Heading down to roll with you kiwis

[Keytickler]

Myself and two mates from the US are heading to NZ in late March to tour around for a couple of weeks. Two of the three of us will be visiting NZ for the first time. We've already arranged to hire Beemers in Auckland for our tour, which will be totally self-guided.

Of course, we've got our share of different guide books and info to study before our arrival. We plan to ride around both the North and South Islands, starting and ending in Auckland.

But . . . it would be great to get some tips and suggestions from you all of places to see, roads to ride, roads to avoid, and anything else that will help us totally enjoy our visit. I plan to spend time reading through some of the many threads in this section of the forum during the next weeks.

I'm really looking forward to my visit.

I've got a Yamaha FZ1 (is it called a Fazer in NZ?), and have done a bit of touring here in the US each of the past many years. I also commute regularly on my bike, and enjoy some weekend riding as well. I'll let my traveling mates post up about themselves if they wish.

So, bring it on! I look forward to your suggestions and guidance.

Keytickler

[Paul in NZ]

Argh! More bloody Tourists....

(just kidding)

Either of these 2 books will see you right, or at least point you in the right direction.

http://www.mcycle.co.nz/books.htm

Points to remember are:

1. NZ really IS Gods own country as far as riding bikes go BUT we still have scumbags. If you look like a tourist and you leave your bikes all packed up with valuable and easily detachable goodies all over it parked in the street - some wanker will eventually consider you fair game! Sorry - I expect the same thing would happen in New York too. Remote carparks full of camper vans? It's like a supermarket to some people.

2. Kiwis are real friendly - don't be amazed if someone offers you a bed for the night or something. Ah stuff it - theres room on the sofa for you at our place..

3. For goodness sake - don't ride shw 1 the whole way... It's horrible.

4. Folks on KB will probably meet up with you for day rides and offer to take you places - go - you will see some great roads.

5. Do the Milford Sound road.

6. Go to St Bathans before the developers ruin it

7. If you get to Wanganui - Vicki and I will ride up and show you a few short cuts that will take you 3 times as long. (provided we are back from our holidays)

8. Have fun - ride safe

Paul N

[crashe]

Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand.

This is most blardy important for you to know and remember.......

Stay on the LEFT side of the road.......
You guys are used to riding on the right hand side.

If you cross over that centre line....... someone will slam into you.


So stick something on the left hand side of the handlebar to remind you where to ride.

Lots of great roads here.... but 3 weeks aint long enough to see all of NZ.
You need longer time to see our beautiful country.
Bring your digi camera with lots of memory sticks... cos you will take heaps of pics.

[Paul in NZ]

Oi - bugger off Crashe - I saw them first - I get first plunder OK

Nah - she makes a good point. Our roads are narrow and have big trucks - pass with care and remember to cross back onto the other side - you would not be the first star spangled coffins to be shipped home after forgetting that little gem. In fact the rentals will have a blurdy big arrow to remind you!

[davereid]

Bring Sunscreen, and a woolly hat and a coat, cos in March - April, you will get cooked, snowed on and it will rain. Mostly likely all three, every day. And easter is in there somewhere so it will rain heavily, cos we always arrange that for the holidays.

[mstriumph]

hi and welcome! 3 weeks won't be long enough?

[crashe]

Oi - bugger off Crashe - I saw them first - I get first plunder OK

Ok ok ok ok.............. gees whiskers..........
Ok you can have them all to your self.........

Buttttttttttt you did forget to tell them the rule re staying on right side of the road. You know the Left side.








Edit: I see you have added in more........ ya towrag....

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Yes yes i know it was said.
But if you need beds in Auckland we have spares here. Whats more this is a nice piece of the country to see.

[Paul in NZ]

Ok ok ok ok.............. gees whiskers..........
Ok you can have them all to your self.........

Buttttttttttt you did forget to tell them the rule re staying on right side of the road. You know the Left side.

Hey I shaved this morning!

(I did acknowledge your point gorgeous....)

[Motu]

Bloody Yanks - like,isn't their own country big enough,that they have to come over and use ours?

In the much neglected North Island you have to do SH43,The Forgotten Highway,on the west side,and on the east the road through the Urewera's to Lake Waikarimoana,both close to ''how it used to be''.

There are a lot of silly little museums in small towns over the country - seek them out because some are real gems.For example in Dargaville they have taken an old photogragh of Gum Diggers,and made a mural on the wall....and for the display they have made brand new gum digging equipment,the local engineers copying the originals.This sort of community commitment is everywhere.

Enjoy your stay...pitch a tent amoungst the stray animals in my backyard - you can't sleep on the couch...it's taken....

[Mom]

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful time here, look us up, we are about an hour north of Auckland city and can show you some nice roads heading north that will take you off the main highway. Always a shower and a feed here, beds ???????? dependant on kids movements....PM Maha man or myself

[crashe]

Hey I shaved this morning!

(I did acknowledge your point gorgeous....)

Yeah I know ya did....... but as I was posting, you went back in and added in more nice stuff...... you are such sweetie .....
Shit did I say that out loud........ shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[pete376403]

The north Island is ok but the real good roads are in the South Island. Far fewer people down there too (of 4 million in the country, almost 3/4 live in the North - and it seems like most of the North Islanders are in Auckland)

Police here have a real attitude about speeding - 100km/hr open road limit). If you get stopped you may be able to talk your way out if you tell them you're from nevada or some place that doesn't have speed limits.

Ferry trip between North and South is a three hour cruise. On a fine day it is great, however bad weather can make it "interesting"

[Blackbird]

You'll love it here! Grab this book from Amazon if you don't already have it: Great Escapes : A Guide To Motorcycle Touring in New Zealand (Spiral-bound) by P. Mitchell. It's superb. He also does the NZ Motorcycle Atlas which is also a "must have".

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Be on State HWY 1 as least as possible... its a crap road... Do as many of the inland and back roads... much more fun... South Island is probably the better of the too Islands (not being Bias or anything) it has the mountain range and many passes that are great rides... oh oh and the west coast...

Any way enjoy your ride and visit, keep left, and rubber side down, If you make it to Dunedin let me know and come have a coffee...