November or March?

**5cotty** · 10th September 2007, 20:09

Well I put together enough rides to keep us out of trouble, we may or may not stick to the plan and it would be good to get some feedback on any problems or lost opportunities.
I wont worry about the South Island legs as I know it intimately, so will start from Welly.
North Island
Day 1... SH2 to masterton then SH52 to Wimbledon and back on SH2 to Napier (staying at Clive Motor Camp or a handy river)
Day 2... SH2 to Gisbourne then SH35 round the top to Opotiki (staying at DOC ground Waiaeka Gorge)
Day 3... SH2 back down towards Gisbourne Cutting back on SH30 through Murapara and Rotarua to Tauranga (Staying at Silver Birch Thermal Holiday Park or a handy river)
Day 4... SH1 through Tokoroa and Whakamaru down to Turangi and the SH4 back up through Mangatupoto to Waitomo (Staying at Waitomo Top Ten or a handy river)
Day 5... SH4? up to Hamilton, Across to Raglan and down the coast through Mokau, Ahititi and New Plymouth to Opunake (Staying at Opunake Beach Holiday Camp or a handy river)
Day 6... Across to Eltham then Stratford and Whangamomona back through Turangi and waiouru, then across to Raetihi and down to Wanganui (Staying at Wanganui Top Ten or a handy river)
Day 7... Down to Bulls, Though Palmeston North, across to Woodville and down through Pahiatua, Ekatahuna, Carterton and Featherstone to Welly and the ferry to Piction (Staying at the Wairau river)

So Whadaya reckon you North Islanders?.. any good?

**doc** · 10th September 2007, 20:17

Originally Posted by 5cotty

Well I put together enough rides to keep us out of trouble, we may or may not stick to the plan and it would be good to get some feedback on any problems or lost opportunities.
I wont worry about the South Island legs as I know it intimately, so will start from Welly.
North Island
Day 1... SH2 to masterton then SH52 to Wimbledon and back on SH2 to Napier (staying at Clive Motor Camp or a handy river)
Day 2... SH2 to Gisbourne then SH35 round the top to Opotiki (staying at DOC ground Waiaeka Gorge)
Day 3... SH2 back down towards Gisbourne Cutting back on SH30 through Murapara and Rotarua to Tauranga (Staying at Silver Birch Thermal Holiday Park or a handy river)
Day 4... SH1 through Tokoroa and Whakamaru down to Turangi and the SH4 back up through Mangatupoto to Waitomo (Staying at Waitomo Top Ten or a handy river)
Day 5... SH4? up to Hamilton, Across to Raglan and down the coast through Mokau, Ahititi and New Plymouth to Opunake (Staying at Opunake Beach Holiday Camp or a handy river)
Day 6... Across to Eltham then Stratford and Whangamomona back through Turangi and waiouru, then across to Raetihi and down to Wanganui (Staying at Wanganui Top Ten or a handy river)
Day 7... Down to Bulls, Though Palmeston North, across to Woodville and down through Pahiatua, Ekatahuna, Carterton and Featherstone to Welly and the ferry to Piction (Staying at the Wairau river)

So Whadaya reckon you North Islanders?.. any good?

Your not exactly pushing the envelope here, unless you intend to stop at every Tourist type spot. Most Kiwi's I've travelled with on bikes just want to get the furtherest they can each day. Sort of like the idea of tiki touring, but not everyday.

**banditrider** · 10th September 2007, 20:22

Sounds ok to me - especially if you haven't done it before.

**5cotty** · 11th September 2007, 09:37

(Doc) Hmmm .. It looks on the map like the rides will take between 3 and 4 hours (maybe a bit more if we stop along the way) which would give us time to set up our tent then give us time to check out the local sites and get to the pub for a meal and few bevy's before hitting the hay for the next day. "Thats the sort of trip I am looking for" .. Do you think that is about right??

(Banditrider).. Your right, I hav'nt done it before and I am looking forward to it..

Thanks for the feedback

**peasea** · 11th September 2007, 14:47

Originally Posted by 5cotty

(Doc) Hmmm .. It looks on the map like the rides will take between 3 and 4 hours (maybe a bit more if we stop along the way) which would give us time to set up our tent then give us time to check out the local sites and get to the pub for a meal and few bevy's before hitting the hay for the next day. "Thats the sort of trip I am looking for" .. Do you think that is about right??

(Banditrider).. Your right, I hav'nt done it before and I am looking forward to it..

Thanks for the feedback

Take your time, enjoy the scenery. The last time we went south we took so long getting to Ross from Nelson that we postponed our next stopover for 24hrs. We were cruising, stopping, taking pics, having a beer, chatting to locals. You ain't gonna get that experience going head-down/butt-up all day. Spending evenings in the local watering holes is half the fun mate. Have a good look around the Coromandel.
Looking forward to the posts when you get back.

**5cotty** · 11th September 2007, 18:04

Originally Posted by peasea

Take your time, enjoy the scenery. The last time we went south we took so long getting to Ross from Nelson that we postponed our next stopover for 24hrs. We were cruising, stopping, taking pics, having a beer, chatting to locals. You ain't gonna get that experience going head-down/butt-up all day. Spending evenings in the local watering holes is half the fun mate. Have a good look around the Coromandel.
Looking forward to the posts when you get back.

Sounds Like my kinda trip Peasea

When the wife and I tour at Xmas (Always in the south in the past) we stop and do the tourist thing all the time. Having done the South 4 or 5 times we still find places we have not seen and there are always the many many interesting people we run into which make the journey awesome. I am sure we could do it another 5 times and still enjoy it like the first time

**banditrider** · 11th September 2007, 19:39

That's the story - do your own thing and enjoy!

**ynot slow** · 11th September 2007, 19:52

Like the idea of Opunake stop,ya can walk into town from the beach about 5 mns there half an hour back when pissed lol,can't get lost though,just head towards the sea,if ya keep going next stop aussie.

**5cotty** · 11th September 2007, 20:52

ynotslow... You must know me..

:

**Hitcher** · 11th September 2007, 22:08

Does anybody else find centered text mildly irritating?

**5cotty** · 12th September 2007, 09:39

No Worries Hitcher, "Left it is"

**notasothers** · 25th October 2007, 17:43

If you plan on being down there for a while keep an eye on your back tyre. My workmate went down on his CBR1000 a couple of months back... went down with a new tyre came back with the canvas showing. Some of the roads are pretty unforgiving. Just make sure you budget for a new tyre just in case.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 25th October 2007, 18:03

Originally Posted by Joey1007

Have been reading the ride reports of other trips to the SI but can't find a thread about the weather.

Don't to either... SI just hit 1 million people... it getting bloody crowded down here sheese... bloody tourists

err march is usually the better weather.

**cold comfort** · 25th October 2007, 19:16

Originally Posted by notasothers

If you plan on being down there for a while keep an eye on your back tyre. My workmate went down on his CBR1000 a couple of months back... went down with a new tyre came back with the canvas showing. Some of the roads are pretty unforgiving. Just make sure you budget for a new tyre just in case.

I'll endorse that-shredded my rear in under 3000 km. I know Bandists have a bit of a reputation for that but the roads are rough. If only Transit would cough up for concrete!