ]

As much as I hate to recommend it - probably the AA (in the centre of town) will be useful but I would try here first..

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/contact/index.html

Cheers

[Spanish Beemer]

Thanks Paul, I will contact them; I hope it is not a looooot of money!!!

Cheers

[Paul in NZ]

It shouldnt be - I assume you have a Carnet or such like indicating that the vehicle is not staying here?

If so then you don't need to rego it here provided it is registered at home. You will need to lodge a deposit though.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/35/importing-a-vehicle-temporarily.html

[Spanish Beemer]

All good guys!!

Already enjoying your awesome country!! arrive yesterday, got the bike out of the airport today, fixed the papers wof, inspection etc and by 12 noon headed to Coromandel Peninsula, nice day, beautiful scenery!!

Cheers!!

[Spanish Beemer]

All good, we have enjoyed these days so far, east cape has been great!!

Any idea for tires in Wellington??

From Auckland we will ship the bike to South Africa, I tried to arrange the shipping with Air New Zealand but they told me I need to go through an freight forwarder, anybody has any advice??

Tomorrow will head for Gentle Annie (Napier to Taihape) and on Sunday I will meet Bald Eagle and Ratti at Wellington, nice people we are finding around

Thanks guys!!

Cheers

Jose
https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

[leathel]

I hope this weather settles soon for you, Windy weather with some heavy rain in the forecast but being such a narrow country sometimes its hard to get the forecast right.... I hope the front slips down the side :)

You will love some of the South Island roads and landscape as well.

I can't help with wellington tyres as I am usually to the ferries to head south :P

[Bald Eagle]

If you haven't left ohakyune yet, recommend raetahi pipiriki ( river road) to Wanganui, bit of a gravel section in the middle but very scenic way to wanganui

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Spanish Beemer]

Thanks a lot Paul and Faith for hosting us these couple days, very nice meeting you guys in Wellington!! See you in 3/4 weeks!!

Heading to the South Island!! We keep enjoying the country and the people!!

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

[the oldstuff]

Ah, the South... you will not regret it. Would love to ride with/host you. Plenty of sheds/bikes. Rural location (10 acres/4 hectares) 5 minutes from village. Best homegrown steak.

[Bald Eagle]

Thanks a lot Paul and Faith for hosting us these couple days, very nice meeting you guys in Wellington!! See you in 3/4 weeks!!

Heading to the South Island!! We keep enjoying the country and the people!!

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

Was our pleasure to meet you both. See you on your return leg.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Ratti]

Ah, the South... you will not regret it. Would love to ride with/host you. Plenty of sheds/bikes. Rural location (10 acres/4 hectares) 5 minutes from village. Best homegrown steak.


buggar..If I'd known that I'd have dodged work for a few days and wandered down with Jose and Pilar!. O - that's right, bike still at the mechanics. bother.

[Spanish Beemer]

Ah, the South... you will not regret it. Would love to ride with/host you. Plenty of sheds/bikes. Rural location (10 acres/4 hectares) 5 minutes from village. Best homegrown steak.

Hi Oldstuff!! Thanks a lot!! It will be nice to meet and ride!! Impatient to try that steak!! jaja. We will let you know when closer

Cheers from Nelson

We are just enjoying New Zealand

Jose and Pilar

https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

[Spanish Beemer]

Rest day in Kaikoura, beautiful views of the snowed mountains so close the the sea.

Tomorrow we will head through Arthurs Pass to the west coast

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

[cynna]

are you doing any of the gravel roads here or sticking to the sealed roads?

[Spanish Beemer]

So far we have done sealed roads but have applied for permits for Molesworth

What other do you recommend?? We plan Skyppers, Dansey…

Thanks for the info

Jose

[cynna]

from chch theres the lees valley which is a good day trip, or lots of gravel around banks pennisula

if im heading south from failie i normally go down mackenzie pass to hakamatea pass which takes you to kurow then onto danseys pass

are you coming back to chch after arthurs pass? maybe post on this thread and someone may be able to show you round

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/133817-I-m-looking-for-Christchurch-Adv-rides

and ADVGD on here has a good site with lots of info about the tracks
http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/

[Spanish Beemer]

Thanks a lot Cynna!

We will check that area on our way back north, after the west coast, go down to Bluff, Catlin, Mount cook, Christchurh and then north back to North Island, need to be in Auckland around the 26-27 to arrange the shipping of the bike to South Africa

Ii will be great to meet up with other kiwi bikers

Cheers

Jose
https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

[Spanish Beemer]

Too bad!! We applied for permit to ride the Molesworth and they denied us, they say the road will be opened on October 25, too late for us, we will be in Auckland getting the bike ready to ship.

We had heard good ting of this road!!

Jose

[Spanish Beemer]

Hi there,

Otago Peninsula, Catlins and Milford Sound has been just great!! incredible riding with beautiful weather, now in Queenstown!!

Awesome NZ!!

Cheers

Jose

[leathel]

some great scenery down that area all right....and good roads and some great out of the way places on the back roads as well :D

[Spanish Beemer]

some great scenery down that area all right....and good roads and some great out of the way places on the back roads as well :D

Skypper Road and the road to Glenorchy have been great!!!

Tomorrow riding to Mount Cook!!

Cheers

[Spanish Beemer]

free stay in Oxford if you make it to South Island

Thanks a lot for your hospitality Simon!! awesome steak, well cooked!!!

Nice ride around Akaroa Peninsula!!

Keep heading north!!

Cheers

Jose and Pilar

[Spanish Beemer]

Hi guys,

Made it to Johanesburg some days ago!! Tomorrow we will start the ride towards Cape Town and then north to Spain in 4 or 5 months.

It was a real pleasure to enjoy New Zealand, riding was great but people was even better, we will come back for sure.

Thanks a lot for your help

Cheers

Jose and Pilar
https://www.facebook.com/AventurasEnMoto

[leathel]

And you were going to bypass us :)

Good to here you enjoyed New Zealand, well worth the extra stop then by the sounds of it :clap:

[Fern]

Hi

I met with Jose and Pilar last year when I rode from UK to here, we met in Iran, Kygystan China and Pakistan..

I moved to Auckland before they arrived, and managed to catch up with them just before they left Auckland for South Africa.

They told me what a wonderful reception they had down south, and how good it was to stay with people that offered.. I'm so glad they decided to come to NZ and not miss it out!

So thank you everyone for making them so welcome!

I'll be following their tracks and heading to South Island on the 27th Dec.. Perhaps the weather might be slightly warmer!

Cheers Folks

Fern