South Island tour for holidays so darling I won't be home for Christmas or New Year

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 04:01

After 20 years in NZ I finally planing to do tour around South Island, I heard how beautiful it is and was advise from lot of my biking mates to do it. It is bit hard to leave wife with 5 kids, so I will take one 8 yo daughter with me. Just the two of us. Be good for her to see and share experience of trip with me, as lot of you KB's know me I always take one of my kids on ride, trips and relies. On Wednesday 23 I'm finishing 12 hr last shift 6am from work and be leaving Auckland 7am to Lower Hutt staying night there with my workmate family. Was advise and planing to catch early morning ferry to Picton on Thursday.

. like to get to top of South Island maybe stay in Motueka first night and do west cost first. We got more then two weeks to do it so it should be enough time and leaving R1 at home ST 1100 will do the job. I got NZ motorcycle atlas to help me and few advises, taking tent and sleeping bags if we get stuck for accommodation. I have read some advices on KB,like taking you own tidedown's for ferry but if anyone got any other advise like what to take with me, what not to take, places to see, places not to go to, cheep accommodations or anything that will help me be much appreciated. I will have no excess to KB

no internet on ST1100 .
If any of you South Islanders or bikers down there see metallic blue ST1100 with distinctive visybike indicators on, heavily loaded and with small pillion at the back feel free to say hi.

I'm looking forward to it, ride on

Din

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 21st December 2009, 05:06

Good luck Din you will have a fantastic time the south island has some awsome views. You will have to find an internet cafe some where to sign on and let us know how you are getting on. Have a happy and safe Christmas and new Year.

Pete & Wendy

**YellowDog** · 21st December 2009, 05:09

Great idea.

It may also help avoid the expense of a sixth child

**LBD** · 21st December 2009, 05:44

20 years...bit bloddy over due!

And has your wife seen the South yet?

**crazyhorse** · 21st December 2009, 06:02

Sure is a shame you cannot take your wife. Good on you taking a child along.

My kids have done lots of miles on the back of our bikes, and its a great experience.

Have a super time.

Merry Christmas to you and your family

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 06:24

Originally Posted by LBD

20 years...bit bloddy over due!

And has your wife seen the South yet?

No, we got no one to leave kids with.

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 06:50

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Sure is a shame you cannot take your wife. Good on you taking a child along.

My kids have done lots of miles on the back of our bikes, and its a great experience.

Have a super time.

Merry Christmas to you and your family

Nice of u 2 to take kids with you, they get to see country, meet lot of people, it is great experience and builds character in kids.

If I could take all of them on bike I would

Thank you and Merry Christmas.

**DMNTD:Me** · 21st December 2009, 07:05

You 2 will have wicked fun Din.
100% correct re taking your own tie downs though!! I would've been toast without mine.

Oh....pic's or it never happened

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 07:05

Originally Posted by Mrs Busa Pete

Good luck Din you will have a fantastic time the south island has some awsome views. You will have to find an internet cafe some where to sign on and let us know how you are getting on. Have a happy and safe Christmas and new Year.

Pete & Wendy

Yes this will be bit of adventure for us, you are right if I found any int. cafe, I will keep you updated how we doing. It is views that I'm after not just roads, that is why I taking as longest as I can to do it. I'm hoping my wife can keep up with rest of kids.
Thanks guys, I hope you two have great holidays, take care

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 07:22

Originally Posted by DMNTD

You 2 will have wicked fun Din.
100% correct re taking your own tie downs though!! I would've been toast without mine.

Oh....pic's or it never happened

I hope we do mate

.Tie downs is last ting I put in top box so it is ease accessible, is it better to put bike on center stand or side stand ?. Will take and post lot of photos

, hope we catch up after all for Bourbon

, have one or two for me over holidays, be no drinking for me. I'm gonna miss you.

Have safe one

**nallac** · 21st December 2009, 07:46

mate your keen finishing 12hr Graveyard then heading to wellytown.
Theres no way i would wanna do that after my 12hr G/Y shifts.

Ridesafe and enjoy your trip.Just wish my kids where up for a long ride like that.

**_Shrek_** · 21st December 2009, 08:02

Originally Posted by DIN PELENDA

I hope we do mate

.Tie downs is last ting I put in top box so it is ease accessible, is it better to put bike on center stand or side stand ?. Will take and post lot of photos

, hope we catch up after all for Bourbon

, have one or two for me over holidays, be no drinking for me. I'm gonna miss you.

Have safe one

put it on side stand then use your tie down on opposite side 1st untill just off centre then side stand side, then opposite bike should be free standing & in neutarl but I do leave side ste down so when you let presure off goes over onto stand

ps pm on way

**DIN PELENDA** · 21st December 2009, 08:04

Originally Posted by nallac

mate your keen finishing 12hr Graveyard then heading to wellytown.
Theres no way i would wanna do that after my 12hr G/Y shifts.

Ridesafe and enjoy your trip.Just wish my kids where up for a long ride like that.

You are right I thought about it, I be OK it is last night I get some sleep at work anyway

and probably finish orly and get few hr sleep.

**Goblin** · 21st December 2009, 08:28

Good onya for taking a nestie. Will be a long haul to Welly after a night shift tho.

Interislander had a heap of brand new tiedowns a couple of weeks ago but Bluebridge had only rope ones.

Takaka Hill is a must if you stay in Motueka. There's the Anatoki Salmon farm where you can catch your lunch, fresh smoked while you wait. Bit further up the road is Pupu Springs. Biggest fresh water spring in Australaisa and worth a look. Then it's a short trip to Farewell Spit...

I dont advise Harwards Hole on a road bike as the road/goat track in there is 11kms of rocks, boulders, potholes and corrugations.

On the East Coast there's the seals near Kaikura(lots of babies there atm), and you cant go past Cay's Crays...little caravan on the roadside just north of Kaikura.

Some of the others are nearly twice the price.

We generally stay at backpackers down there and they all have internet access, so no excuses for not keeping in touch!

If you stay at Haast, the Wilderness Backpackers is fab! Say hi to Ollie for us.

Have a great trip Din!