SMC Tour of NZ - Interested?

**PirateJafa** · 16th August 2010, 23:42

Glenross Lodge
http://goo.gl/maps/ivhF

Brian's Place Backpackers
http://goo.gl/maps/AaqH

**R6_kid:Me** · 17th August 2010, 08:45

I could defo be keen once dates are confirmed.

**rachprice** · 17th August 2010, 09:14

I was gonna say come visit me but i will be in valencia for the GP!

**motorbyclist** · 17th August 2010, 18:02

Originally Posted by Slyer

Have updated the first post with day 1, go have a look.
Need to decide fully on what to do for Day 2, the road around mt taranaki is pretty flat and boring apparently, so we'll be taking forgotton highway (SH43) eastward and probably up mt ruapehu. After that? I haven't decided. Thoughts? Anything worth seeing or a place to stay.

apparently the closer road around mt taranaki is much better than the outer one Danae and myself took - the road down the eastern side is pretty much a straight highway, and I'd strongy suggest you take the roads we took rather than SH3 if you're looking for an awesome tour rather than a race/GP. It would probably add a day to the trip, too.

there's two roads up mt taranaki; perhaps get a recommendation or do both?

**motorbyclist** · 17th August 2010, 18:11

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&so....42749&t=h&z=8

no tour sticks to highways with single digit designations

**Slyer** · 17th August 2010, 18:44

Good suggestions. I'm going to need a GPS at this rate.

**R6_kid:Me** · 17th August 2010, 18:50

Originally Posted by rachprice

I was gonna say come visit me but i will be in valencia for the GP!

I could meet you half way at Sepang?

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

no tour sticks to highways with single digit designations

What about SH4 from Wanganui to Raetahi? That's some of the best 90km of road i've ever ridden.

**Slyer** · 17th August 2010, 19:24

Sweet! Sounds like day 2 = Forgotten highway, mt ruapehu and then SH4.

**Slyer** · 17th August 2010, 19:46

Day 2 sounds pretty solid, what to do for Day 3?
We could ride direct to wellington and chill out in wellington for the rest of the day. Or are there some sweet roads we should be taking to get there?
Or we could head south and then back up to Glenross lodge http://goo.gl/maps/ivhF where jafa'd like us to stay once.

**GSXR Trace** · 18th August 2010, 02:33

By the way, your day 1 isn't very long... under 4 hours riding time.
and yeah suggest taking the roads up around the mountain rather than coastal roads, but will take longer and take care
but your day two are some of the best roads in NZ - forgotten highway and paraparas (btwn raetihi and wanganui) are fantastic! I may just have to join ya on that and then go back through the paraparas to stay in kune the night! haha. but there is a fair bit of road works on SH 4 at the moment, so be aware.

**Slyer** · 18th August 2010, 13:51

Well I wanted to start Day 1 off pretty easy, many people coming aren't used to such long rides, myself included. :P

**motorbyclist** · 18th August 2010, 23:19

Originally Posted by Slyer

Good suggestions. I'm going to need a GPS at this rate.

I'm yet to take a map... and the one time we did we ended up zig zagging across the north island to get to taupo

Originally Posted by R6_kid

What about SH4 from Wanganui to Raetahi? That's some of the best 90km of road i've ever ridden.

conceded, but a fair bit of road works out that way

Originally Posted by GSXR Trace

By the way, your day 1 isn't very long... under 4 hours riding time.

MY day one has a 50km stretch of gravel and we have to account for leaving the bombays at noon (SMC 9am) to make it to marokopa in time for a swim before nightfall (or the awakino hotel if things are going smoothly)

**motorbyclist** · 18th August 2010, 23:19

Originally Posted by Slyer

Well I wanted to start Day 1 off pretty easy, many people coming aren't used to such long rides, myself included. :P

maybe call northland a practice run?

**jono035** · 19th August 2010, 09:34

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

maybe call northland a practice run?

Yeah, that's a good idea. Would get people used to knowing what they need to bring, how much they're going to enjoy it etc.

I'd certainly like to see how well I hold up to a long but cruisy ride. When I did a coro loop I was thoroughly beaten by the end of it and no longer really enjoying the riding aspect of it due to shooting pain in my wrists.

**Thani-B** · 19th August 2010, 10:28

Originally Posted by jono035

Yeah, that's a good idea. Would get people used to knowing what they need to bring, how much they're going to enjoy it etc.

I'd certainly like to see how well I hold up to a long but cruisy ride. When I did a coro loop I was thoroughly beaten by the end of it and no longer really enjoying the riding aspect of it due to shooting pain in my wrists.

I know that feeling. It's why I will never do the Forgotten Highway both directions in one day again. Way too much.