SMC Tour of NZ - Interested?

**Slyer** · 6th August 2010, 15:50

What: An extended group ride, seeing all the sights and staying at free accommodation wherever possible.
Where: Counter-clockwise loop south of Auckland. Auckland->West Coast->Wellington->East Coast and all the exciting places inbetween.
When: Between 27th November to 5th December, might not be all of these days.
Who: Trip is for mainly SMC members but all are welcome, anyone who can handle a semi-mature group of early 20 year olds. You must also not be afraid of gravel as this trip will include it in several parts.

This trip will be 7 days+ but you are welcome to come for any leg of the journey you wish, you are only a days riding from Auckland at every point of the trip.
This is designed for more experienced riders but you don't need to be a hardout tourer type, I will be doing this trip on a 250 so bike size is not an issue as long as you are man enough.

We have the general idea of where we would like to go, but much more brainstorming is required. I'd like all your input to make sure this trip sees as many sights and does as many awesome roads as possible.
Your ideas are very welcome!
If you have a relative or friend that we could crash with for a night, please let me know. Will be a great help to keeping costs down.

Day 1: Ride down to Taranaki. Awakino Gorge, tunnels and Mount Messenger. Heading to my cousins farm for the night.
Optional: Heading up Mt Taranaki to Dawnson Falls

Day 2: Forgotten Highway (Gravel), road up Mt Ruapehu and then SH4 to Wanganui

Day 3: Day 3 will end up in Wellington

**Thani-B** · 6th August 2010, 16:52

If my budget allows me I'm in, but I doubt it will somehow.

**Danae** · 6th August 2010, 18:21

Man, so keen. But my uni break is only around Christmas.

**Real_Wolf** · 6th August 2010, 19:28

No not keen?

I'd be keen, but would want to be going with my gf, and she kinda works 6/7 days a week, and at the moment getting a job + general maintenance on bike

**PirateJafa** · 6th August 2010, 19:43

Count me in.

**Slyer** · 6th August 2010, 20:28

No worries RW, she can pillion with someone else and you can fill in her shift.

**Real_Wolf** · 7th August 2010, 12:28

Originally Posted by Slyer

No worries RW, she can pillion with someone else and you can fill in her shift.

GL convincing her of that.

**PirateJafa** · 7th August 2010, 12:52

Originally Posted by Real_Wolf

GL convincing her of that.

I dunno, she has to be pretty brave already if she's willing to pillion with you.

**Real_Wolf** · 7th August 2010, 17:47

Originally Posted by PirateJafa

I dunno, she has to be pretty brave already if she's willing to pillion with you.

More attatchment than bravery. She used to have her eyes closed pretty much all the time

**Slyer** · 7th August 2010, 19:14

Originally Posted by Real_Wolf

More attatchment than bravery. She used to have her eyes closed pretty much all the time

ROFL.
Nothing else needs to be said...

**Suntoucher** · 7th August 2010, 22:53

Start of summer, sounds like tent weather to me. Can all but count me in. Will have to invest in some panniers though, and find a nice pillion to make use of my back rest.

**GSXR Trace** · 8th August 2010, 10:09

definitely recommend thinking about heading to the south island... go do all the passes in both directions... Did it last summer, and was fantastic!

**Slyer** · 8th August 2010, 12:54

For the first large scale SMC trip I think we'll stick to the north island.

It means that anyone can leave at any time because we'll never be more than a day from Auckland.

Also gives us a chance to weed out all the unreliable bikes.

**GSXR Trace** · 8th August 2010, 18:49

haha fair enough... definitely about weeding out the unreliable bikes! well have fun!

depending on where your at I may join ya on a few legs of your trip... ie around auckland or through forgotten highway etc. since I have to be working this summer and can't take a week off!