Hi from the UK, roads in NZ?

**stesmith** · 18th June 2009, 09:17

Hi guys, i'm from liverpool UK!

Just started a teaching degree with the view to move to NZ when i finish. Can't wait!

Just want to know how good the roads are in NZ for road biking? not as much touring but sports riding.....

Just got back from a weekend in scotland and the roads were fantastic

thanks

**forkoil** · 18th June 2009, 09:22

I think you'll find the roads here relatively car free and lots of fun. Just keep an eye open for the men in blue. Sth Island is the best but Nth is great too. Good luck with your plans.

**vifferman** · 18th June 2009, 09:39

Yes.
We have a few. Some are even sealed, with tar and gravel and everything.

**Sammy12** · 18th June 2009, 10:04

English roads are a lot faster. Your in Mph, we're in Kms.
The only advantages to riding out here is the weather, the roads are wider and the scenery!
Ohh but when you come over, watch out for those scary asian drivers in there bmw/porche 4x4's... they stop at nothing!

**p.dath** · 18th June 2009, 10:16

Haha. You sound like you keen to loose your licence and you haven't event arrived. :-)

I love going out on my sports bike. There are plenty of twisty roads about, and like has been said above, lots of great scenary (and smells!). Of course, that is more of a summer activity. Not as much fun riding in the rain, or when there is frost on the road.

Most areas also have regular track days, which is a really great place to take your bike out for some high speed action - and you wont loose your licence. :-)

**cheshirecat** · 18th June 2009, 11:54

North Island main roads need to be treated like a UK b roads with spots of gravel right on your best line. Beware the strange give way to the right rule, blanket max legal speed approx 60mph, road repair folk tend to reseal road by spraying surface with gravel over wet tar then leaving to traffic to disperse loose gravel. South Island great but less wind than Scotland. If you stop for five mins on your bike, bikes and some cars ask if you're OK.

**Taz** · 18th June 2009, 12:04

Forget the sports riding and just go with an adventure mount. You won't be disappointed and you'll have more than just the coro loop to enjoy.

**2wheeldrifter** · 18th June 2009, 12:09

Like Cheshirecat said, our roading fix it guys just dump loose gravel and leave it for the traffic displace. They are the worst danger to our roads.... worse than there's guys....

just google NZ roads....

**CookMySock** · 18th June 2009, 12:17

NZ is a mecca for sport touring. Many roads are just endless cornering and short straights. It's damn easy to get yourself killed or in jail though, so you should probably keep the fast stuff for the track. Track days are plentiful.. $100-$150 gets you a day on the track.

Steve

**MaxB** · 18th June 2009, 12:57

Journey times are remarkably similar despite our lack of motorways.

I lived and worked in the UK for a few years and say you wanted to go from Liverpool to Bristol the motorways (M58/M6/M5/M4-M32) were fine and reasonably quick. The problem came when you had to get from the north side of Liverpool to the south side of Bristol say, those cross town trips really stacked up the travel time.

The low population here means that most towns are over and done with in a few minutes and the its back to the thrashing. Speed limits are low but radar detectors are legal so you can travel as fast as you like but don't whinge if you get caught. It will hurt.

Using the above example, a similar trip in NZ is Auckland - Taupo. In that trip you can have everthing from urban motorways and 10km straights down to one lane bridges and hairpins depending on your route. You can get to Taupo in less than 3 hours no worries and feel like you have had a really enjoyable trip.

Over there I remember having to go out for a blast at 3 am to get roads empty enough to enjoy myself. You don't have to do that here.

**Taz** · 18th June 2009, 13:02

Originally Posted by 2wheeldrifter

Like Cheshirecat said, our roading fix it guys just dump loose gravel and leave it for the traffic displace. They are the worst danger to our roads.... worse than there's guys....

Mmmmm Blondes

**varminter** · 18th June 2009, 17:41

North & South Island ok, don't go to West Island.

**YellowDog** · 18th June 2009, 18:03

I would say NZ Roads are like Scottish A Roads; no dual carridgeways though. There are regular passing lanes, which works quite well. They are genreally very good and don't have much traffic. The bit about pouring gravel over tar and allowing the vehicles to compact it all down is the only real drawback. The scenery is a lot like Scotland but the rocks are covered in green vegetation. Also, it is nothing like as cold except South Island winters.

The Northern part of North Island isn't very cold however Kiwi housing isn't too clever so it will seem colder than it actually is. Go to UK Centre Parcs for a weekend and stay in one of those prefab shacks they put you in. Heaps better than Kiwi housing!

Luckily Kiwi motorcycle riding is great AND they import beer