Where is the best riding in NZ? (buckw65)

[buckw65]

If I did move to NZ, I was thinking about the Wellington area. Is this a great area to ride?? I've heard it can get pretty windy there, is this true??
Is there any race tracks close?? Do they have trackdays where anyone can pay and ride??
Buckw


Keep the rubber side down

[MIXONE]

The best riding in NZ is the South Island.Good roads,little traffic and of course the friendly locals.

[Sully60]

If I did move to NZ, I was thinking about the Wellington area. Is this a great area to ride??

Yes!

I've heard it can get pretty windy there, is this true??

Um yes but it's something you'll get used to.

Is there any race tracks close?? Do they have trackdays where anyone can pay and ride??
Buckw

Close probably by Canadian standards, Manfeild park is an hour and half(ish) north of Wellington, there are fairly regular trackdays of various quality.
Taupo(toe paw) is about four hours away but is almost the polar opposite in terms of track layout to Manfeild so well worth the extra miles of travel.

Keep the rubber side down

I'll try

[buckw65]

Hey Sully60; Thanks for the information. Yes an hour and a half is a short ride here in Canada. I will check out the race tracks you said and see what there like. It gets a little wind here too. I live in Ontario, and the wind comes off the great lake with some good velocity some times.
How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

[aer0]

Hey Sully60; Thanks for the information. Yes an hour and a half is a short ride here in Canada. I will check out the race tracks you said and see what there like. It gets a little wind here too. I live in Ontario, and the wind comes off the great lake with some good velocity some times.
How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

its around $100nzd each way so not too bad, takes around 4 hours.
yes they have tiedowns for bikes

[Sully60]

How much would the ferry cost to get to the south island?? Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

This thread is will probably help answer some questions.

The South Island is better in my limited experience, the whole scene is more vibrant and the roads are generally freer of traffic and HP . The tracks are definately better...
http://www.ruapunaspeedway.co.nz/

http://www.southcanterburycarclub.org.nz/

http://www.teretonga.org.nz/

[pritch]

Do they have tie down anchors for bikes???

The Arahura is the only ferry I know of that has bike specific anchor points.
Sets of four strategically placed "D" rings.

[sunhuntin]

The best riding in NZ is the South Island.Good roads,little traffic and of course the friendly locals.

ditto. i live about 3 hours north of wellington, and the south island is some of the best riding ive ever had. the west coast road is basically built for bikes, and it doesnt matter what kind of bike you have.

where abouts in ontario are you? i spent 6 months in meaford, on the shore of georgian bay. lovely province. actually... the south island reminds me a lot of ontario, which is nice as i miss it a lot.

[DarkLord]

If you like lots and lots of twisties, ride the Forgotten World Highway between Stratford and Taumarunui. Huge road, twisty nearly the whole way, nice scenery, not too many cars.

There is a stretch of dirt road in the middle that goes on for about 20 k's but just take it easy and you'll be fine.

[buckw65]

Hey sunhuntin; I live in Stratford, but have been just about everywhere in Ontario. It's pretty flat and boring. But there are some twisty roads around. But it's usually just a few good corners and then more straights.
The Darklord says that from Stratford and Taumarunui sounds good. So I'm taking notes, so when I get there I have a list of things to do.
Hey is the World Super Bike thing a done deal??? Does anyone have a date that it's on?? This might be a good excuse for a trip!!
Thanks for the responces. I told my wife that if you really won't to know what it's like to live some where. You have to chat to the bikers, they will tell you how it really is!!


Keep the rubber side down

[sunhuntin]

i found sask was flatter and more boring, lol. i loved the scenery in ontario. beautiful

[buckw65]

Hey sunhuntin; yes it is very beautiful here. But the best is up north in the Perry Sound area. In the Fall it is breathtaking. You can only imagine the colours. The roads are awesome and twisty. The only problem is there is gravel here and there. If you ride with the locals, they’ll scare the hell out of you. The gravel doesn’t slow them down at all. It slows me down because I hate falling off.
Is there a reason that there seems to be a lot of small displacement bikes there?? Are there roads too twisty for large displacement bikes??? I have no problems with smaller bikes. I still have an old RS125 GP bike I used to compete on. Back when my leathers fit a little looser around the middle.
Hey what is the traffic like in Wellington?? Is it really possible to go from Hutt valley to city centre in 15 minutes?? ( google map times)


Keep the rubber side down

[toebug]

Is there a reason that there seems to be a lot of small displacement bikes there?? Are there roads too twisty for large displacement bikes??? I have no problems with smaller bikes. I still have an old RS125 GP bike I used to compete on. Back when my leathers fit a little looser around the middle.
Hey what is the traffic like in Wellington?? Is it really possible to go from Hutt valley to city centre in 15 minutes?? ( google map times)


Keep the rubber side down

There probably alot of small displacement bikes here due to our licence process, but I would say there are equally as many if not more litre bikes.

The roads are perfect here for the big bikes! NZ is one big GP circuit!

Yes you can get from the Hutt to Wellington is 15 minutes but not in peak traffic.

The further North you live the warmer it is in the winter. The Coromandel is an awesome place to ride, so if you like sun, surf, sand, chicks in bikinis and bikes, Tauranga is the obvious choice of a place to live!

Oh and dont forget the awesome people!!

[buckw65]

Hey toebug;
I've been riding for 30 years of so. How hard would it be for me to keep my CBR1000RR???
Can you tell me how long that Hutt/Wellington trip would take in peak traffic??? This might give me an idea where I would like to live.

I was thinking of Wellington because I would need to work, (I'm not indipendently wealthy)I have two trade licences. One as automotive mechanic, and one as a millwright. I think a millwright is called a fitter/ maintenance down there. So that's why I like Wellington. It looks like a nice size, and I think I could find work there. Auckland might be better for jobs, but I don't know if I like the looks of it as much.
Yes I'm very impressed by the awesome people that have responded to my chats. Bikers are the best!!!

Keep the rubber side down

[jrandom]

HSo that's why I like Wellington. It looks like a nice size, and I think I could find work there. Auckland might be better for jobs, but I don't know if I like the looks of it as much.

Heh. Well played. You just made some instant friends.

And without making any instant enemies, either; Aucklanders are pretty much used to people from the rest of NZ not liking their town.

Which is kinda weird. Auckland's fifth on the Mercer Quality of Living global city rankings. And the traffic, Auckland's only drawback, really doesn't signify if you're on a motorcycle.

Oh well, takes all sorts, I guess. Wellington makes me claustrophobic. Always the hills bearing down on you. I like to live around geography that makes me feel as though I can breathe deep and get some elbow room, y'know?