Best motorcycle place to live?

[janno]

Hi all,

I'm coming back to NZ after a couple of years away to spend some time with elderly gran in New Plymouth. Then, as I'm a freelance journalist, I can pretty much live anywhere and was idly wondering where would people live in NZ if they could live anywhere and why?

My favourite city was Dunedin for seven years, but I don't like the thought of having to put the bike away for the icy months. It's no fun down there in winter when the council in their wisdom have gritted the roads as that causes more problems than the ice.

So 'fess up everyone, where do you/would like to live from a motorcycling point of view? I need some ideas.

Janno.

[SpeedyGirl]

Being completly one-eyed...Christchurch or Nelson :2thumbsup

[outlawtorn]

Hi Janno,

Auckland is the place to be, central to good rides up north and down south, plus it'll be good for your business.......

[deathstar]

well from personal experience tamaki drive through mission bay is amazing just seeing the views and then the views on peoples faces when sitting in a cue of 70 cars as you go wizzing by

[Hitcher]

Or Napier. Or New Plymouth. Or Dunedin. Or Wellington. Or Whangarei.

[2much]

Tauranga/Mt Maunganui or Nelson.... depending on which island you'ld prefer.

[Hitcher]

Auckland is the place to be, central to good rides up north and down south, plus it'll be good for your business...
And your stress levels. And your ulcers.

[Sniper]

Wellington with the Rimutakas seems like a good place

[outlawtorn]

And your stress levels. And your ulcers.
what stress? I never get stuck in traffic, I have a great job, I live in a nice area. The only downfall to Auckland would be the congested roads.

[Matt Bleck]

Gisborne!!

Why?

The Waioeka George, the Wharerata's and the East Cape!!

[MidnightMike]

Tauranga, although thats the only place that I've ridden before.

[nsrpaul]

nelson , good roads in all directions from here , we are blessed

[Sparky Bills]

Your all crazy!!!

Kapiti is the only place to be!
Great roads, close enough to Wellington yet far enough away to be out of town.
But best of all....
Close to Piekok Hill and all the other great roads in the Lower North Island.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!:Punk:

[Bonez]

Or Napier. Or New Plymouth. Or Dunedin. Or Wellington. Or Whangarei. Let's not forget the freindly Manawatu-Palmerston North is ideally situated for motorcycling.:not: :not: :not:

[far queue]

Being completly one-eyed...Christchurch or Nelson :2thumbsup

Just because we're one eyed doesn't mean were not right :motu:

Anywhere in the south island's good. Great roads (both sealed and back of beyond) with less traffic than the North Island ones. And of course Christchurch is near enough to the middle of the island giving equal access to them all. Still get good days in the winter. Akaroa is just over the hill for a good blat on the road and the waimak river is just up the road if you're inclined to want to have a play in the dirt (or mud in winter) :clap:

[mops]

south coast of France !
Cote de Lazur !

[Lou Girardin]

Auckland's fine if you don't mind travelling 30 - 50 k's just to clear the motorways. After that it's great.
Then there's the traffic. But that doesn't really matter on a bike does it?
You need two houses, one in Nelson and one in Whangarei. Then you've got the seasons covered.

[miSTa]

One eye be damned - Christchurch (or at the very least the South Island) :moon:

[Dreamer]

Gisborne!!

Why?

The Waioeka George, the Wharerata's and the East Cape!!
Gisborne all the way. Love the photo. The beaches north of Gisborne have some of the last free camping sites.

[ZTHOU]

You're all wrong.Thames,Coromandel is the only place.A motorcyclists Utopia

[98tls]

if it was me i would live on the westcoast of the south island,beautiful with some of the best motorcycling roads in the world,forget the crap about it raining all the time,sure it rains a bit but if it didnt then you wouldnt have the rain forests,real laid back place to be.

[**R1**]

I think the correct answer is New Zealand. full stop...but i must add i hate Dorkland...

[Bonez]

A motorcyclists UtopiaIs'nt that in Africa?

[Charlie]

I think NZ has so many great scenic places and varying roads. Your difficulty is not in finding a place - but in choosing.
Wherever it is probably wont matter because to change the scene; you just take a ride... :ride:

But to get off the fence:
Kapiti is great! Costal. Central. Great roads Nth in Manawatu, or Sth in Welly; or sideways in Wairarapa. Sth island is a hop away. Gizzy & New Plymouth in a day trip.

[Deviant Esq]

Not that it hasn't been mentioned already... but I'll add myself to the list of one eyed Christchurch supporters. :niceone:

[Slingshot]

I'd have to say (after spending a dew days their recently) that without a doubt...the best place in NZ....would be.....drum roll please...


Waihi!


You've got easy access to the Coromandle, either clockwise or anti, or a shortish jaunt to Thames and back...the oppurtunities are endless.

[flash]

why not around palmiston north/piatua. when i went down there i didnt see one cop and theres next to no other cars to distract you. (p.s the mount/taurangas too busy, cant find any good places apart from the back of tepuke and welcome bay, and those roads are pretty dangerous)

[janno]

I think NZ has so many great scenic places and varying roads. Your difficulty is not in finding a place - but in choosing.

Yes, exactly, so many great places to choose from. I'm all big citied out these days so Wgtn and Auckland are not on my list. Nelson sounds like me.
All year round riding there? I don't mind rain at all as I believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. (Remind me of that comment in June when I have my first winter in three years!!) But I am shit scared of black ice. I bet top of the South Island is probably far more user friendly than most of the lower North in winter. I used to live in Eketawhere and nearly got blown off my horse on one memorable occasion. Even the poor old beastie staggered when the gust hit so can imagine it would be pretty easy to get whooshed in to a ditch.

Have many people been blown off the road? Remember there is hardly ANY wind in Perth or Brisbane!! The week we arrived in Perth there was a bit of a blow (you might loose your hat), and a few drops of rain, and the paper the next day screamed "STORM LASHES PERTH!". We must have blinked when it was on . . . Was a pretty user friendly storm compared to your average day in Eketawhat, I can tell you!

Scuse my long posts, the joys of being a touch typist.

[Toast]

You're all wrong.Thames,Coromandel is the only place.A motorcyclists Utopia

Hell yeah...go the 'mandel.

Auckland is ok, but you've gotta ride about 1hr before you get to Coro Peninsula.

Wellington's also not bad, but you've gotta ride about 7 hours to the Peninsula, so it's kinda outta the question.

New Plymouth is a bit better than Welly, it's probably about 5hrs to the Peninsula.

Used to live in Coro township, too small a place for a young'n, but fun nipping down to the shops (in Thames) for the milk.

[Sensei]

The Naki by a Mile !! Ride out of my Gate on my Farmlet & straight onto back road with no Cops to worry about That is the BEST !! 200k+ within 600m of my house .

[marty]

pretty much anywhere in the waikato...

[Virago]

Keeping up the one eyed theme - Dunedin, or to be more specific, Otago.

I'm in the suburb of Halfway Bush, less than 2 minutes ride from the open road. First stretch of road - Three Mile Hill - a delightful series of twisties. From there, the choice is endless - down the coast, or inland to sunny Central Otago.

I'm still finding new rides around Dunedin. Surely a biker's paradise.....:ride:

[janno]

Ah yes, Halfway Bush - the last winter I was there we headed up more than a few times to hiff snowballs. Three mile hill road was closed a lot too. I guess you could put skis on your boots and ride feet down . . .

[Smokin]

The South Island's a top place to own a bike, Bugger all traffic compaired with the North Island.
I rode around Auckland once, Never again!!! It scared the shit out of me, Everyones out to get ya up there.
The west coast is just fantastic, truely a motorcycle paradise :ride:

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Napier by far. I was brought up in Nelson, did riding there, lived in Wellington for many years - limited riding I found - only two ways out of the place - moved to Napier cos of the better weather and riding all year round - you can go in any direction, in North Island. Also lots of fantastic roads in the Bay itself - and few cops!

[Harry33]

Anyone got any ideas where you shouldn't live. Let the games begin.:2guns:

[NhuanH]

Keeping up the one eyed theme - Dunedin, or to be more specific, Otago.
isn't that becoming less specific?

Auckland is a realist's compromise re: $$ opportunities to fuel the habit (and home of the Blues), but Coro would be cool if you could swing it. Oh, the loop multiple times a week... :woohoo:

[janno]

Wainui-o-martian-land in the Hutt Valley. I had the complete misfortune to live there for a year and it's the absolute arsehole of the universe. The only good thing about that place is the road out of there. Apologies to anyone who just luurrves Wainuiomata - if there are any.

[Jantar]

Central Otago has the very best motorcycling roads in New Zealand. The draw back is the weather. Riding to work tonight the temperature was once again over 30. Its just too hot. But then if you've ridden in Brisbane you'll be used to that.

In the winter it can get quite cool, but unlike Dunedin we don't get the ice. Its just too dry, and I ride in temperatures down to -6. Below that the bike stays in the shed. Last winter there were around 10 days that I didn't ride to work, but took the cage.

The next best part of New Zealand for motorcycling is the Central Plateau in the North Island. Taupo, Tokoroa etc. are central to all parts of the North Island. There are some really great roads out east into the Bay of Plenty, or west into King Country. Then there are superb roads around the hydro lakes.

As others have already said, you'll be right just about anywhere except Auckland.

[HDTboy]

For good roads, and usually good weather, you'd be a fool not to consider Whangarei. The Northland loop ride is pretty spectacular, and Auckland's only an hour (or two if you're slow) away

[Hitcher]

Summary so far? Anywhere in New Zealand is good for motorcycling (with the exception of Auckland and Tauranga).

[soundbeltfarm]

as sensei said man.
ask your gran she onto it mate she is in the best place for bikes already so why leave here once you arrive?

[et al]

How about Wanganui? I was born and bred there and spent my first couple of biking years there. When I compare the riding choices there to what we have available in Wellington I realise that there are just so many directions you can head off in eg go North to New Plymouth, or Central up the Paraparas, or South to Palmerston North or Wellington etc. The big thing I like about that area is that there are so many good "back" roads you can take as well. Of course also handy for Boxing Day races!

[vs04]

How about Wanganui? I was born and bred there and spent my first couple of biking years there. When I compare the riding choices there to what we have available in Wellington I realise that there are just so many directions you can head off in eg go North to New Plymouth, or Central up the Paraparas, or South to Palmerston North or Wellington etc. The big thing I like about that area is that there are so many good "back" roads you can take as well. Of course also handy for Boxing Day races!
My thoughts also,wanganui,s central to some pretty good riding thats for sure.

[Timber020]

Not Auckland, it has a police helicopter.

Not any place to small, the cops always find out where you live.

[Rashika]

Being YET another one eyed cantab, I'd have to say chch of course, tho Nelson has some awesome roads too....its just a little too far away from the other incredible roads down south...like the southern lakes area. :spudflip:
Its just damn nice being able to ride without too much worry about traffic.
Its kinda like this.... ride, corner, ride, corner.... ooooo theres a car, wait for it.... coooooooooool passing manouver, then back to the ride, corner, ride, corner for another 10 mins till the next wee blat past traffic.

There are some nice roads up north too, like the one BuellBabe took me on :scooter: and the coro area ...but the traffic is shit scary at times and I dont think it quite makes up for it, but everyone is different... I just love the south!! :woohoo:

[JMemonic]

Well I am bias but I add my vote for Christchurch, some really nice day trips from here through the gorges, or the inland route to Kaikoura, defiantly great trips south through the lakes, and over to the coast and it still metroplitan enough to offer opportunitys. As for Dunedin and motor cycles umm two words come to mind forget it, winters are lousy, if you live on any hill buy a set of skis.

[janno]

Must admit, I've been getting excited about exploring Taranaki on the bike, because when I left years ago I didn't have my bike licence.

Thanks for the info on Cantab Jantar - I didn't know about the no ice bit. Verrry much food for thought as the winter trips I made through there it was generally snowing, so I assumed it would be icy like Dunners.

And yes, 30deg is nothing to ride in, anything above 35 gets painful though. I've got a heat vest which you soak, dry off, and the evaporation keeps you coolish for about 2 hours. Lots of people have them over here, I even got one for the dog as he comes on the bike alot.

[pyrocam]

wellington no doubt.

[Toast]

Actually now that I think of it, the 'Naki has got plenty of damn fine roads...that Mountain section on the way to NP (quite far from NP) is gorgeous, rain or shine.

[Goblin]

I'd say Taupo or Rotorua as they are so central. East or west coast in a day trip and the B roads to anywhere are awesome! There's all the lakes for watersports in summer and hot pools for thawing out in winter. Close enough to some good ski fields, if you're into that sort of thing. All year round riding.
Taupo nearly has a huge international race circuit for all sorts of motorsport and for The Battle of the Streets it's a decent ride to both Wanganui and Paeroa. Great to make it a few days adventure and explore different routes on the way home.
Great place to live.:spudwave:

[pyrocam]

I'd say Taupo or Rotorua as they are so central. East or west coast in a day trip and the B roads to anywhere are awesome! There's all the lakes for watersports in summer and hot pools for thawing out in winter. Close enough to some good ski fields, if you're into that sort of thing. All year round riding.
Taupo nearly has a huge international race circuit for all sorts of motorsport and for The Battle of the Streets it's a decent ride to both Wanganui and Paeroa. Great to make it a few days adventure and explore different routes on the way home.
Great place to live.:spudwave:

I guess If you wanted to live in hella country area.
I would have to say near (but not toooo close) mangakino.
I recently traveled from auckland to wellington and back via different routes and the roads near mangakino are difinately the win.
hardout twisties, forest, lakes, rivers, mountains.

but I wouldnt live there.

[Zed]

So 'fess up everyone, where do you/would like to live from a motorcycling point of view? I need some ideas.Hi Janno, off the cuff, if I had the liberty of choosing where I lived in NZ centering around my motorcycling, with the knowledge I've gained over the years I'd probably live in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui. This is because it's fairly centralised to the Taupo/Manfield/Pukekohe/Hampton Downs race tracks and is surrounded by great roads, including the infamous Coromandel Loop just a short way away on a bike! Not to mention being nice and coastal. :D

[Toast]

I'd probably live in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui. This is because it's fairly centralised to the Taupo/Manfield/Pukekohe/Hampton Downs race tracks :D

Ooh, forgot to consider that...good call.

[janno]

Toast - Awakino Gorge through to Mt Messenger I think you're talking about. King Country/Taranaki border. Hitched through the gorge once and a bald old man and a long haired woman stopped their car. Got up closer and it was a hippie and a skinhead! Great guys, despite one having just picked the other up from jail.

[Toast]

Toast - Awakino Gorge through to Mt Messenger I think you're talking about. King Country/Taranaki border. Hitched through the gorge once and a bald old man and a long haired woman stopped their car. Got up closer and it was a hippie and a skinhead! Great guys, despite one having just picked the other up from jail.

hahaha...the good old days...now even the accountants and builders are on 'P' and will probably cut you up...sorry to be pessimistic...and it's prob still not so bad out in the country anyway

[scumdog]

Don't come down here, we're all cunts and don't need any more people cluttering the roads:spudguita

Go and stay with WINJA.:doobey:

It's all lies about the South Island - stay away!!:lol:

[Quasievil]

Jano most of these guys are dillusional, Hamilton is the place
5 mins riding in any direction will give you a huge choice of nice roads to ride, not to mention the best location in NZ, 25 mins to an awesome beach 30 mins to the best surf beach in the country, River in the middle of town for watersports, best nightlife outside wellington. 1.5 hours to go to Auckland (I commute everyday)
1 hour ten to Tauranga to more beaches.
Houses are shitloads cheaper than Auckland, heaps of work opportunities, excellent schools and university, faaaaark the list goes on.
Oh the climate less fog than Auckland and wellington combined (FAct)

and the best thing is I live here and like to drink beer:woohoo:

[Quasievil]

Oh and I have the choice of three racetracks, Pukekohe 45 mins, Taupo 2 hours, hampton Downs 30 mins (when built) and Paeroa (on race day 30 mins)

[Mooch]

If I had the choice and wasn't locked into a work location I'd move around.

Nelson / Buller in Summer,
Wellington / Wiarapapa in Autum
Northland in Winter.
Queenstown in spring

[NordieBoy]

My favourite city was Dunedin for seven years, but I don't like the thought of having to put the bike away for the icy months.
Put bike away? :eek5:

[heavenly.talker]

After the SI trip I would have to say top of the South Island around Queen Charlotte sounds rates pretty high. Glorious roads!

[janno]

hahaha...the good old days...now even the accountants and builders are on 'P' and will probably cut you up...sorry to be pessimistic...and it's prob still not so bad out in the country anyway

No, I agree with ya, it was just a mad phase my mate and I went through in our 16th summer. Erk!!! 18 Years ago!!! Would never hitch now, and would never pick up hitchers now. Sad but got to be realistic.

[janno]

[QUOTE=scumdog]Don't come down here, we're all cunts and don't need any more people cluttering the roads:spudguita

I lived in Invers for eight months and couldn't wait to leave. Mind you, that was eight years ago, maybe the nightclubs have improved and no longer get the house rockin' with the latest hit from Neil Diamond - I'm not joking!!! I was there!!

Then I lived in Dud for seven years and loved every minute of it, so going to Wellington traffic after that, then Perth and Brizvegas traffic has left me in no doubt that I am not a big city slicker. The best rides I've had in Aus were starting out 5am Christmas and Nyears day, every other mad bugger is otherwise occupied and you can enjoy the road instead of practising your "high alert for extreme danger" defensive riding skills.

[dawnrazor]

Philip Island has a lot to offer you know!

[Rashika]

I think what you need to do is a tour of the country and see for yaself all over again, before settling for one spot :ride:

[janno]

I think what you need to do is a tour of the country and see for yaself all over again, before settling for one spot :ride:

That's a great idea, and all the local KBers can show me their favourite roads. I like the idea of a Royal Tour, should take, oooohhh, at least a year!! It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it . . . Could pay my way by writing features about where I've been - actually that's not such a silly idea come to think of it. Hmmmmm.

[Rashika]

That's a great idea, and all the local KBers can show me their favourite roads. I like the idea of a Royal Tour, should take, oooohhh, at least a year!! It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it . . . Could pay my way by writing features about where I've been - actually that's not such a silly idea come to think of it. Hmmmmm.
:apumpin: sounds like a good plan then :laugh:

[yungatart]

A plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel...

[Pixie]

How predictable.
most replies promoted the place where the poster lives.

From a purely biking point of view,for the variety of roads that are accessable.
anywhere in the waikato is the place to be.
North of auckland,you just get bored riding the same handful of roads all the time.

[Rashika]

How predictable.
most replies promoted the place where the poster lives.

kinda makes sense tho...you generally live where you WANT to live, and being bikers most of us want to ride as well, soooooo, makes sense to be close to good roads that we all like.
The problem with NZ is that there are just so many good roads. :yes:
It is easy for most of us to get to great roads in a short timeframe... so damnit there is just TOO much choice!

[pritch]

Was watching the responses which started to look like everyone was recommending their own home patch. Can sort of see why that might happen..

If it was necessary to visit the big smoke frequently, but not so often as to be commuting, living somewhere not a long way south of Auckland might be a good and perhaps slightly less expensive option. SH22, the Hunua road, the Seabird Coast, the Coro loop, all more or less on the doorstep.

And no, I don't live there.

[socialites]

kinda makes sense tho...you generally live where you WANT to live, and being bikers most of us want to ride as well, soooooo, makes sense to be close to good roads that we all like.
The problem with NZ is that there are just so many good roads. :yes:
It is easy for most of us to get to great roads in a short timeframe... so damnit there is just TOO much choice!
You must be in a different NZ to me, as the roads in this country are shocking, cheap tar seal, uneven surfaces, narrow, badly marked...ect...ect

[ducatilover]

italy....:love:

[Rashika]

You must be in a different NZ to me, as the roads in this country are shocking, cheap tar seal, uneven surfaces, narrow, badly marked...ect...ect
yeah.... YOURE right! i live in the Mainland :devil2: :rofl:

[socialites]

yeah.... YOURE right! i live in the Mainland :devil2: :rofl:
Oh...so I guess one could say you are overseas.

[Goblin]

yeah.... YOURE right! i live in the Mainland :devil2: :rofl:
:laugh: And he's in Dorkland...:killingme

[ducatilover]

yeah.... YOURE right! i live in the Mainland :devil2: :rofl:
i hear you have very nice roads down there? i hope so cos i'm moving to nelson in 2 years!:wari: :first:

[T.W.R]

Oh...so I guess one could say you are overseas.

lols we can't help it if you live in that over populated, congested neck of the woods.
even the overseas motorcycle journos that come here to guage the roads cream the puds when they get to the south island, we've got the roads, the scenary, and sweet F/A traffic compared to the north.
the south is a bikers paradise

[ducatilover]

lols we can't help it if you live in that over populated, congested neck of the woods.
even the overseas motorcycle journos that come here to guage the roads cream the puds when they get to the south island, we've got the roads, the scenary, and sweet F/A traffic compared to the north.
the south is a bikers paradise
come up here and go over the takas mate;) :Punk:

[scumdog]

come up here and go over the takas mate;) :Punk:

Obviously a boy posted THAT!!

Just been through the Haast after stopping at Hawea, this has to be the best ride bar none - 80+km with 8 cars seen going the other way and 6 overtaken!!

Speeds of 140kmh or more reported and not a cop seen!!

Now to test the road up the coast to Woodstock.

Eat your heart out North Islanders!!

[T.W.R]

come up here and go over the takas mate;) :Punk:

lols the rimutaka's are only 28ks of road between the hutt & featherston D/L, ChCh has a couple of hundred kms of very very similar roads around Banks peninsula :gob: a good wee playground

then theres all the different bits n pieces all over the south & all with less than half the traffic & lols the north island doesn't know what proper alpine scenary looks like :oi-grr:

[janno]

[QUOTE=T.W.R]lols the rimutaka's are only 28ks of road between the hutt & featherston D/L, ChCh has a couple of hundred kms of very very similar roads around Banks peninsula :gob: a good wee playground

Yes!!Agree, agree, agree! The only reason most people aren't down South in my opinion is that most of the better paid work for a lot of professions is in the north. eg my husband is a boilermaker and would have had to take a 1/3 or more pay cut if he moved to Dunedin where I was when we met. Which is fine by me as everyone can stay right where they are in the North Island and I'll head back down South after spending quality time with my Nana (which is a vitally important mission as we all know.)

[Macktheknife]

nelson , good roads in all directions from here , we are blessed
Nelson area is one of the most beautiful places in the world IMO
Having said that why restrict yourself to just one beautiful place? Travel around every few months and see it all.:woohoo:

[ducatilover]

lols the rimutaka's are only 28ks of road between the hutt & featherston D/L, ChCh has a couple of hundred kms of very very similar roads around Banks peninsula :gob: a good wee playground

then theres all the different bits n pieces all over the south & all with less than half the traffic & lols the north island doesn't know what proper alpine scenary looks like :oi-grr:
i knew it was a pointless shot. haha my mate hamish reckons the south fucken rules, probably why were moving down there unless i go into buisness with my old man.:wari: either way i have to ride the south island before a cager or myself kill me:calm: :niceone: