Remote 3 day trip suggestions?

[Yorkshire Dave]

Hi guys,

Myself and a couple of mates are looking for somewhere to go off road/adventure riding for a long weekend which is preferably somewhere remote/bush where we can do a round trip ending up back roughly where we started. We'd plan on camping or use a hut if there were any on the route.

We're looking at doing 'adventure' riding more than any technical dirt bike riding, so sticking to pretty well established tracks (I've got a knee injury, so can't do anything too demanding).

Are certain routes or tracks ok to use if you don't have a motorcycle licence? We're all capable on two wheels, but not everyone has a licence.

We'd be looking at places within a few hours drive of Auckland, preferably.

We've found a few places that do off road tours, but they're all pretty pricey for something like a 3 day trip, plus we'd rather do things on our own, so we're looking at finding our own route and then hiring some bikes (if it works out cheaper).

Cheers for any suggestions,
Dave

[junkmanjoe]

hi there the king country ride coming up next month.

hire a couple bikes and tag along, there be plenty of help for newbys to the sport and its a great ride..
the over night is a good ole chin wag...

be a good starter for you, then if ya dont like the style we enjoy so much,,, no worries..

JMJ

[george formby]

Contact some 4x4 clubs (aaargh, I know!), the Kaitaia club are very friendly & active. I'm just thinking you may be able to find trails up north which may connect the west coast beaches, from Bayleys up to Ahipara, lots of amazing countryside up their & I've often thought of having a look myself. Just a thought.....

[tri boy]

"Paging cave weta to the white customer ph, ph for mr weta"

[Crisis management]

We've found a few places that do off road tours, but they're all pretty pricey for something like a 3 day trip,

Have a look at Britton motorbike tours as Mike & Angela are running a variety of inexpensive weekend trips around the country, eg: weekend ride at Raglan $275 each (camping). Knowing Mike, he will be able to source some rental bikes but the lack of licence means no riding on any legal roads so you may have a problem there. How much off road stuff have you done? I ask, as when I went from road bikes to adventure riding, I found just a decent days ride on gravel was enough to exhaust me and certainly any sort of riding on tracks will be hard work if you aren't used to it.
If you just want to try off road, talk to Stu (Cave Weta as Triboy says) at Over the top adventures in Waihi, he will tailor a trip to your needs.
If you want to talk any of this stuff over, I'm in Hillsborough and always prepared to meet over a beer....

Iain

[clint640]

Unfortunately 'Remote' & 'within a few hours drive of Auckland' are kinda mutually exclusive. It's also fairly hard to link together 3 days worth of riding without taking in some roads & highways so no license is a problem. As the guys say, http://www.overthetopadventures.co.nz/ is probably your best bet for several days of dirt riding, but it looks they specialise in the 'technical dirt' that you want to avoid. There aren't really any cheap options if you don't own a bike.

Cheers
Clint

[chasio]

I...... must...... not..... stereo..... type..... Dave...... as...... a...... tight..... fisted..... yorkshireman.....

[Yorkshire Dave]

Cheers for all the info guys, will have a nosey and see what people fancy. King Country ride sounds interesting too, so will run it by the guys and give you a shout JMJ if they're up for it.

I like to think of myself as a somewhat less than thrifty Yorkshireman, but admittedly that's prob still pretty tight fisted compared to most others

Thanks again guys

[chasio]

Well said that man. BTW I lived in Yorkshire for about 15 years and recognise it as the original God's Own County. In fact one of my daughters was born in Airedale Hospital! The others on here will be a lot more used to you but I can cross my fingers that you find a way around the lack of licenses issue!

Cheers - Chasio