Hey mates. How's it going? I am Sunny and I love New Zealand. (Duh!)
I am an Indian but currently based off Melbourne. And I am a little nuts. Why? Because this is the second time I will be going around your country on a motorcycle (and I hope I dont get buggered by the rain too much this time around!).
I hope the sheep are doing well, there are still zillion shades of green and the sky is as blue as it was.
And I hope the people are nice as they were - carrying on the legendary Kiwi hospitality!
A little introduction on myself and the intents of this trip. I am a motorcycle and travel photographer in my free time, but a graphic designer otherwise. I did a pan NZ roadtrip in Jan 2008 on a Kawasaki Concours. Some of you may vaguely remember be via the Bike Rider Magazine which carried my article.
This time too I will be writing for a few magazine - one in NZ, Australia and two back in India. I plan to make people go nuts about NZ when they see my photos and the riding landscapes and hopefully more people will land here and go around.
Not only this but India's largest motorcycling community will also be watching me, so y'all better be good to me!
Jokes apart, this trip is sponsored and has a mission - to promote motorcycling back in India, inspiring by riding and other such stuff which may seem a little wierd to you. But do remember, India is undergoing a boom in the high capacity motorcycle economy and most of things that you guys are used to here are just coming into being back there.
For example Nicky Hayden was there in India to launch the first Ducati Showroom in India last week etc etc.
Now ill shut up and let the photos and the trip do the talking.
Ill start by posting the route map:
For those interested in my previous roadtrip 2 years ago here is the website : http://www.theGreatNewZealandRoadtrip.com
I am alanding in Auckland tommorrow and will be busy preparing the bike (getting the luggage on it, pasting the company stickers [sponsorship, remember!] and getting my camera all charged...
The route:
Day 1 : December 26th 2009
Auckland – Opua : 225 kms
Day 2 : December 27th 2009 Opua – Cape Reinga – Kaitaia : 330 kms
To the northernmost point in New Zealand - Cape Reinga
Day 3 : December 28th 2009
Kaitaia – Paihia : 101 kms
I will be doing the Dolphin - Otehie Bay full day Cruise .
Day 4 : December 29th 2009
Paihia – Auckland via west coast and Dargaville: 353 kms
Day 5 : December 30th 2009 In Auckland
Day 6 : December 31st 2009
Auckland – Whangamata : 317 kms
Travel via the Coromandel coast and to Whangamata, the surfing capital of NZ.
Day 7 : January 1st 2010
Whangamata – Roturua : 180 kms
Day 8 : January 2nd 2010 Roturua – Gisborne via Tokomaru Bay : 470 kms
Day 9 : January 3rd 2010 Gisborne – Wellington : 530 kms
Day 10 : January 4th 2010 In Wellington
Day 11 : January 5th 2010 Wellington - Picton via the Interislander Ferry and then Picton – Greymouth (172 kms)
Day 12 : January 6th 2010 Westport - Franz Joseph : 275 kms
Possible activities: Helihike in the Glaciers!
Day 13 : January 7th 2010 Franz Josef – Haast – Wanaka – Queenstown 365 kms. And then Queenstown to Glenorchy and back : 100 kms return. Total : 460 kms for the day.
Day 14 : January 8th 2010 Queenstown – Omarama – Twizel – Mount Cook : 258 kms
Day 15 : January 9th 2010 Mount Cook – Te Anau : 417 kms
Day 16 : January 10th 2010 Te Anau – Milford Sound – Te Anau : 235 kms
Do a cruise with Real Journeys at Milford Sound.
Day 17 : January 11th 2010 Te Anau – Invercargill – Curio – Bay – Dunedin : 462 kms
Day 18 : January 12th 2010 In Dunedin
Day 19 : January 13th 2010 Dunedin – Sheffield then Sheffied – Otira (Arthur’s Pass) – Christchurch : 630 kms
Day 20 : January 14th 2010 In and Around Christchurch (Banks Peninsula) : 170 kms
Day 21 : January 15th 2010 Christchurch – Reefton – Kaikoura : 504 kms
Day 22 : January 16th 2010 Kaikoura – Picton to Wellington via the Interislander Ferry: 170 kms
Day 23 : January 17th 2010 Wellington – New Plymouth via the Mt Taranaki circuit : 390 kms
Day 24 : January 18th 2010 New Plymouth – Auckland : 360 kms
Day 25 : January 19th 2010 Auckland - Melbourne
Last time around I did not post anything here, but this time i hope to meet more people along the way than I did previously!
Alright then, I have got a flight to catch to your corner of the world in 12 hours.
I am off!
P.S: Someone must add Thread prefix called "Pan New Zealand" !
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Originally Posted by motoGrapher
Very cool to meet you at the top of the North Island, that place is absolute magic isn't it! We made it to Coromandel after some big miles, glad the weather has left us alone for now! Keep on with the posting and enjoy 
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