Canadian on a FULL New Zealand-wide, year-long (or longer) tour via Adventure Bike.

[Atmonauti]

First off I just have to express my profound gratitude to all KB members for what they have done for me so far and I've only just begun!!

I figured I would consolidate all the posts I have into one big Ride/Tour report here.

Here's a little background for those that haven't read any of the other threads I started. Sorry to everyone that has already read of my travels so far. I'll include some photos as well so its a bit easier to take!

Here I go.

Why New Zealand you might ask? I have always held New Zealand as my "Dream Country" A lot like Canada in a lot of respects, namely the openness and friendliness of the people and the geography. The draws for me here are overwhelming. You can be on 10,000 ft mountains but yet still be an hour or less from a surfing break. It is the action sport capital of the world. Atop of all this that the climate makes it moderate enough you can ride a motorbike all year round. I am from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (East Coast) and when you are used to driving 20+ hours straight to get to a decent Skiable "Mountain" (meaning 2000ft high) New Zealand is put into perspective.

My dream/goal is multifold:

Ski every Mountain, Skydive every Dropzone, Scuba every dive site, Surf every Break, Motorcycle the coast of the whole country and hit every good ride inland as well, be it mountain trail or open road. Sample every NZ beer, Visit as many bars/pubs and meet as many Kiwi's as possible.

I am on a year long working holiday in New Zealand but honestly I am not sure I'll leave

I looked into sending my 2003 Honda CBR600 F4i (pics on my profile) here but after finding out it would be $2500 USD I figured I would buy a used one in NZ. And I also figured I would do an injustice to New Zealand if I didn't experience her from the saddle of an Adventure bike.


After arriving in Auckland and all my motorcycle, winter, and camping gear waiting for me (Did a 3 month tour of Southeast Asia before arriving) I just needed to find a motorbike.

After a few test rides and a full month of looking on every classifed and forum I could find and heaps of help from KB'ers! I found Old Blue.



After a few quick rides out to Piha and Karekare Beach I was ready to get on the road.





Did I mention I LOVE NZ!!!


Then heading to the northland up the east coast and down the west. Meeting the most amazing people through www.couchsurfing.com (Thanks Radar!)

I think this looks pretty good on me

Even the kiddies love old blue!

Met the most amazing people one of which (Kel) toured me across this foot bridge to some of the best roads I have come across. Passing from Pataua South to Pataua North just north of Whangarei heads.


After a quick look around we both blast over.



Continued Below.

[Atmonauti]

Post #2

Did a bit of skydiving in Whangarei at www.skydiveballisticblondes.co.nz


Kayak'd and Swam with 100% wild dolphins in the Russell, Bay of Islands.



Camped at Maitai Bay on the Karikari Peninsula


Filled up gas at Awanui and was told there would be gas at Waitiki Landing.

Camped at Rarawa Beach.


And finally broke my "mud cherry" needing to get off the bike and gun it through!




After passing Waitiki Landing where I was told they were out of gas and did not know when they would get more.

I decided keep my orginal game plan and continued on.

So I took a night at Tapotupotu on the way up to Cape Reinga.


Finally made it to Cape Reinga after riding on the worse metal "gravel" road I have ever been on. They were doing some road work on it and the road consisted entirely of a type of base layer "gravel" ie. the size of large grapefruit.


Heading south I took a turn towards Te Paki Stream, an actual road.


After a few k's and a seemingly deeper and deeper stream/road in front of me, I decided to get on the the bank and ride that down towards Ninety Mile beach. Was fine for a few minutes bombing along through the bullrushes but it seemed to get more and more thick until I encountered this:

And my first instinct was to gun the throttle.

In which the end result was my whole bike being consumed by the green wall of vegetation at the centre of the picture in the background ejected me even deeper into it.

Old blue was sinking and stuck deep into the green monster, luckily there was a tour group dune surfing that I had passed about a 500m back which the tour leader was nice enough to help me pick my front tire up turn the bike on the spot on my rear tire and turn the bike 180 to get it on the same path I rode in on.

With me off the bike and gunning it to get it back to the road/stream. The kind soul was nice enough to pick up my gear I had dropped but also was lucky enough to have been fully coated head to toe by the large rooster tails I was spewing but didn't know.

After thanking him throughly I was on my way to Ninety Mile beach. Considerably less fuel in the tank as I was dumping the whole time I was tipped.

Continued Below.

[Atmonauti]

Post #3

After a few flooded engines pauses I finally got there! and looked back at the "road" I had made my way through.


Ninety Mile Beach. Yet another actual registered New Zealand Road.


Heading down the beach. Standing up on the pegs and just racing down the beach, trying to avoid the super soft sand almost getting bucked off not noticing the deeep rollers in the sand and the mini streams in my path. Sucking fumes Hard. Come across a Maori guy fishing on the beach and stop to ask where the nearest gas station is.

"Hey Bro, If you go 4.3 Kilometres south and take a left you find one."

after 15ish kms after that initial 4.3 I come across one. I swear with only 10 seconds to spare of gas.


Some specs say I have a 12L tank but old blue was thirsty alright. 12.5 L later I was off. back along the same route I got off the beach so I can continue in heading all the way down the west side of the peninsula from Cape Reinga along Ninety Mile beach all the way from Te Paki Stream to Ahipara.

Here is a shot from a Hang glider launch spot above Ahipara looking back up the beach past Kaitaia.


Did lots of surfing at Ahipara.

Was a bit out of my comfort zone but I ended up being suprizingly comfortable after while doing this!

The Couchsurfing host I was staying with here had a Suzuki 650 Adventure bike he just bought so we did a bit of touring into the Gumdiggers fields in the hills above Ahipara and rode the beach around Puwheke Reserve on the Karikari Peninsula.


Taking a trip around the point back deep into the sand dunes into the softest/deepest sand I have ever tried to ride on.



Got to see my first example of quicksand.


Ahipara has some amazing sunsets.


Heading down the west coast taking the ferry from Kohukohu to Rawene.


Continued below.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Some bloody good fotos there... glad you are enjoying NZ

[CookMySock]

After spending a couple of nights on our couch, Dan is off around the cape today, heading for the Gisborne/East Coast area. He's a super nice bloke with some good stories to tell and he doesn't eat much , so if you can find him a couch, piece of carpet, or a field to pitch his tent, then post here.

He could probably do with a few cash jobs here and there too, so if you need a hand with anything..

Ride safe Dan, see you again soon.

Steve

[Blackbird]

After spending a couple of nights on our couch, Dan is off around the cape today, heading for the Gisborne/East Coast area. He's a super nice bloke with some good stories to tell and he doesn't eat much , so if you can find him a couch, piece of carpet, or a field to pitch his tent, then post here.

He could probably do with a few cash jobs here and there too, so if you need a hand with anything..

Ride safe Dan, see you again soon.

Steve

I'll second that - he's great company and a good cook too, not that we made him do the chores or anything

[klingon]

Crikey Dan, when did you do your trip to Cape Reinga? We (the ccc crew) were up there on the weekend of 6 June. I should have kept in touch because you could have joined us & stayed in luxury at the next beach down from Rarawa.

Also my sister lives on the road that goes from 90 mile beach and comes out just opposite the Houhora service station. She would have come and rescued you if you did manage to run out of petrol.

Who said NZ was a small country?

[NZsarge]

Damn, some mint photo's the mate. glad to see you're finding some good roads mate.
Try the forgotten hiway on your way down the country.

[JMemonic]

PM when you get to Christchurch of around here and we might see if we can get a few folks together for a beer and a ride to Akaroa.

[CookMySock]

.. and a good cook too

mmmph, chew, wots that ? oh yeah.. good cook alright!

DB

[chrisso]

Brilliant! But wheres the Sheep?

[Number One]

ATMO Man!!!

Great to track your progress around NZ, look us up in Welly before making your way over to the South Island

Cheerio
Dirrrrty Biarch

[vifferman]

Brilliant! But wheres the Sheep?

This aint a porno site, Mr Ozzie!

[BiK3RChiK]

Well, we've waved goodbye to Dan... See you when you come round this way next, Dan It was a real pleasure to have you stay!! and I hope the rest of your tour goes smoothly.

Mavis

[Monie]

HI you came to the right country really neat pic there we are a nice lot..
if you need help with anything just log on and normally someone can help you . have a great trip and enjoy