North and South Island Tour this summer

[Macstar]

A front lawn and more available here should you get that far...

Shucks, thanks mate - will PM you closer to the time.

($700 for 21 days is $33 each day, I could eat for that with out resorting to 2 minute noodles)

Yep, that's what I thought/hoped when I came up with that figure.

I am looking at doing a tour between Nov and Dec. And also rolling it in with this
South Island - 2007 Chatto Creek 1000 miler -
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=55535

the event starts on the 1st Dec, so I'll be looking at parting Auckland at around about the 24th of Nov, and no later than the 28~29th Nov.

Now this is interesting! It won't be easy to gel time-wise for me as my thesis is due 15 Dec, but maybe just maybe I will be able to get my act together and complete it early... I will be in touch with you on this thanks.

Heck I have camped in between the cities before and set up camp at various rest areas just out side of town.

Yeah I was planning a little of that too... already got all the camping gears (lightweight and compact stuff from my tramping days too).

Courier/post clean clothes to one or two locations ahead

Brilliant idea!

See KBers, I knew you guys would have some awesome suggestions!

[Jantar]

Ferry crossing was $99.00 one way (Bluebridge non transferable) $125.00 Interislander tranferable. The interislander gives the option of changing your crossing time if something unforseen happens & you are not penalised provided you give them a bit of notice..

The Blubridge only has one fare, and that IS transferrable but not refunable. I have just got off the phone from making a change in my booking with Bluebridge.

From their ticket:

Bookings may be transferred until 24 hours prior to time of travel but are subject to availability and must be used within three months of the original sailing date. Where the same priced fare is unavailable, the customer will need to pay an upgrade.

[Jantar]

Hey guys & gals

I'd like to bring the much talked about NZ tour forward a little by starting a thread now so that people can start saving $$, getting their bikes mechanically ready and planning time off work etc.

Here's the rough idea:

What: A non-rushed tour of NZ (2-3 weeks)
When: Dec or Jan
Who: Anyone with a bike really but officially a SMC club ride.
Why: Could be my last chance to see NZ before moving overseas, and like many other Kiwis, I've never done this before.

*I reckon up to 3000-4000kms could be travelled on this trip.
*My bike costs 30 cents per km on average to run 900cc (all expenses including gas), so there's around $1000 in bike costs for me, others may be less.
*Return ferry ride $100?
*Accom $300 (campgrounds)
*AA membership $150
*Food and beers etc 700 ish.

Total: $2250 approx (riding one up)
or Total: $1750 (Bike fees can be cut in half if you take a passenger).

So, who's keen and when?
Any cost saving tips for the trip?

Having completed many trips around New Zealand, your idea is not too far out. Allow 6000 kms rather than 3000 - 4000, and two to three weeks would be about right.

Have your bikes fully serviced and new tyres before you start. Say $750.

Fuel for 6000 km will depend on your bike, but 400 litres at $1.75 is $700

Blue bridge Ferries only have a single price and don't increase it over peak times. Currently $105 each way for bike and rider. $210

Stay at backpackers, camping grounds or camp on KBers lawns. Allow $20 per night. $400.

Food and booze: Allow $40 - $50 per day. $800

Keep an additional $100 tucked away for an unexpected treat.

So thats $3000 for 3 weeks.

My last NZ tour was the Souther Cross, and that worked out at $2000 for 10 days. The previous NZ tour was two up and covered only 4700 km but cost $3000 for both of us over 17 days.

[MotoGirl]

My father does a South Island tour every second year to tie in with the Ulysses AGM (starting from Tauranga). He goes with five other people and they stay in the Top 10 cabins along the way (i.e. a cabin with six bunks and use the communal kitchen and toilets). They get the Top 10 card so each night costs them about $10-14.
I'm going with him next year and he's told me to budget $2,500 for the 16 days. This excludes the tyres I'll have to replace when I get home and any servicing before or after the trip.

Oh yeah, dad did about 5,000km last time and chewed through a set of Pilot Powers on his 'busa.

[Squiggles]

i did a 4000k one round the south last new years, down the east then in to mt cook (beautiful) then out to moeraki then back thru the pig route and in towards queenstown, out from there and up the west coast to nelson, then back up through taupo....

Stayed with family/friends for a bit (aunts with a farm in timaru, friends in chch), rest was tenting...

Ferry was $75 for one person and a bike each way, most accom for the tent was 15-25 a night for the two of us i think..

if you're doing bigger k's that that/ doing the west coast be prepared for a change of tyres, west coast ripped up a couple of mill on my rear, and be ready for heavy rain and soaked gear

Dont know if i'd be in, maybe (depends when)... i know ill eat at least a set of tyres if i go on the tl

Will have to find my pics of the trip to show ya, especially the one of the loaded gsxr

[Hanne]

Stephen and i spent nearly three weeks on our trip, it was awesome! That really was enough time to be away for though, and you have to remember to leave a bit of time to stop and explore places.

We only did the South Island properly (North Island was a straight run from Welly to Aucks on the way home, although we did go down via Tauranga/ Rotorua)but I still think that if we were to do the trip again I would choose fewer destinations and stay 2 nights so as to have more time to have a poke around...

Other than that, it really is the most awesome way to see our country!

Stephen and I have been planning on having a look around the East Cape and Gisbourne area over summer, Maybe we could join you if you were passing through that way.

Sounds awesome, keep us updated!

Cheers,
Hanne

[Zapf]

Shucks, thanks mate - will PM you closer to the time.

Yep, that's what I thought/hoped when I came up with that figure.

Now this is interesting! It won't be easy to gel time-wise for me as my thesis is due 15 Dec, but maybe just maybe I will be able to get my act together and complete it early... I will be in touch with you on this thanks.

Yeah I was planning a little of that too... already got all the camping gears (lightweight and compact stuff from my tramping days too).

Brilliant idea!

See KBers, I knew you guys would have some awesome suggestions!

I run Strada's or Pilot Road 2's so I will get 10'000k's from a set of tires on the XX, re time wise let me know sooner the better. Think about it this way, by going earlier you avoide the mad xmas traffic and holiday congestion. I however don't plan on camping, its good to have hot shower and full kitchen at the backpackers.

For me it'll mainly be a tour and photographic trip.

[doc]

i'm way too poor for the trip, and would hate all the traffic anyway...

besides, we could do several smaller, easier rides in that time, and i plan to build a bike these holidays

Last trip to the Brass did 3,500km and only traffic lights we struck were in the North Island, The brass is during a public holiday and never struck a single traffic jam until we got off the ferry.

[Zapf]

So how is the thinking cap coming along ?

[Macstar]

So how is the thinking cap coming along ?

Well, to cut to the chase: I can't guarantee just yet and don't want to muck you around. Knowing with 100% certainty that my thesis will be done by then is a tough call, also I'd like to do the trip with my girlfriend on the back and she doesn't think she'll be able to get time off in Nov...

Sorry mate, I want to make this trip but will probably need to go later in Dec or Jan. If it's ok, keep your plans known on this thread cause there's a few of us keen to do this trip at some stage.

[jafar]

Well, to cut to the chase: I can't guarantee just yet and don't want to muck you around. Knowing with 100% certainty that my thesis will be done by then is a tough call, also I'd like to do the trip with my girlfriend on the back and she doesn't think she'll be able to get time off in Nov...

Sorry mate, I want to make this trip but will probably need to go later in Dec or Jan. If it's ok, keep your plans known on this thread cause there's a few of us keen to do this trip at some stage.

IMHO the best time to do this trip is in february or march , the weather is better , there are not skool holidays, accomodation is easy to get & often cheaper than in 'peak' times.

[Zapf]

Well, to cut to the chase: I can't guarantee just yet and don't want to muck you around. Knowing with 100% certainty that my thesis will be done by then is a tough call, also I'd like to do the trip with my girlfriend on the back and she doesn't think she'll be able to get time off in Nov...

Sorry mate, I want to make this trip but will probably need to go later in Dec or Jan. If it's ok, keep your plans known on this thread cause there's a few of us keen to do this trip at some stage.

Sure thing, I might do another trip in Jan / Feb if I am still in NZ