Auckland - Wellington 250cc Trip --Tips for a newbie--

[Disco Dan]

Planning a long distance bike ride with a friend of mine, Auckland to Wellington after my university exams finish sometime after 13th Nov.

Planning to spend at least a week for this trip, depends on weather, bike, fatigue and most importantly $$$$.

At the moment may stick along the east coast, through Tauranga, Gisbourne, Hastings etc etc untill Wellington then maybe west coast it back?

Never done anything like this before, any advice would be much appreciated!!

Will be ruffing it, tent, basic cooking gear and a zzr250 motorbike

* Any particular roads/routes that i should take?
* What should i take with me? tools? first aid?

Thanks in advance!

[MattRSK]

Don't forget your hell's pizza condom!

[James Deuce]

A week?

I commuted between Wellington and Auckland every weekend for 3 months on my RG250. Up to Auckland on Friday night, back to Wellington on Sunday.

I got the trip down to 7 hours with two stops.

It should take you a maximum of 18 hours if you go via East Cape, then across to New Plymouth, and then down to Wellington.

[limbimtimwim]

Do/Enjoy East Cape.

That's all I can suggest.

[Disco Dan]

Would it be worth me taking extra tools in addition to the bikes factory tool kit?

Never been to Wellington before either, only driven as far as hamilton and as north as Parakai! Been in Auckland for 9 years now and thats all ive seen of NZ!

Anyone suggest a good route to take?

[crashe]

Are you doing this trip two up or on two bikes?

If two up thats a long haul for your baby.....

The route you have said in your first post is a good one as you will see lots of NZ.
I believe that the road from Gisborne to Hastings/Napier is a very windy road and can take you a fair while to get there.
Hastings/Napier to Wellington is a good road..... just be careful in the Manawatu Gorge of the car drivers as they love to cut corners

Others in their area can tell you about the roads near them....

Take your time and enjoy the trip...... and ride safe.

Here is a list of some KBers on your travels should you need help:
Waylander in the Tauranga area
BabyB in Gisborne area
Mstrs/yungtart/hxc in Hastings/Napier area
Hitcher/PaulinNZ and many others in the Wellington area
Beemer in Levin
Sunhuntin in Wanganui
Sensei in Taranaki/New Plymouth
Quasievil in Hamilton

[yungatart]

You HAVE to do East Cape to Napier - it is just stunning! Petrol is scarce and expensive along there tho - you can get it at Te Araroa at a price. Napier to Wgtn via HW 50 - not HW 2 (even I find that boring) -then through the Rapa over the Takas.
If you are sick of roughing it when you get to Napier, we have spare beds, just PM me/Mstrs/hXc for details.
Enjoy your ride

[Disco Dan]

You HAVE to do East Cape to Napier - it is just stunning! Petrol is scarce and expensive along there tho - you can get it at Te Araroa at a price. Napier to Wgtn via HW 50 - not HW 2 (even I find that boring) -then through the Rapa over the Takas.
If you are sick of roughing it when you get to Napier, we have spare beds, just PM me/Mstrs/hXc for details.
Enjoy your ride

Cheers, thanks for that.

Petrol expensive there? dont understand that one!

Depending on how long it takes us to get to Wellington via 'the scenic route' we may even extend it and continue onto south island! would be fantastic!

Anyone know how many KM to Wellington from Auckland? ...is the south island really worth going to look at??? Auckland is pretty choice compared to scenery in England, whats south island like?

[McJim]

Petrol expensive there? dont understand that one!

.............is the south island really worth going to look at??? Auckland is pretty choice compared to scenery in England, whats south island like?

Supply and demand - people NEED petrol - if there's only one petrol station they will charge more (costs more to take the petrol there too)

South Island Scenery...ever been to Scotland? Imagine that...but the mountains are 3 times the height AND IT DOESNT RAIN ALL THE TIME!

Farking spectacular mate - if you can go to the South Island then go - you won't wanna come back.

[The_Dover]

Auckland is pretty choice compared to scenery in England, whats south island like?

what the fuck are you on?

England has some stunning scenery if you get off your arse and leave the confines of London or whichever shithole you lived in.

[Str8 Jacket]

...is the south island really worth going to look at??? Auckland is pretty choice compared to scenery in England, whats south island like?

The South Island is beautiful. It also seems that the further south you go the more relaxed and friendly the people are. IMO.

[Disco Dan]

what the fuck are you on?

England has some stunning scenery if you get off your arse and leave the confines of London or whichever shithole you lived in.

Lived in Kent, went all over and saw some stunning scenery, best would be Scotland though! Doest quite beat NZ though

Bit of a city kid, never travelled very much when I was old enough to remember!!!

[Disco Dan]

The South Island is beautiful. It also seems that the further south you go the more relaxed and friendly the people are. IMO.

yeah sounds like i may have to extend the trip to include the south island now!

Route so far:

Auckland - Tauranga - Gisbourne - Napier - Palmerston North - Wellington.

So what parts shouldnt i miss in the south island?

[McJim]

The South Island is beautiful. It also seems that the further south you go the more relaxed and friendly the people are. IMO.

The exception proves the rule...Scumdog lives in the far south doesn't he?

Grumpy old Glaswegian...there's a few of them around eh?

[The_Dover]

I'd say that a lot of scenery in Scotland is easily the equal to anything I have scene in NZ, but without the glaciers.

The west coast of scotland and parts of the lake district would have to be some of my favourite places in the world and I can't wait for the day I take a GSXR around them, roll on.