Coming to New Zealand for a 6 week tour (Jan-Feb 2011)

**nadroj** · 17th January 2011, 20:09

Originally Posted by nadroj

98 is available at some towns however the norm is 95 @ around $2.04 / litre, or 91 at $1.98ish. The best mix is 50/50.

Update 17-01-2011: 91 = $1-99.9
95 = $1-06.9

**olegeezer** · 18th January 2011, 03:41

Originally Posted by STJim

Pete whose bike you will be riding is well known to us in Hamilton. If you are through Hamilton you are welcom to give me a call. Happy to accomodate you for a night or two as well Phone 021 901557 or 07 8473700 business hours or 07 8433119 after hours.
Cheers and enjoy
Jim

Thanks Jim, I should be thru Hamilton, either coming or going? Plan is to head south first and try to cover the north Island on the return. Hope to meet you. I may have to pick up a cheap phone for use in NZ if I can find one. Otherwize, i will be communicating via my laptop. Wrapping up the last packing and house maintenance stuff today. Headed your way tomorrow. Got just a tad of butterfly in my stomach, like just before kicking off a football for the start of the game.........
wondering what your world is like........ good from all I've read.

**Hawkeye** · 18th January 2011, 07:01

Originally Posted by Edbear

If you do come up this way and want a bed for the night, PM me. Orewa is 2miles of nice beach with a country town atmosphere, very close to Auckland!

Bugger Edbear, I was sitting on the foreshore at Orewa just 2 day's ago. We could have caught up and had a cold one. Nice place

**Edbear** · 18th January 2011, 07:11

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Bugger Edbear, I was sitting on the foreshore at Orewa just 2 day's ago. We could have caught up and had a cold one. Nice place

I often chat to biker's at the beach. But naturally, anyone is welcome if coming to or through Orewa, just let me know.

**pete376403** · 18th January 2011, 19:36

Originally Posted by olegeezer

wondering what your world is like........ good from all I've read.

Very warm and raining a wee bit in Wellington right now (but nothing at all like they've had / are getting in Australia)

Please repeat this to yourself as often as you can - "ride on the LEFT side of the road"
Sometimes tourists forget this. The results are very unpleasant.

**olegeezer** · 19th January 2011, 00:10

Originally Posted by pete376403

Very warm and raining a wee bit in Wellington right now (but nothing at all like they've had / are getting in Australia)

Please repeat this to yourself as often as you can - "ride on the LEFT side of the road"
Sometimes tourists forget this. The results are very unpleasant.

Great advice!! I am planning on taking it very slowly until I get acclimated to the new rules of the road. Heading for the airport in about an hour, just hoping everything there goes smoothly.
Thanks, Joe

**shafty** · 19th January 2011, 04:00

Originally Posted by STJim

Pete whose bike you will be riding is well known to us in Hamilton. If you are through Hamilton you are welcom to give me a call. Happy to accomodate you for a night or two as well Phone 021 901557 or 07 8473700 business hours or 07 8433119 after hours.
Cheers and enjoy
Jim

That's very kind of you Jim, Thanks Dude!

**Hawkeye** · 19th January 2011, 07:56

Originally Posted by olegeezer

thanks Quasi, I do think I will be near, as I assume one catches the ferry to Picton at Wellington. I do love those ferry rides on a "parked" motorcycle.
Cheers,
Joe

Hi Joe,

Place to get your head down here as well. I'm only 20mins from the Wellington Ferry Terminal. So just give a ring if you want to take up the offer. 04 4607042 office hours or 027 4457551. Plenty of space in the garage for the bike

Kenny

**Quasi** · 19th January 2011, 15:02

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Hi Joe,

Place to get your head down here as well. I'm only 20mins from the Wellington Ferry Terminal. So just give a ring if you want to take up the offer. 04 4607042 office hours or 027 4457551. Plenty of space in the garage for the bike

Kenny

hey Kenny - Joe is going to stay a night with me on way through this weekend. I will ride up and meet him somewhere. You welcome to come and join us and stay for a meal or whatever

**nadroj** · 19th January 2011, 15:58

Make sure to take him to the airshow!

**Blackbird** · 19th January 2011, 18:41

Joe,

As far as I could see, no-one has mentioned this book: http://www.aucklandmapcentre.co.nz/d...cycle-atlas.sm. It's a brilliant guide to motorcycle routes in NZ and worth getting asap. You'll find it in Auckland at major bookshops.

Also take a look at this blog which was written by an American touring NZ. Great narrative and even greater photos:http://kiwibound.livejournal.com/2009/03/17/.

Best wishes,

Geoff

**olegeezer** · 21st January 2011, 04:58

Thanks all. I made it into Auckland tired but unscathed!! Fixin to catch the Overlander to fetch Shaftys' scooter. I'm a happy dude right now! I picked up a phone in the airport 0210632093 and I have free incoming. So if you wanna give it a test? I may have to take a class to learn how to use it.......

**olegeezer** · 21st January 2011, 16:48

Took train from Auckland to Taumarunui, nice ride. Nice scenary, picked up Shaftys bike, loaded my stuff and headed south. Only rode 80km to Okahune. Tired, looked like rain, found a room. All is swell and I like it! Big smiles today, thanks.