Your thoughts, best place in NZ for a motorcyclist to live?

[Metastable]

So I expect there to be a wide variety of answers here, but I'm just curious to hear people's thoughts about what they think the best place for a rider to live in New Zealand.... and why.

Of course there are various factors such as:
- weather, less rain warmer temps
- nice roads with less traffic
- close proximity to multiple race tracks
- good off roading/mx
- others.....

Because everyone is different and has different interests, I am interested to see what replies come up. If you had to pick 1 city (or town or village), where would it be and why?

[Oakie]

MacKenzie Basin

[wickle]

Just about anywhere in this country is great if you what big city life Auckland( small by overseas standards) more important would be where you can get a job!

[Metastable]

I'm not planning a move to NZ.... well at least not yet. I'm just curious to see what people say and why. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting last winter.... and salivated over various roads, but when traveling you miss a lot of stuff, and you don't know things about good enduro places or how you might have a few race tracks near by or how the weather is crap here or there because it rains too much.... that kind of thing. So ya, more curiosity than anything else.

[98tls]

South isle,no matter where you are the West coast isnt far away which is pretty much motorcycle heaven.North isle,well ahh ummmm cant think of any reason to live there.

[spookytooth]

The si has some great roads alrite but too many bloody straights inbetween em
Top of the north would be my pick

[Headbanger]

Worst place I have lived for riding was Wellington, Auckland would be similarly affected.

Makes Wanganui look like paradise for motorcyclists, 30 seconds from my gate and I'm on some stunning back roads, Plenty of awesome places to ride no matter how much time you have to fill and The ferry is just over 2 hours away for South Island excursions.

Granted its a bit of a shithole otherwise.

[cave weta]

The Waikato is cool (except for Hamilhole) loads of roads in and out and round about.
Gravel and sealed, 3 handy racetracks- Pukekohe Taupo and Hampton Downs , loads of MX tracks and adventure trails.
Bike shops aplenty in all towns. handy to the big smoke if you need to be there.
more awsome beaches and coastal rides than you can shake a stick at on the Coromandel Peninsula. no earthquakes yet, glorious weather and Dangerous Bastard and Crazy Steve dont Ride here much.

[Metastable]

The Waikato is cool (except for Hamilhole) loads of roads in and out and round about.
Gravel and sealed, 3 handy racetracks- Pukekohe Taupo and Hampton Downs , loads of MX tracks and adventure trails.
Bike shops aplenty in all towns. handy to the big smoke if you need to be there.
more awsome beaches and coastal rides than you can shake a stick at on the Coromandel Peninsula. no earthquakes yet, glorious weather and Dangerous Bastard and Crazy Steve dont Ride here much.

LOL btw, Which one is the big smoke? Is that Hamilton or Auckland?

BTW as far as Wanganui..... I had a great lunch there on our 1 day trip for Wellington to Auckland.

[Bonez]

If you don't like rain stay well clear of the Manawatu, especially Ashhurst. Absolutely shocking.

[sinned]

Not Wellington as it takes too many ks to get to the good roads.

Hawkes Bay has plenty of good roads and some nice all day loops to ride. I am planning on moving there to live some day.

[Daffyd]

Southern Scenic Route in The Catlins. I just happen to have a house for sale right in the middle - 30km of glorious riding either way. Special deal for KBr's.

[AllanB]

Christchurch.

Seriously we have some pretty great rides around here.

And the Summer weather is nice.

NorWesters are a pain.

You may however experience some periodic cracking and wobbling in the roads .....

[trailblazer]

I havn't ridden round the country much yet but i reckon the bay of plenty is pretty good. Awesome coastal and lake rides with plenty of options for gravel or tarseal. Plenty of good trail rides and motorcross and the weather is pretty good around here. theres a few full day loops not far away from whatever town you are in.

[FJRider]

Must be Auckland ... where else can you have a nice relaxing hour and a half's ride to the end of the motorway ... whichever direction you decide to go ...