Visiting NZ (from USA) in April

[timk]

It has taken me a year since I first posted here that I was working on getting myself down there, but I finally have plans in place to visit New Zealand for the first time. So now of course I have questions.

Here's the outline of my plan so far:

Arrive in Christchurch on 4th of April.
Spend a few days exploring the city and getting my bearings.
Pick up my rental bike on 9th of April.
Quick blip to the north island to visit an e-penpal in Upper Hutt (or was it Lower Hutt? )
Back to the south island for a couple more weeks of riding (working in a visit to a foaf in Winton somehow).
Return rental bike on 24th of April.
Spend a couple days chillin' in Christchurch again.
Fly out on 27th of April.

I'm open to suggestions on places to stay (low-to-mid budget preferred, or a friendly couch ), good places to eat (would rather spend more money on food & drink and less on rooms), and of course great roads to ride.

When I'm not on a bike I'm also interested in live music, art, architecture, and design. So any suggestions of how to work any of those into my trip would be great too.

Of course if anybody is interested in getting together for drinks and/or food and/or riding, I would love to meet up!

This trip is both a vacation and a scouting trip for a possible move. It might sound a bit silly to say that I'm considering moving to a place I've not yet even visited, but I've been reading about New Zealand for years and the draw has gone from strong to stronger. So I'll also be curious to learn as much as I can about the informal side of the immigration process. (I have read and reread the official immigration stuff but I know there's always more to it than the official line.)

I think that's about it! Thanks for any replies.

Getting really excited about this trip,
-tim

[kave]

If you are interested in architecture, you could always check out the public toilets in Kawakawa, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

[MIXONE]

If you want to ride over an amazing engineering feat make sure you ride over Arthurs Pass.Just make sure it isn't snowing or raining hard.
Also take a bike out for a 'test ride' from one of the bikeshops in Christchurch before you pick up the rental and do a quick blast to Akaroa and back.Approx 3 hours round trip allowing for a coffee stop in Akaroa.
Just pick a direction and ride.You'll love it.

[Coldrider]

Please ride on the correct side of the road, and watch for tourists that don't.

[timk]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Arthur's Pass is definitely on my list now (subject to weather conditions allowing it of course).

I'll have to see if any bike shops will let an international visitor take a bike for a "test ride" (when it should be pretty obvious that I won't be buying). If it works out, great.

Those Hundertwasser-designed toilets do look quite interesting (did some net searching and found some info), but I don't think I'll be getting as far north as Kawakawa. Can't be too sure though, so I'll keep them in mind.

Thanks for the reminder about riding on the correct side of the road, and especially watching out for other tourists who aren't. I have spent some time in other countries which ride/drive on the left, and I have found that I adapt to the riding and driving pretty quickly. What causes me more problems is that I have trouble adapting as a pedestrian. I can't count the number of times I've nearly stepped out in front of a car after looking the wrong way to make sure it was clear. (I guess that's why mom always said to look both ways. )

Cheers,
-tim

[ValkRider]

Tim,

Perhaps our paths may cross. My wife and I are visiting NZ from April 3 to the 20th. The 10th - the 20th will be on motorcycle in the south island. See my post "From OZ to NZ... We ain't in Kansas anymore.
BTW, I visited Coeur d'Alene on a bike tour a couple years ago... beautiful country... especially compared to Kansas!

Darren

[Strider]

They all crazy down that part of the country.
Check out all them hill and old stone buildings in Dunedin.

[timk]

Perhaps our paths may cross. My wife and I are visiting NZ from April 3 to the 20th. The 10th - the 20th will be on motorcycle in the south island. See my post "From OZ to NZ... We ain't in Kansas anymore.

Cool. I had read your initial post and a couple replies on that thread but hadn't checked back in there to see that you now have more firm plans. Sounds like you'll have a pretty good idea of when you'll be where as soon as Ian gives you his preplanned tour info. Maybe you could share that with me via pm or something when you have it? I won't be planning anything to that level of detail so I should be able to find a place for our paths to intersect once I know where your path is.

Kind of strange flying to the opposite side of the planet and then meeting up with somebody from so close to home, but it would be interesting for sure to share notes on what we've seen up to that point.

BTW, I visited Coeur d'Alene on a bike tour a couple years ago... beautiful country... especially compared to Kansas!

Yes it is beautiful here. I just drove all the way through Kansas twice this month, on my way to Daytona to race and then on my way home again, and all I can say is that I hope there's something more interesting there than what can be seen from I-70.

-tim

[karla]

Hi Tim

So ... you're arriving here on Friday .. there is a rally at Greta Valley happening on Saturday - it's about 90km from here (see map). Seems to me that would be as good a place as any to start getting to know the country and it's people. See how the jet lag goes.

I'm sure it won't take long to put together an itinerary for you - there is only one arterial route running down the West Coast of the South Island, and plenty of backpackers etc along the way.

enjoy your flight ~

[MyGSXF:Me]

Heya.. If you need a place to stay in Nelson.. flick me a pm

also.. my club runs the mentioned rally on this weekend.. here's the thread with details..

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=65709&page=2

Jen

[timk]

Right on. More people to meet and more stuff to see.

I'll see what I can do about making it to that rally -- definitely the best way to dive into foreign culture, cutting through the touristy bs and getting straight to the local bike nutters. Might be tough though since I'll have just landed and won't yet have my hired wheels. But never say never, right?

Jen -- thanks for the offer of crashspace in Nelson. Keep an eye out for a pm. I don't know exactly which day(s) I'll be in that area yet but I definitely will be. When I figure it out I'll give ya at least a couple days warning.

Back to packing and tying up loose ends. Less than 48 hours 'til I'm on a plane...

-tim

[YellowDog]

Hi Tim,
I have only been here for a year myself however I'm sure you will love NZ. We have had almost 5 months of glorious sunshine and the farmers are really quite pissed off by this. Just a small warning that we are now entering your eqivelent of October and overdue loads of rain. I hope it holds out for you.

To find out more about the emmigration process, try http://www.move2nz.com where you will find posters and archives compiled by posters from all over the English speaking world looking to or whom have already migrated to NZ. Tammy & Steve run it from Christchurch and I am sure they will offer you a bed or point you in the right direction of you get stuck.

Good luck to you for your exciting voyage.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Sweet as, Tim! Make sure ya keep a day or 2 up ya sleeve to do the Takaka Hill here!!! Trust me.. the road over & out to Farewell spit is worth it!!!

here's some pics...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...5&postcount=14

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...2&postcount=13

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...4&postcount=12

got the idea...??!!!

what time do you fly in Fri??

Jen

[timk]

Jen,

Nice pics! Now that's what I'm talking bout. Definitely got a day or two up my sleeve for roads like that.

If all goes to plan I'll be landing at Christchurch airport 10:20am Friday, but flights are always subject to delay and then of course there's the question of how long it will take me to get through customs etc. So I really don't know when I'll be let loose on the unsuspecting locals.

Cheers,
-tim

[MyGSXF:Me]

Tim, if you want to go to our rally, it looks like I possibly have a friends bike jacked up for you to use for the weekend... we would just have to sort out time management details.... (rally site is only about 90ks from ChCh )

If not, & ya just wanna chill & hang out in ChCh.. will see ya when ya get up this way!

Jen