Heading down to roll with you kiwis

**WarlockNZ** · 1st February 2007, 19:09

Just point the bike in a direction and ride!!! ... take some turn offs, double back when you hit gravel and bring a tent! .. LOL .. I have no doubt that if you take some time to plan a road trip that the wonderful guys and gals of KB will put you up for the night all over the country.

just a side note ... ruatoria ... hmmm ... not so much .. LOL

**Colapop** · 1st February 2007, 19:13

Kin yous guys ride around corners? They're like the roads you have over there just not straight!
Waipoua Forrest,
Coro(mandel) Loop,
State Highway 16
East Cape
and you'll find more if you stay off the main roads.

**Jantar** · 1st February 2007, 19:23

Make sure that you visit this site daily during your trip and You'll find willing guides and riding partners all over the country. Three weeks is just barely long enough, but only if you spend day 1 getting from Auckland to Wellington, days 2 to 20 in the South Island and day 21 going from Wellington to Auckland. Unfortunately with that time table you will miss out on both of the good roads in the North Island.

**scumdog** · 1st February 2007, 19:28

If I can drive a '68 Caddy while drunk down Van Nuys Boulevard without crashing them you guys should be O.K. riding in New Zealand sober.

Keep in contact via KB when you get here.

**Grub** · 1st February 2007, 22:39

Great to have you here, as others have said, 3 weeks is marginally enough, you're going to have to be selective about what areas you go to. You might have to sacrafice some areas just so that you can get off the mains roads and take your time.

The long (nearly boring) rides are West Coast, South Island. You have to do it but it's a long couple of days and often covered in rain/mist. The other is also in the south between Fairlie/Burkes Pass and Christchurch. The trouble is, that with all of these, they lead to the most amazing scenery like the Haast Pass, the McKenzie Basin, Tekapo, Pukaki, Mt Cook, Lindus Pass ... I could go on ...

We've got 5 beds in Wellington for touring bikers, so call if you need a night before/after the ferry.

Brett

**Keytickler** · 2nd February 2007, 05:01

Originally Posted by 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".

We've already got this book!

You guys are great, and I really appreciate your warm welcome, tips and comments. I know 3 weeks is not enough, and we don't even have that much time. Work at home, you know. If I remember our schedule correctly, we arrive in Auckland on March 20, and depart Auckland on April 3.

Twisties are no problem, and I look forward to riding them all over NZ. Where I live it is quite flat. However, I have taken a road trip in the US to the famous Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains each year for a major twisty infusion. 318 turns in 11 miles. Besides, it is possible to travel a bit from where I live and actually find some curvy roads. I'm totally cool with this kind of riding. It's one of the things we ride for anyway, right?

Keep those comments flying, and many thanks.

Keytickler

**RedKLR650** · 3rd February 2007, 07:32

Originally Posted by Keytickler

We've already got this book!

You guys are great, and I really appreciate your warm welcome, tips and comments. I know 3 weeks is not enough, and we don't even have that much time. Work at home, you know. If I remember our schedule correctly, we arrive in Auckland on March 20, and depart Auckland on April 3. Keytickler

Those Beemers you're hiring, are they adventure bikes or just road bikes ? If they are Dakars etc, and you fancy seeing some of the ' Lost ' counrty in the centre of the south island, there's a few 100km's of great shingle ( gravel ) roads I'd love to show you. As the others said, allow 2.5 weeks for the south island, and what's left over for the North Island.... And keep left !!

**Quasievil** · 3rd February 2007, 07:49

Hi Dude, PM me with your itinerary, I would happily spend a few days with you as a guide around East Cape or anywhere else in the NI.

**sels1** · 3rd February 2007, 07:54

Welcome aboard the site Keytickler, did you find it by accident or did someone put you on to it? Good move anyway - plenty of friendly helpful bikers down this way. Enjoy your stay.

**Keytickler** · 4th February 2007, 02:37

Thanks, guys. I'm on the Yamaha FZ1OA site regularly. A Kiwi member of this forum, now living in Australia, put me on to KB, so here I am. Glad I found you. We haven't formed our itinerary quite yet, as we're still studying up the guidebooks we have. As I said we're arriving and leaving from Auckland. Beyond that, no plans yet. The only reservations we'll make are for our hotel accomodations in Auckland at both ends. We'll probably make ferry crossing reservations, too, as I understand they may be necessary.Got any suggestions for a good itinerary otherwise?

We've hired two R1150RTs and one R1150GS. Our thinking at this point is to stick to paved roads, as there are plenty of great and empty ones throughout your beautiful country.

It would be great to ride with many of you at different times during our visit. Thanks very much for offering! Your company and knowledge will be most welcome to us as we tour.

Keytickler

**kevfromcoro** · 4th February 2007, 05:42

hi,,if u are heading down to coromandell..i have a sleepout u can use if u wish, lots of parking.i ride a BM. may come up the coast with u 4 a ride,PM me if interested....KEV

**Mrs Busa Pete** · 4th February 2007, 06:13

Originally Posted by Keytickler

arriving and leaving from Auckland. Beyond that, no plans yet. The only reservations we'll make are for our hotel accomodations in Auckland at both ends.

Keytickler

Hi if you want to save some money we have enough spare beds here for you and would pick you up and drop off back at the airport. And to pick your bikes up. Up to you but offer there no problem.

**Waylander** · 4th February 2007, 07:41

Originally Posted by Motu

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

Your roads down here are so much more fun though!

**slowpoke** · 4th February 2007, 07:45

You guys didn't use this approach in Iraq did you?
I mean, like, write in to Iraqi Biker, scope out a few "good roads" from afar, then when somebody rocks up to meet you at the airport there's the whole 52nd Airborne Division waiting for a lift.
No? Just checkin'...........

**Keytickler** · 5th February 2007, 03:22

Originally Posted by busa pete

Hi if you want to save some money we have enough spare beds here for you and would pick you up and drop off back at the airport. And to pick your bikes up. Up to you but offer there no problem.

Thanks for your most generous offer! I'll check with my mates on this. I really appreciate your kindness.

Keytickler