Where is the best riding in NZ? (buckw65)

[buckw65]

If I did move to NZ, I was thinking about the Wellington area. Is this a great area to ride?? I've heard it can get pretty windy there, is this true??
Is there any race tracks close?? Do they have trackdays where anyone can pay and ride??
Buckw


Keep the rubber side down

[MIXONE]

The best riding in NZ is the South Island.Good roads,little traffic and of course the friendly locals.

[Sully60]

If I did move to NZ, I was thinking about the Wellington area. Is this a great area to ride??

Yes!



I've heard it can get pretty windy there, is this true??

Um yes but it's something you'll get used to.



Is there any race tracks close?? Do they have trackdays where anyone can pay and ride??
Buckw

Close probably by Canadian standards, Manfeild (http://www.manfeild.co.nz/home.asp) park is an hour and half(ish) north of Wellington, there are fairly regular trackdays of various quality.
Taupo (http://www.tauporacetrack.co.nz/home.htm)(toe paw) is about four hours away but is almost the polar opposite in terms of track layout to Manfeild so well worth the extra miles of travel.



Keep the rubber side down
I'll try;)

[buckw65]

Hey Sully60; Thanks for the information. Yes an hour and a half is a short ride here in Canada. I will check out the race tracks you said and see what there like. It gets a little wind here too. I live in Ontario, and the wind comes off the great lake with some good velocity some times.
How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

[aer0]

Hey Sully60; Thanks for the information. Yes an hour and a half is a short ride here in Canada. I will check out the race tracks you said and see what there like. It gets a little wind here too. I live in Ontario, and the wind comes off the great lake with some good velocity some times.
How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

its around $100nzd each way so not too bad, takes around 4 hours.
yes they have tiedowns for bikes :)

[Sully60]

How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

This thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=92034) is will probably help answer some questions.

The South Island is better in my limited experience, the whole scene is more vibrant and the roads are generally freer of traffic and HP . The tracks are definately better...
http://www.ruapunaspeedway.co.nz/

http://www.southcanterburycarclub.org.nz/

http://www.teretonga.org.nz/

[pritch]

Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

The Arahura is the only ferry I know of that has bike specific anchor points.
Sets of four strategically placed "D" rings.

[sunhuntin]

The best riding in NZ is the South Island.Good roads,little traffic and of course the friendly locals.

ditto. i live about 3 hours north of wellington, and the south island is some of the best riding ive ever had. the west coast road is basically built for bikes, and it doesnt matter what kind of bike you have.

where abouts in ontario are you? i spent 6 months in meaford, on the shore of georgian bay. lovely province. actually... the south island reminds me a lot of ontario, which is nice as i miss it a lot.

[DarkLord]

If you like lots and lots of twisties, ride the Forgotten World Highway between Stratford and Taumarunui. Huge road, twisty nearly the whole way, nice scenery, not too many cars.

There is a stretch of dirt road in the middle that goes on for about 20 k's but just take it easy and you'll be fine.

[buckw65]

Hey sunhuntin; I live in Stratford, but have been just about everywhere in Ontario. It's pretty flat and boring. But there are some twisty roads around. But it's usually just a few good corners and then more straights.
The Darklord says that from Stratford and Taumarunui sounds good. So I'm taking notes, so when I get there I have a list of things to do.
Hey is the World Super Bike thing a done deal??? Does anyone have a date that it's on?? This might be a good excuse for a trip!!
Thanks for the responces. I told my wife that if you really won't to know what it's like to live some where. You have to chat to the bikers, they will tell you how it really is!!


Keep the rubber side down

[sunhuntin]

i found sask was flatter and more boring, lol. i loved the scenery in ontario. beautiful

[buckw65]

Hey sunhuntin; yes it is very beautiful here. But the best is up north in the Perry Sound area. In the Fall it is breathtaking. You can only imagine the colours. The roads are awesome and twisty. The only problem is there is gravel here and there. If you ride with the locals, they’ll scare the hell out of you. The gravel doesn’t slow them down at all. It slows me down because I hate falling off.
Is there a reason that there seems to be a lot of small displacement bikes there?? Are there roads too twisty for large displacement bikes??? I have no problems with smaller bikes. I still have an old RS125 GP bike I used to compete on. Back when my leathers fit a little looser around the middle.
Hey what is the traffic like in Wellington?? Is it really possible to go from Hutt valley to city centre in 15 minutes?? ( google map times)


Keep the rubber side down

[toebug]

Is there a reason that there seems to be a lot of small displacement bikes there?? Are there roads too twisty for large displacement bikes??? I have no problems with smaller bikes. I still have an old RS125 GP bike I used to compete on. Back when my leathers fit a little looser around the middle.
Hey what is the traffic like in Wellington?? Is it really possible to go from Hutt valley to city centre in 15 minutes?? ( google map times)


Keep the rubber side down

There probably alot of small displacement bikes here due to our licence process, but I would say there are equally as many if not more litre bikes.

The roads are perfect here for the big bikes! NZ is one big GP circuit!

Yes you can get from the Hutt to Wellington is 15 minutes but not in peak traffic.

The further North you live the warmer it is in the winter. The Coromandel is an awesome place to ride, so if you like sun, surf, sand, chicks in bikinis and bikes, Tauranga is the obvious choice of a place to live!

Oh and dont forget the awesome people!!:niceone:

[buckw65]

Hey toebug;
I've been riding for 30 years of so. How hard would it be for me to keep my CBR1000RR???
Can you tell me how long that Hutt/Wellington trip would take in peak traffic??? This might give me an idea where I would like to live.

I was thinking of Wellington because I would need to work, (I'm not indipendently wealthy)I have two trade licences. One as automotive mechanic, and one as a millwright. I think a millwright is called a fitter/ maintenance down there. So that's why I like Wellington. It looks like a nice size, and I think I could find work there. Auckland might be better for jobs, but I don't know if I like the looks of it as much.
Yes I'm very impressed by the awesome people that have responded to my chats. Bikers are the best!!!

Keep the rubber side down

[jrandom]

HSo that's why I like Wellington. It looks like a nice size, and I think I could find work there. Auckland might be better for jobs, but I don't know if I like the looks of it as much.

Heh. Well played. You just made some instant friends.

And without making any instant enemies, either; Aucklanders are pretty much used to people from the rest of NZ not liking their town.

Which is kinda weird. Auckland's fifth on the Mercer Quality of Living global city rankings (http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1307990#Top50_qol). And the traffic, Auckland's only drawback, really doesn't signify if you're on a motorcycle.

Oh well, takes all sorts, I guess. Wellington makes me claustrophobic. Always the hills bearing down on you. I like to live around geography that makes me feel as though I can breathe deep and get some elbow room, y'know?

[slofox]

Wellington makes me claustrophobic.

AND the Wellington fault is a little...errr...overdue for a lurch.....

[Monie]

The best riding in NZ is the South Island.Good roads,little traffic and of course the friendly locals.
we just did parts of the south island over xmass and it was mint the roads are bliss.. we have just done the east cape over the weekend and that was bliss... move to the north and you can holiday in the south cause too cold in winter and lots of snow so less time to ride...

[gammaguy]

Heh. Well played. You just made some instant friends.

And without making any instant enemies, either; Aucklanders are pretty much used to people from the rest of NZ not liking their town.

Which is kinda weird. Auckland's fifth on the Mercer Quality of Living global city rankings (http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1307990#Top50_qol). And the traffic, Auckland's only drawback, really doesn't signify if you're on a motorcycle.

Oh well, takes all sorts, I guess. Wellington makes me claustrophobic. Always the hills bearing down on you. I like to live around geography that makes me feel as though I can breathe deep and get some elbow room, y'know?

i live in the south island,and as such am expected to hate auckland.

truth is i love it,the weather is mostly awesome,the roads around the area are great if you know where to go and avoid the rush hour traffic,and all the people i have met have made me feel welcome.

and anyway,who rides the motorways for fun?leave them to the cars,and head for the hills and beaches!

truth is ,most of NZ is pretty awesome for a bike,with some standouts being the coromandel peninsula,banks peninsula(where i live)and pretty much most of the south island except some of the more straight boring parts of the canterbury plains.

you will love it im sure!

[slofox]

I have lived and ridden in many parts of NZ - North and South Islands both.
Truth to tell, there is good riding in most areas.
Canterbury can be boring if you stay on the plains but go inland a little towards the Alps and things change - or North Canterbury into the Ashley area....
Northland has some great riding as well, through the centre there are some ace roads...
Currently in the Waikato and finding plenty of interesting roads of all sorts - not too far to serious twisties, some great long sweeping roads, sealed or unsealed, take your pick.
At worst, you are never far from interesting riding....

Ahhh sorry gammaguy - I see I have just repeated some of what you posted - perhaps repetition will add emphasis!

[Sully60]

Keep the rubber side down [/I]

Depends on the part of the Hutt you're talking about. I commute from Upper Hutt to home (Grenada Village, back Norf of Wellington central on SH1) in the morning rush hour. It's a similar distance to going into town and it takes me between 30 and 40 minutes at the moment because of the major roadworks on SH2, lane splitting surprisingly seems to make little difference as I can sometimes get these times in the car.
From Lower Hutt you should be able to cut ten or fifteen minutes off that time, again depending on which part you've come from.

As you would've seen on the maps there's only one direct route from Wellington to the Hutt so if that gets blocked for whatever reason add about 3/4 of an hour to an hour to go 'around the block'.

These all assume that you don't take some of the alternative (twisty) routes along the western side of SH 1 and 2, going home can become a very enjoyable experience and you'll wonder where all the time went:devil2:

[toebug]

Hey toebug;
I've been riding for 30 years of so. How hard would it be for me to keep my CBR1000RR???
Can you tell me how long that Hutt/Wellington trip would take in peak traffic??? This might give me an idea where I would like to live.


Yes you can keep your CBR, its perfect for NZ roads. Probably 30-40 minutes in peak hour Hutt to Wellington.

It is a great party town with lots of arty and alternative people so a cool place to live but the weather is tempermental, but not unbearable. Its less crowded than Auckland and you are always near water.

[Paul in NZ]

Everything is a trade off, no matter where you live! But honestly I can't think of a place in NZ thats more than an hour from some totally fun roads...

Best place to ride in NZ?? Inside your helmet...

[Sully60]

Inside your helmet...

NZ is a sweaty place!

[Paul in NZ]

NZ is a sweaty place!

Not to mention thinly populated by intelligence and foliage...

[buckw65]

Hey guys; Thanks for all the information. I think that Wellington sounds like the place for me. But it sounds like just about anywhere is good. My wife recorded a program on NZ the other night. It is just so nice and green there. She has relatives in Australia, but I told her that green is in, not brown and dusty. She like NZ as well, after watching the show.
Hey one of the guys I know, knows a New Zealander in the plant that I work at. He says he’s a nice chap and a bike rider too. I’m going to chat to him some time next week.
So how does this motorcycle licensing thing work there??? Is it a displacement thing???
Do you have a location for the World Superbike race???


Keep the rubber side down

[fire eyes]

hello & welcome :niceone:

I agree .. go to NZ!!!!!!!!

[toebug]

So how does this motorcycle licensing thing work there??? Is it a displacement thing???
Do you have a location for the World Superbike race???


There are 3 stages to the licence here.

1. learners licence, ride a 250cc or less and no pillians plus many more restrictions. The length of time this lasts for depends on age and if you do a defensive riding course.

2. Restricted licnece, not too much different from the learners.

3. Full licence, go hard!

If you already have a full licence, you may be able to just have if converted without having to do too much, maybe you'll just have to sit the full licence test. This is only a short road ride where you are followed and they make sure you observe to road rules. easy really