Where would you go for 3 weeks?

[Jjgres]

Starting to get real now. Have my ZRX1100 up for sale, truck next. Getting rid of possessions, clearning the decks. House is on the market. November 10th should be in Auckland, then travel NZ & Oz until the money runs out.

[Jjgres]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Ha04S...%3DHa04SVS3KMg

My new theme song.

[5150]

Sorry off topic. Just been your way and traveleed around lower Florida State. Must say, it is a beautifull place. Key West blew me away, so did St. Pete Beach where we were based. Enjoy New Zealand while you down here and ride safe

[buggerit]

There is plenty of good info on here of great rides, my only advice would be to try and make it at least 4 weeks in NZ, 1/3 North Island
2/3 South Island, heaps to see and you do not cover as much ground as you would at home because of all our lovely twisties.
I look forward to your trip reports.

[Jjgres]

Sorry off topic. Just been your way and traveleed around lower Florida State. Must say, it is a beautifull place. Key West blew me away, so did St. Pete Beach where we were based. Enjoy New Zealand while you down here and ride safe

It's very pretty here but even paradise gets old. That and there's only the one road.

[Ratti]

Feel free to look up Bald Eagle and I in Wellington. you will pass thru as you ride from one island to the next - via a ferry -. Happy to offer you a couch and parking in our shed- o and Ratt Poison , aka home made spirits.

I'd add in the River Road from Whanganui to raetahi ( or the other way round ) It's an ok road most of the way, rough and slow but doable on a crusier. about 5 km of unsealed around Hiruhama/Jerusalem, but it's ok, take your time and watch out for 4x4's and sheep. ..they are seriously stupid.

It's a beautiful piece of country and it's nice to get off the main road for a day. ONly about 90 odd km, but you will need most of the day to do it, plenty of photo stops and some interesting history to see.

[Jjgres]

Ratt poison sounds maybe good for brain cells. I'll be sure to stop over. I have cells I don't even use. Leaving on a cruise ship from Seattle in a month and a half. Nothing sold yet.

Thank god for credit cards.

[Jjgres]

I must find the road with all the bras tied to a fence. The heck with alps and fiords!

[Jjgres]

Met two Kiwi chicks today with boyfriends/hubbys in tow. Route 66 near Oatman Arizona. They were from Invercargill. I asked them where that was, they said "where the motorcycle guy came from".

And I knew who they were talking about.

[Jjgres]

Got a contract on the house. If it closes we'll have $ to travel.

Also selling this - http://keys.craigslist.org/boa/4052549875.html

Come on over and drive it back to NZ!

More or less...

[Jjgres]

I'll be going to this: http://www.burtmunrochallenge.com/

No camping-won't have gear. Looking for a motel in town now. Be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

[Paul in NZ]

Also met a New Zealander riding a bicycle across the US a month ago!

Avoid that bugger then - likely to be bonkers...

We are 50km out from the ferry (wellington side) and can likely put you both up for a night as long as it fits with all the other things as you do. Thats assuming you are not insane, armed, overly fussy or related to Miley Cirus or Kardashians. If the timings right you will even get a 2 bob tour of the local environs....

[Jjgres]

Avoid that bugger then - likely to be bonkers...

We are 50km out from the ferry (wellington side) and can likely put you both up for a night as long as it fits with all the other things as you do. Thats assuming you are not insane, armed, overly fussy or related to Miley Cirus or Kardashians. If the timings right you will even get a 2 bob tour of the local environs....

Not armed, not insane, not related to Cirus or Kardasians. Pretty rare combo over here.

Booked a room for the BM Challenge. They're going fast. The rooms, that is.

[russd7]

[QUOTE=aklmotohire;1130549055]

We'll (my wife and I) be visiting you guys in November. I'm working on getting a touring bagger to ride around New Zealand for 3 weeks. We'll be starting in Auckland.

Where would you go?

Anywhere in NZ is fantastic apart from the Horowhenua region (sorry Levinites) but the must do roads (based on customers feedback) are;

• Coromandel Peninsula
• East Cape
• Forgotten World Highway (43)
• Arthur's Pass
• South Island West Coast
• Milford Sound
• Takaka Hill (Nelson)
• Gentle Annie (Napier to Taihape)
• If you're ok with gravel, the Acheron Road through the Molesworth Station (this one's personal as it is the most memorable ride I have done in NZ)

There is much debate about which island is better. Most assume the South Island and yes it is stunningly beautiful and the roads are great but for me the North Island has the best sections of roads in NZ for corners. If you ride the Coromandel and the East Cape alone, you could well be sick of bends by the time you get to Te Araroa on the East Cape. Luckily they keep going as you round the cape, head south to Napier then cross over to the centre and head west along the Forgotten World Highway. It won't be until you reach the Taranaki region that you will find a long straight stretch. You just don't get this type of riding in the South Island.

Having said that, the ride down the West Coast and to Milford Sound are truly spectacular and the Nelson region also has some awesome riding.

I must also agree to what is mentioned in other advice, that if you are here during November you need to include attending the Burt Munro Challenge in Invercargill from the 27th of November to the 1st of December.

Enjoy your ride.

sorry dude but you very obviously have not done much riding in the south island, being an ex nrthislander and living in the south now, i much prefer the south island roads, apart from the east coast and maybe the coro loop nothing up there compares, biggest prob with the coro loop is to many loopys on the road, from the top of the south to the bottom there is awesome riding, some people even like the boring straight roads of cantabury, the biggest thing missing down here is the traffic which allows for a much freer ride, i hate riding north island now, to many dickheads on the road, having said that im probably heading up that way over xmas to visit family and friends

[russd7]

I'll be going to this: http://www.burtmunrochallenge.com/

No camping-won't have gear. Looking for a motel in town now. Be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

i can lend you gear so you can enjoy the experience, just let me know, will even put tent up for you, we usually set up on monday or tuesday, only catch is you would be camped with a bunch of bikers who like to have a good time