Honda Kids Campouts

[BM-GS]

Hi all, am about to send a cheque off for the Honda Kids Campout at Waiotira in Jan. I am slightly hesitant as the thought of spending a weekend in the company of 450 other people, all in tents, is a bit off-putting. I've looked around, but can't find a single comment in favour (or not) of these Honda events (apart from their own adverts). Does anyone who's been on one have an opinion?

I expect the kids (aged 3 & 5) will enjoy it whatever, but not sure about the adults in the party (who will be sharing a bike and have nearly zero off-road experience.

My only mass-motorcycle camping experience was Le Mans 24hrs in 1993, so it's possible I'm anticipating an element which won't be at this event (ie: kids probably drink less than the Le Mans crowd and don't practice wheelies/dragracing through the campground at 4am).

Cheers,

[Dutchee]

I went to one of the first ones run and enjoyed it. Not allowed to go as don't have kids. From memory, there was a bit of training, if wanted, short loops for the kids (and adults), nothing challenging (I do remember a downhill I hated, but I hate downhills anyway). Was a fun weekend, but camping with bikes is always fun.
Plenty of mums just go along & read or cruise out. You should enjoy it, so long as you enjoy camping.
They also do off-bike activities in the evenings (scavenger hunt & stuff).
Hope that helps, it has been about 10 years since I went.

[civil]

The kids and I are heading to our third next year.

They love it and the tracks are kid friendly so go and enjoy.

We headed up to that one a few years back and it was dusty on the trails

[trumpy]

Took my son to one of these five years ago, we both had a ball and my son got to ride at his own pace with a heap of other kids. Do it.

[oldskool]

Wot if you don't have a tent like me? There's 4 of us and it sounds like fun.

[BM-GS]

Join the Honda Kids Club quick - they had special offers on tents & s/bags in the Honda stuff that came through.

It sounds like it'll be pretty packed. Anyone know how big the pitches are? We have one of these newfangled tents that's not a square. It's more of a triangle shape and our only trip so far showed it really didn't fit into the std size space. I guess this place will have to allow for the bikes, cars & trailers too...

[oldskool]

Join the Honda Kids Club quick
How do you do that? And apart from special deals on a wigwam ;) what are the benefits?

[BM-GS]

Go to http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/ find the Kids Club bit & pay your $35. There are reg forms for the campouts on there too, it says.

HKC members get some free joining goodies & cheaper entries to the campouts (but not quite cheaper-enough to recoup the HKC membership).

[FROSTY]

do they hafta ride hondahs?

[BM-GS]

The flyer says they'll allow any breed of bike or quad. Some of the activities (kids workshop, etc) are Honda Kids Club members only, but nearly everything is "just turn up & enjoy the comeraderie". So we will.

[oldskool]

The camping gear deals look a pretty good deal on face value.
We're gonna talk about it over dinner and see whether we go. I'm one of those reluctant parents who resist going on school camps but this is different!

[BM-GS]

For completeness (and so I can remind myself next year) this was a brilliant weekend and definitely recommended.

You could turn up to set up on Thursday and ride Fri til Sunday afternoon. There was a flat newbie-kid's track, a 5-600m loop with a few sharp turns and an up/down hill plus a damp ditch to cross. There were a few miles of trails out around the farm, graded green, yellow & red, which kept the bigger kids amused, though my older boy (nearly 6) on his 50 was happy enough around the red one (one descent scared the crap out of me, but I'm a numpty).

Lots of other activities to keep the nippers amused (shearing of a sheep on Friday night), colouring comp, scavenger hunt, a night walk, fireworks, demo bikes (red ones), a tech workshop for older kids, etc. A highlight was Broxy doing 1-hour "taster" coaching sessions, and 3 of the 4 of us took advantage. #1 son now actually believes that standing up is beneficial cos Broxy told him (not because mum & I said it a hundred times). The 3 year old can do it in a couple of years. Broxy also did a jump demo on the side of a hill near the campsite and was most impressive. There was young feller there too who looks to have a future, but he was following a tough act.

There were steak & sausages available on Saturday night, lots of decent toilets, hot showers (slightly temperamental, but got the dust off), shade to camp under, lots of helpers to answer silly questions, right the upturned, tow the striken, patch the wounded (or pack them off the Whangarei A&E) and drive the kids up & down in one of them Honda farm buggy whatnots.

Big ups to Honda Kids Club & Power Adventures (and the farmer) for a brilliant weekend. And Broxy for being a nice guy and telling us duffers how to be less so.

Not sure how many were there (150, 200?) but it felt quite cosy. The Raglan one is fully booked with about 600 people.

There's lots more, but I'm out of time.

Cheers,

[mfordy]

Agree with you BM-GS - it was a great weekend at Waiotira.
It was our first Honda Kids Club camp and was really impressed with whole setup.

A great family event where the kids can ride safely in the knowledge that there are plently of parents around to help if they hit the hard stuff.

Red track was challenging enough for a relative new comer like me and obviously pretty good for the experienced riders who where yahooing as they left the track on Sunday morning following the rain!...

Big thumbs up to Greg, Robyn and Rob.

See attached photos of Broxy - this guys amazing!..