2 weeks in NZ

**FJRider** · 16th April 2015, 17:07

And I would suggest doing the full length of the Buller river gorge and then down the coast to Blackball. An awesome piece of road ...

**unstuck** · 16th April 2015, 17:16

Originally Posted by Jantar

Might I suggest that from Dunedin you take http://maps.aa.co.nz/#directions/Bla...36;-43.9027266
That way you get the best riding roads of Central Otago, the Lindis Pass and the Lakes.

Yep, thats the one I would choose also.

**J13USH** · 16th April 2015, 17:40

Originally Posted by sil3nt

Any reason your taking the motorway instead of going to Kawakawa and following the coast?
[url]http://maps.aa.co.nz/#directions/Auckland%2C+Auckland+Central%2C+Auckland;174.76604 05;-36.8445169/via;174.95049;-37.06055/via;175.13565;-36.94747/Whitianga%2C+Whitianga%2C+Whitianga;175.7045657;-36.834674[/url

Slower/longer but more scenic/fun I reckon.

Just wanting a shorter/easier day in case of jet lag.

Originally Posted by haydes55

I'd recommend a trip to a beach or 2 for a swim/spa. Hot water beach at low tide is a unique experience you won't want to miss. You would need to see when low tide is to plan when to visit. But maybe instead as of staying in whitianga, you ride further to the hot water beach, sort out your accommodation and have a soak at night.

Cathedral cove and a few other great beaches require a decent walk to get to, which might waste a couple hours of your time, but you might enjoy the exercise/bush walk? You should have a swim at one of the main coromandel beaches anyway.

I'll have a look at accommodation.

Originally Posted by unstuck

lol, no way. We have some awesome roads around here, but I would stick with your original route to Invergiggle then up through the Catlins.

I'll change it back.

Originally Posted by kiwi-on-wheels

Your road to palmerston north from taupo, just south of taihape theres a backroad through to fielding then on to palmy, winding, but some fantastic scenery, takes a little longer (half hour or so) but definately worth looking in to.

I'll have a look at this.

Originally Posted by Jantar

Might I suggest that from Dunedin you take http://maps.aa.co.nz/#directions/Bla...36;-43.9027266
That way you get the best riding roads of Central Otago, the Lindis Pass and the Lakes.

I'll try and fit this one in if I can.

Originally Posted by FJRider

And I would suggest doing the full length of the Buller river gorge and then down the coast to Blackball. An awesome piece of road ...

I'll Have a look at this.

Cheers for the tips everyone, I'll have a look at accommodation tonight and alter my routes

**unstuck** · 16th April 2015, 17:49

Originally Posted by J13USH

Just wanting a shorter/easier day in case of jet lag.

I'll have a look at accommodation.

I'll change it back.

I'll have a look at this.

I'll try and fit this one in if I can.

I'll Have a look at this.

Cheers for the tips everyone, I'll have a look at accommodation tonight and alter my routes

Try not to be too rigid with your planning, This is NZ and things can change for you quickly here. Try if you can to give yourself a little bit of leeway, especially weatherwise on the west coast as the road conditions can change in a matter of hours.

**FJRider** · 16th April 2015, 21:46

The thing about motorcycling in NZ ... you go where the RAIN isn't ...

**Winston001** · 17th April 2015, 16:44

Originally Posted by J13USH

I'll change it back. (Invercargill instead of Gore)

No, stay with Unstuck's suggestion. The route down the Waimea Plains then south from Gore is probably shorter.

I also endorse Jantar's suggestion: Dunedin - Ranfurly- Cromwell - Twizel - Ashburton. A glorious big day.

Haven't looked at your updated routes yet but if you think you will come back, then maybe deliberately leave out some places this time.

And just to chime in with Unstuck, our weather even in the height of summer can be variable, especially in the South Island. I assume you've AA time calculations for each route (which tend to be conservative) so that should be ok.

**unstuck** · 17th April 2015, 17:09

Originally Posted by Winston001

No, stay with Unstuck's suggestion. The route down the Waimea Plains then south from Gore is probably shorter.

Shorter yes, but also not very scenic. The ride from Te-anau down to Tuatapere and along the coast to invergiggle is a very pleasant one, unless it is like the weather we are having today.

**98tls** · 17th April 2015, 19:25

Mother of god why on earth suggest that Dunedins a suitable place for any living breathing human being or anything else for that matter to make a point of intentionally going to,worse still at this time of year when theres every possibility of being trapped there for longer than...the transition from living there to death goes unnoticed or is that an old wives tale?

**Berries** · 17th April 2015, 20:36

Originally Posted by 98tls

...the transition from living there to death goes unnoticed or is that an old wives tale?

Well you're the one who keeps going on about it so maybe it is.

Other than that, I wouldn't do Dunedin on a two week tour, Invercargill yes.

**98tls** · 17th April 2015, 20:38

Originally Posted by Berries

Well you're the one who keeps going on about it so maybe it is.

That or the internets far reaching indeed.

**FJRider** · 17th April 2015, 20:44

Originally Posted by Berries

Other than that, I wouldn't do Dunedin on a two week tour, Invercargill yes.

God you ARE sick ...

**husaberg** · 17th April 2015, 20:44

If you are on the West Coast and you don't do the Coast road Greymouth to Westport and back through the lower Buller to Inagahua you will regret it.

**FJRider** · 17th April 2015, 20:46

Originally Posted by unstuck

Shorter yes, but also not very scenic. The ride from Te-anau down to Tuatapere and along the coast to invergiggle is a very pleasant one, unless it is like the weather we are having today.

Wet or windy you mean ... cold is normal ...

**Berries** · 17th April 2015, 21:15

Originally Posted by FJRider

God you ARE sick ...

Oh I don't know. Rather than spend a second night in overrated Queenstown during the school holidays I would ride and stay in the underrated Te Anau instead. Do Milford Sound the next day and then head straight to Invercargill but via Tuatapere, SH6 south of Lumsden is just a slog.

Stay in Invervegas for the night, stick your head in at E Hayes for half an hour in the morning, have the best breakfast in NZ next door at Global Byte and then give it laldy down to Bluff just to get a photo at the sign post. By the time you get to NZ Bill Richardson's Museum might be open to the general public. The place is amazing even if that link does not do it justice.

Then back on to the chosen route through the Catlins. If you like wildlife I can recommend a couple of things to do in Dunedin, otherwise keep riding, and take the inland route when going north from Dunedin.

None of your days look massive but you do look like you are trying to fit in twice as much as you have time for. When do you get to relax, sit back and just enjoy the fresh air we have over here, the bird sounds, the sun on your face etc etc, you know, have a holiday?