Best place in NZ for a biker to live?

[MSTRS:Me]

Hamilton, great roads in every direction, 30 mins to a good beach 1 hour to Auckland, great schools and its the motorsport capital of NZ

Central to everything.

And there's even a few days each year when it's not foggy....

[Slyer]

Yeah nelson sounds like a good bet.
The most north of the south.

[JacksColdSweat]

Hamilton

Really?

Seriously?

I'm glad you like it but an hour to the beach might be a bit far... I live 10 minutes from 4 very swimmable beaches at the moment.... it's only 40 minutes to the west coast from here...

Taupo has the same issue - it's 3 hours to the coast (or longer) that's way too long for a quick dip in the sea...

[Maha]

Really?

Seriously?

I'm glad you like it but an hour to the beach might be a bit far... I live 10 minutes from 4 very swimmable beaches at the moment.... it's only 40 minutes to the west coast from here...

Taupo has the same issue - it's 3 hours to the coast (or longer) that's way too long for a quick dip in the sea...

I lived in Taupo in 1985 (5 mile bay)....was ok then, hot hot summer and very cold winter, population was nice and low also, now, na, wouldn't live there myself. But thats just me, its ok for a visit, but I like the smaller towns. We have any amount of beach's within 10-20 mins form here.

[CrazyFrog]

Nelson ticks all your boxes. Great weather, beaches, roads, mountains and lakes. Nelson people moan if it rains more than 2 days in a row.
Roads are pretty good just about any direction out of town. Good bike community too, and good thing you don't speed, our cops here are merciless on speedsters.
Low crime rate = cheap insurances.
Houses prices are a little steep compared with other towns our size, but you'll be fine coming from Auckland, they're way cheaper than up there.

[JacksColdSweat]

Nelson ticks all your boxes. Great weather, beaches, roads, mountains and lakes. Nelson people moan if it rains more than 2 days in a row.
Roads are pretty good just about any direction out of town. Good bike community too, and good thing you don't speed, our cops here are merciless on speedsters.
Low crime rate = cheap insurances.
Houses prices are a little steep compared with other towns our size, but you'll be fine coming from Auckland, they're way cheaper than up there.

Cheers Crazy Frog - that's the kind of thing I was looking for... yeah I got busted for speeding in a cage not far our of Nelson some years ago - cop was not a nice guy...

Any decent "just outside Nelson" spots you reckon are worth a look? We can't afford "Nelson proper" prices and don't feel the need to be in town? Any satellites worth a look?

[portokiwi]

DONT FORGET THE BEST FISHING AROUND THERE AS WELL

[Winston001]

Must say Nelson was my first thought too but I've always considered it too remote. There is no easy or quick way out despite being geographically in the centre of NZ.

You either pay and fly to Wellington or Christchurch, or if you want to drive, go to Picton/Christchurch. Purely in driving time, Nelson is nearly as far away as Invercargill from Christchurch.

Blenheim is a nice alternative and closer.

Whakatane appeals - smaller than Tauranga but not too far from Auckland if you want to go there for a game/concert/flight.

Nothing wrong with Christchurch either or Kaiapoi/Rangiora if you like smaller places nearby. Indeed Christchurch would be my pick. Not too big, lots of options, beaches, a huge peninsula to explore, Southern Alps/lakes nearby..... Live on a hill or on the flat, plenty of choice.

[Swoop]

A mate has just moved to Athenree, which is close to Waihi Beach area.
Close(ish) to Tauranga and handy to Coromandel. Near the sea... in fact very near the sea!
It has made me interested in that area.

[Taz]

I'll vote for Motueka. My sister lives there and we love it every time we are down there. Beautiful small town.

[scumdog]

Must say Nelson was my first thought too but I've always considered it too remote. There is no easy or quick way out despite being geographically in the centre of NZ.

You either pay and fly to Wellington or Christchurch, or if you want to drive, go to Picton/Christchurch. Purely in driving time, Nelson is nearly as far away as Invercargill from Christchurch.

Blenheim is a nice alternative and closer.

Whakatane appeals - smaller than Tauranga but not too far from Auckland if you want to go there for a game/concert/flight.

Nothing wrong with Christchurch either or Kaiapoi/Rangiora if you like smaller places nearby. Indeed Christchurch would be my pick. Not too big, lots of options, beaches, a huge peninsula to explore, Southern Alps/lakes nearby..... Live on a hill or on the flat, plenty of choice.

I would pick Blenheim over Nelson too.

Use to live in Nelson, yeah the climate is good but there's a raft of reasons I wouldn't go back there to live.

Besides, if I have to ride for more than 5 minutes to get out on the open road I go ga-ga and coming from Hope direction and riding through to Hira takes twice as long due to riding through all tha built-up areas....

But at least it's not over-run with MM or BP twats.

[MaxB]

Hamilton, great roads in every direction, 30 mins to a good beach 1 hour to Auckland, great schools and its the motorsport capital of NZ

Central to everything.

Err, so you are saying Hamilton's best feature is that it is close to more interesting places?

[Quasievil]

And there's even a few days each year when it's not foggy....

I will take the bait on that you bastard man (), Hamilton and Fog is a over hyped lie based on mis conceptions and bad attitudes towards the city...........found amongst those that are jealous of the one city in the country that can get things done, and has more major events than just about every other city in the country.

Incidentally Fog related closures at Airports around the country where lead by Auckland, Hamilton was way down the list (I know Paula works at the Airport)
Fog days I noticed would be about ooooo 2 or 3 in the winter past, thats nothing.

Anyway my good freind, fog or earthquakes mmmmmmm I will take the fog

lol

[Quasievil]

Err, so you are saying Hamilton's best feature is that it is close to more interesting places?

No I didnt say that, but it is close to everything and has everything in it

Warning Im super pahrocial (however the fuck ya spell it)

[JacksColdSweat]

I would pick Blenheim over Nelson too.

Use to live in Nelson, yeah the climate is good but there's a raft of reasons I wouldn't go back there to live.

Besides, if I have to ride for more than 5 minutes to get out on the open road I go ga-ga and coming from Hope direction and riding through to Hira takes twice as long due to riding through all tha built-up areas....

But at least it's not over-run with MM or BP twats.

Must confess Blenheim is on my secret shortlist. I didn't want to mention it cos I was hoping lots of people would recommend it without being prompted

I like Nelson but like you and others have said (or suggested) it's just a bit much of a city - expensive real estate and quite a long way to anywhere

Motueka (above) was an interesting idea... I have heard good things about it but never been there....

Seems the key regions I was thinking of are coming to the fore

With Outer Christchurch/Rangiora as the wild card...