French rider's tour of NZ, Oz, & Tazzie

[Rainbow Wizard]

I hope to get you lot motivated towards making Claude's visit here as favourably memorable as possible. I have suggested he log onto this site but I suspect he hasn't yet. He has some queries and I'll paste his initial wonders here so that you can reply and I'll point him in this thread's direction; so when he finally does log on he will find lots of helpful information sitting here ready for his viewing. I reckon between us we should at least be able to offer him NZ-wide a bed for the night as he cruises our highways.

At least until he starts to make his own posts I suggest you use words as found in the dictionary because English is obviously not his native language and our biker vernacular could well confuse him.

He wants to buy a bike "I think for a 350dr or 650gs or 250xt, etc." and it would help him to know where he can get the best value, he can start his tour in either country...

Is he better to buy in NZ and then sell in Australia, or vice versa? Can anyone offer some advice based on facts rather than on suspicions? Choice will probably be based on price advantage and customs co-operation.

"I want to spent some weeks in NZ, some weeks in Tasmania and the rest in aussie continent." Do you have any knowledge of ferry service between Tasmania & the Australian Continent?

I figure his best option getting a bike over the Tasman Sea could be on a roll-on-roll-off vessel. Again, any fact based advice is encouraged.

OK then, thanks for your help, go post your replies.

[Rainbow Wizard]

There is no NZ-Australia ferry service but RORO (roll on-roll off) ships cross the Tasman regularly. Whilst shipping a bike would be easily achieved I doubt that you can travel with the bike as a passenger, but I suggest you contact the shipping lines direct to ask them what service(s) they provide. I did a Google search on "RoRo+NZ+Australia" and got lots of options.

I'm sure there is a Tasmania-Australia ferry service and two companies offer NZ North Island-South Island ferry service:
www.interislander.co.nz and www.bluebridge.co.nz

[Brains]

Are you taking the piss, or has it been too long since I slept?

[Big Dave]

I figure his best option getting a bike over the Tasman Sea could be on a roll-on-roll-off vessel. Again, any fact based advice is encouraged.

OK then, thanks for your help, go post your replies.

http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au
is the boat.

A 250 or 350 is too small for touring OZ unless he is a featherweight.