Visiting from California! (aadrew10)

[aadrew10]

Hey Guys,

I'll be exploring NZ from approx. Dec. 26-Jan. 28th. I thought it would be cool to travel by motorcycle, but all the motorcycle rental places are >$120/day! What's up with that? I can rent a car for $35/day without any bargaining.

I'm looking for advice- is it a bad idea to travel by motorcycle this time of year? I expect the weather to be nice and warm. Also, does anyone know where I can use a motorcycle for the price of a car or better? I've been riding for quite often for 5 years, never dropped a bike. I've ridden Ninja 250, CBR 600, Yamaha R6, Triumph Daytona, as well as some old school yamaha cruisers, etc.

I'm looking to do some sailing, glider flying, exploring, scuba, and maybe some engineering contract work here and there if I meet the right friends.

All comments appreciated. I'm excited to visit!

- Andrew

[Grashopper]

Hi Andrew,
First, welcome to kb. Sounds like a great plan. December and January are usually good times to travel. This year it was really hot and dry, but for example last year was quite wet. Still not cold, but it was raining quite a bit, especially in December, I think.

Can't help you much with the rental bike. Sorry. Just have a good search through this forum, especially this part http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/fo...Visitors-in-NZ. You're not the first one to look for a cheaper option.

The best places for gliding, so I've been told, are on the South Island near Nelson and Omarama.

[unstuck]

Gidday and welcome.........Enjoy your stay, and good luck with finding a cheaper option. Weather definitely better from december to march.

[aadrew10]

Wow, That forum is just what I was looking for. Thanks!

[sinfull]

What's with the short stay ? NZ needs at least two to three months to see the lot properly and even then on a dual purpose bike some of the time, is a good idea (some of the best scenic places are only reachable this way)

Only problem with touring at that time of year is that every man and his dog is on holiday, the roads are chocker with holiday makers and camper vans. Accom prices go up and no engineer will be open till maybe the second week of Jan !

The weather too (this year was an exception) has changed over the last decade to be warmer and finer through feburary march, but who could pick it as it's changing every year !

Hiring a bike is not the best option, most buy then resell when leaving (some even befriend KB members who sell the bike on after the departure) but of course this would be hard to sort for a short stay, but do-able if you keep posting and asking etc !
I just sold a 500 kwaka bloody near overnight to a lady on here, because it is within the new lams regs for learners !
If you do go that way, it may be a good idea to keep inside the lams cc rating of 650 so it will re-sell easier ! See here

Bikes for sale here if you do decide to go this way ! You could just about buy one for the cost of hiring for the duration you speak of !

[aadrew10]

Well then I'll plan to visit mid Jan to mid March! I'm very flexible with the dates. Thank you for the links and tips, I will definitely look into the bikes for sale, as I don't need a nice stylish cruiser. Just about anything will do.

I do appreciate the kind words, and I'm reading up on the kb forums and learning a lot.

-Andrew

[Ulsterkiwi]

dont want to hijack the thread but noticed you want to do some scuba?
PM me about that, have some suggestions for you.

[Mo NZ]

You might consider buying a bike and selling it on when you leave. For instance there is a V-Strom on this board for $4,500. If you rent a bike for say $50 a day ( if you can find one) it will cost you about the same $$ , buy one and you have something to sell and it may save you some $$$.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-611619714.htm
PM me if you want to sort something like this out and I can help.

[bosslady]

Yea one month is definitely not enough time to fit in motorcycling on top of sailing, glider flying, scuba diving and working to boot! And like someone above mentioned, I really don't imagine you'll get any work in that field while you're here if you haven't sorted it before your arrival.

[Drew]

If you're not fussy on what the bike is, you could buy a road legal bike that's capable of doing the trip for around $2000NZ.

That works out to be $67NZ per day, if you just toss it over the side of a cliff when you're done. Anything you sell it for (I'd go $1 reserve auction on trademe.co.nz with thte auction closing the day before you fly out), is gravy.

[Grashopper]

If you're not fussy on what the bike is, you could buy a road legal bike that's capable of doing the trip for around $2000NZ.

That works out to be $67NZ per day, if you just toss it over the side of a cliff when you're done. Anything you sell it for (I'd go $1 reserve auction on trademe.co.nz with thte auction closing the day before you fly out), is gravy.

+1, just add a hundy or two for insurance and possibly some money for rego and wof. Although with a bike at that price range there might be repair cost that could also add to it. If you don't care if you sell it or not at the end of the trip, even better, less worrying about trying to find a buyer. (I've heard of cars being left at the airport with the key inside by backpackers who couldn't sell them. Anyone know what happens with them?)

The good thing with a rental is, that if something is wrong with it, they will sort out the repairs and if needed you should be able to get a new bike from the rental company without problems.

So it is likely to be cheaper to buy a bike, but renting one is more convenient.

And as bosslady said, 1 month is definitely not enough for everything you've planned. Especially if you want to work here for a bit, too. And remember to get your work visa sorted.

[Jantar]

...
The best places for gliding, so I've been told, are on the South Island near Nelson and Omarama.

Shame on you for putting Andrew wrong like that. The best place for competition flying is Omarama, for sure, it is also the dearest with $100 tows and $2 per minute glider time.

But the very best place in New Zealand for recreational gliding at a reasonable price is Taupo. Oh dear, just look at where you are from..... Mt Tauhara provides good lift in most conditions, and there are generally good thermals along the Broadlands Road and out over the forest.

Another good North Island site is Matamata if there is a westerly wind. Flights along the length of the Kaimai range are possible.

In the South Island, try Alexandra. It is a small yet active group, and I just happen to know one of the instructors. He sleeps with my wife.

[Grashopper]

Shame on you for putting Andrew wrong like that. The best place for competition flying is Omarama, for sure, it is also the dearest with $100 tows and $2 per minute glider time.

Lol, I'm not flying gliders myself, but a friend took me up in one in Omarama once. Didn't know know it was that expensive He is the one who told me about those places. Taupo never even came up.

[Jantar]

Lol, ... Taupo never even came up.

Well head along to Centenial Park tomorrow. See Tom Anderson, the club manager, and tell him I sent you. I was his first gliding instructor. He'll send you up with an instructor and you can soon see how different Taupo is to Omarama.

Then when Andrew comes over from USA he can also make an informed choice about where to go gliding.

[aadrew10]

Haha Thanks for the heads up! I definitely am more for the small active friendly clubs than the large commercial operations. I've been flying out of Avenal in CA, where tows are $10/1000ft, and the club glider rentals are $7/flight. Granted, they're 233s, and a 1-26. I've also recently starting towing gliders for the club, which I would love to do in NZ if it works out somehow.

I appreciate your input and I'll be asking you for more details in the near future

- Andrew

Shame on you for putting Andrew wrong like that. The best place for competition flying is Omarama, for sure, it is also the dearest with $100 tows and $2 per minute glider time.

But the very best place in New Zealand for recreational gliding at a reasonable price is Taupo. Oh dear, just look at where you are from..... Mt Tauhara provides good lift in most conditions, and there are generally good thermals along the Broadlands Road and out over the forest.

Another good North Island site is Matamata if there is a westerly wind. Flights along the length of the Kaimai range are possible.

In the South Island, try Alexandra. It is a small yet active group, and I just happen to know one of the instructors. He sleeps with my wife.