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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:20:16 AM

Title: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:20:16 AM
I often get asked this question so I thought I'd put up a couple of graffics to demonstrate it.

Australia is of course humungous. It also, being mostly desert, has the lowest density population in the World. (3/square mile last time I heard.) There are I believe (or used to be) 2 farms there each of which was larger than Texas.

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/oz%20v%20us.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/oz%20v%20us.jpg.html)

New Zealand is of course somewhat smaller, though not as small as some apparently think. by comparison we have 25 people per square mile (maybe a few more these days)

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/nz%20v%20us.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/nz%20v%20us.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: wrbix on November 18, 2015, 07:58:26 AM
How many sheep/sq mile?

Beautiful country BTW! Fine folks.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 08:07:08 AM
 Wow , a geography lesson with coffee , thanks John  :bow:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Markcarovilli on November 18, 2015, 08:48:13 AM
John

never knew that - thanks for the enlightenment....

Mark
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Bisbonian on November 18, 2015, 09:04:00 AM
My wife and I just got back from 3 weeks driving a camper van around New Zealand.

I think most of the people in New Zealand are centered in and around Auckland.

It's a beautiful country and we had a great time.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Guzzistajohn on November 18, 2015, 09:36:32 AM
Thanks for the geography lesson, the maps really put things in perspective. How many tanks of gas do you think it'll take to get a V9 Guzzi across NZ from East to West?
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Sasquatch Jim on November 18, 2015, 09:45:03 AM
 Australia is the worlds' biggest island.  And the largest country to be completely surrounded by water.
 Not just water but oceans of it.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: wymple on November 18, 2015, 10:10:06 AM
Give Australia a bit more credit, as the rest of the world does. The consensus is that we class it as a continent, with Greenland being the biggest island. If you just go by it being surrounded by water, Antarctica is twice as big, and even Africa qualifies. Australia is one of the big boys, those NZ guys are sooooo jealous!  :grin:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Phang on November 18, 2015, 10:12:15 AM
I can't breathe...  :rolleyes:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/Phang/density_zpszsvsjul6.jpg)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 10:20:49 AM
I can't breathe...  :rolleyes:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/Phang/density_zpszsvsjul6.jpg)

 OH MY ! Probably a good place to be in the restaurant business  :shocked:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Phang on November 18, 2015, 10:29:08 AM
OH MY ! Probably a good place to be in the restaurant business  :shocked:

  Dusty

The rankings are based on total population divided by total land area but not reflecting the actual situation.

Hong Kong is far more crowded than Singapore as they have less usable/habitable land.

You will bump more shoulders in 100 meters (yards) in Hong Kong than a year in Singapore.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 10:32:37 AM
The rankings are based on total population divided by total land area but not reflecting the actual situation.

Hong Kong is far more crowded than Singapore as they have less usable/habitable land.

You will bump more shoulders in 100 meters (yards) in Hong Kong than a year in Singapore.

 Doesn't Singapore also have huge areas set aside as parks ?

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Phang on November 18, 2015, 10:40:58 AM
This will give you a rough idea on how much greenery the island has.

p/s: the north west patch is a military restricted area, not accessible to the public.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/SingaporeSatellite1024x710.jpg)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Dean Rose on November 18, 2015, 10:55:33 AM
Fell in love with Singapore when I was there, they actually enforce their laws.

Dean
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 11:00:38 AM
  Love these lessons , bet most MC forums don't see much of this type of discussion  :thumb:

 Phang , wow , just wow , looks like 35 % or better of Singapore is set aside as park , makes a city very livable.

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: PJPR01 on November 18, 2015, 11:18:32 AM
  Love these lessons , bet most MC forums don't see much of this type of discussion  :thumb:

 Phang , wow , just wow , looks like 35 % or better of Singapore is set aside as park , makes a city very livable.  Dusty

There's a price to that livability...it's horrendously expensive and I think some of the things we consider as freedoms are severely curtailed.  Beautiful, but sterile is what I have heard from friends who have lived there (Chinese and non Chinese friends by the way).
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 11:22:34 AM
There's a price to that livability...it's horrendously expensive and I think some of the things we consider as freedoms are severely curtailed.  Beautiful, but sterile is what I have heard from friends who have lived there (Chinese and non Chinese friends by the way).

 Unlike Houston , which we all know is still the wild West  :grin:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: ohiorider on November 18, 2015, 11:29:24 AM
Unless someone re wrote the geography books, here's what they drummed into us in elementary school:
In order of size, I believe:

Asia
Africa
North America
South America
Europe
Australia
Antartica

Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Phang on November 18, 2015, 11:31:17 AM
  Love these lessons , bet most MC forums don't see much of this type of discussion  :thumb:

 Phang , wow , just wow , looks like 35 % or better of Singapore is set aside as park , makes a city very livable.

  Dusty

I caught this little guy on the tree in front of my apartment with my phone a few weeks ago.

Not too bad for a place with seven thousand people per square kilometer  :laugh:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/Phang/squirel_zps3yk1vimk.jpg)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 11:34:15 AM
 That's cool Phang  :thumb:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: ITSec on November 18, 2015, 11:54:43 AM
Let's not forget that Australia has a big brother (by another million square miles) - a little colder and somewhat more precipitation, and about 8 people per square mile. Australia may have got the convicts, but Canada got the Quebecois. Not sure I should finish that thought....  :evil:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: PJPR01 on November 18, 2015, 11:57:53 AM
Unlike Houston , which we all know is still the wild West  :grin:   Dusty

Chuckle chuckle...good one Dusty!  At least Houston and Singapore have approximately the same humidity levels...so I've heard! 

Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 12:05:19 PM
Chuckle chuckle...good one Dusty!  At least Houston and Singapore have approximately the same humidity levels...so I've heard!

 Houston doesn't have high relative humidity , it has absolute relative humidity  :laugh: Like living in an arboretum  :laugh: There used to be a joke about why the astronauts lived in Houston , it was so they could vacation on the moon  :laugh:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: pehayes on November 18, 2015, 02:05:14 PM
Just returned from 3 weeks on Tasmania.  Forget Australia.  Just go to the southern state.  Wonderful roads.  No traffic.  The Taswegians refer to Australia as the desolate island to the north.   :grin:

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: PJPR01 on November 18, 2015, 02:08:32 PM
Houston doesn't have high relative humidity , it has absolute relative humidity  :laugh: Like living in an arboretum  :laugh: There used to be a joke about why the astronauts lived in Houston , it was so they could vacation on the moon  :laugh:  Dusty


The moon has humidity?  :)  :)  Let's set up a colony right away then!  Easy hop to Mars from there... ha ha!
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: wymple on November 18, 2015, 06:10:44 PM
Unless someone re wrote the geography books, here's what they drummed into us in elementary school:
In order of size, I believe:

Asia
Africa
North America
South America
Europe
Australia
Antartica


Antarctica is nearly double the size of Australia, which is the smallest of the seven continents.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: PJPR01 on November 18, 2015, 07:13:08 PM
Oddly enough though, from Mexico on down, they teach that The Americas is 1 continent, contrary to our U.S. perspective of having 2 separate American continents, which always leaves poor Central America in limbo somewhere, as an appendage to S. America.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:13:40 PM
How many sheep/sq mile?

Beautiful country BTW! Fine folks.

Thanks for the complement wrbx.  There used to be 64m sheep in NZ as opposed to 3.5 m people. The number of sheep is vastly less now with the rise of dairying in the country but I don't know the current figures.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:17:25 PM
My wife and I just got back from 3 weeks driving a camper van around New Zealand.

I think most of the people in New Zealand are centered in and around Auckland.

It's a beautiful country and we had a great time.

Hey I'm really glad you enjoyed it Bisbonian. How far south did you get?

You are quite right, 1/2 the total population lives in the greater Auckland area (and the rest of us hope they stay there  ) 3/4 of the whole in the North Island and the rest in the South.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:21:38 PM
Give Australia a bit more credit, as the rest of the world does. The consensus is that we class it as a continent, with Greenland being the biggest island. If you just go by it being surrounded by water, Antarctica is twice as big, and even Africa qualifies. Australia is one of the big boys, those NZ guys are sooooo jealous!  :grin:

Well, believe it or not, we are not jealous at all. Anyway the continent you speak of is Oceania, (or Australasia) which just happens to include us. Australia on it's own doesn't qualify.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 07:23:09 PM
Thanks for the geography lesson, the maps really put things in perspective. How many tanks of gas do you think it'll take to get a V9 Guzzi across NZ from East to West?

Probably one or perhaps two, depending on where you decide to do it.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 07:36:16 PM
Well, believe it or not, we are not jealous at all. Anyway the continent you speak of is Oceania, (or Australasia) which just happens to include us. Australia on it's own doesn't qualify.

 Given that New Zealand punches way above its weight in almost everything ...not much reason to be jealous of any other country .

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 08:42:42 PM
Australia is one of the big boys, those NZ guys are sooooo jealous!  :grin:

Yeah?

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/islands_of_new_zealand_tee_shirts-r957a9e08ca164a229862afde01a8e921_804gs_512.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/islands_of_new_zealand_tee_shirts-r957a9e08ca164a229862afde01a8e921_804gs_512.jpg.html)

(chuckle)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Bisbonian on November 18, 2015, 09:33:13 PM
Hey I'm really glad you enjoyed it Bisbonian. How far south did you get?

You are quite right, 1/2 the total population lives in the greater Auckland area (and the rest of us hope they stay there  ) 3/4 of the whole in the North Island and the rest in the South.

We probably drove by your house as we went through Invercargill. 2 weeks on the South Island and one in the north.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 18, 2015, 11:31:01 PM
We probably drove by your house as we went through Invercargill. 2 weeks on the South Island and one in the north.

Well that is the right proportion. Pity you didn't call in. I'm good for a coffee and route advise.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 18, 2015, 11:37:41 PM
Well that is the right proportion. Pity you didn't call in. I'm good for a coffee and route advise.

 I'm honestly afraid that if I ever made it to NZ the Govt there would have to execute a deportation .

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: balvenie on November 19, 2015, 03:17:16 AM
I'm honestly afraid that if I ever made it to NZ the Govt there would have to execute a deportation .

  Dusty

I hope you haven't incriminated yourself, Dusty.
I wonder if it would do any good to plead the fifth ammendment :angel: :evil:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Johncolleary on November 19, 2015, 07:19:08 AM
I have a 2 week NZ trip booked for February .  Looking forward to it!
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Rough Edge racing on November 19, 2015, 07:55:33 AM
 I always wanted to visit Australia....I have a few fellow vintage Triumph friends there and we seem to think along the same lines...But it's not the cost of the airfare, it's nearly 24 hours flying...I hate to fly and if not sedated into a stupor I would chew up the seats...
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: frans belgium on November 19, 2015, 08:26:19 AM
I always wanted to visit Australia....I have a few fellow vintage Triumph friends there and we seem to think along the same lines...But it's not the cost of the airfare, it's nearly 24 hours flying...I hate to fly and if not sedated into a stupor I would chew up the seats...

Same here, been looking for years to visit NZ, but we do mind the flight (25 hours) and first class is unaffordable  :sad:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 19, 2015, 08:27:07 AM
I'm honestly afraid that if I ever made it to NZ the Govt there would have to execute a deportation .

  Dusty

I have an English friend that comes over every year for up to 6 months. He could stay longer if he wanted to but then he wouldn't be able to return for over 9 months. He's a 79 year old retired ships engineer. Says he always wanted to see more of the place than some of it's ports. He imported a huge Landrover that he stores here when he is away and with which he terrorises or roadsl

Dusty, we do allow dual citizenship (though the US, I think, does not), or of course there is Permanent Residency which would get over the dual citizenship thing, but I suspect your expectations are so high that you might be disappointed in the place. Only one way to find out. Make the trip.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 19, 2015, 08:29:10 AM
I hope you haven't incriminated yourself, Dusty.
I wonder if it would do any good to plead the fifth ammendment :angel: :evil:

 I figured you guys might give me asylum , I'm fairly handy  :grin: How hard can it be to learn the two accents :rolleyes:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 19, 2015, 08:29:49 AM
Same here, been looking for years to visit NZ, but we do mind the flight (25 hours) and first class is unaffordable  :sad:

It would be too long for me too. (and I would not be going 1st class!) It exhausts the friend I mentioned above and I can't understand why he doesn't break his trip for a couple of days coming and going. I would.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Bisbonian on November 19, 2015, 09:07:20 AM
Well that is the right proportion. Pity you didn't call in. I'm good for a coffee and route advise.

Next time, it took us a little time to figure out what we were doing.

Thankfully navigation in New Zealand wasn't too difficult and my wife is an excellent map reader as my GPS app on my phone refused to work without a WiFi signal. We did end up circling some roundabouts a couple of times but nothing too bad.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: MGPilot on November 19, 2015, 10:33:06 AM
... those NZ guys are sooooo jealous!  :grin:

I'm not so sure. I keep hearing NZ sailors saying they look down to see advanced Aussie sailors.

Not sure what's that about.   :wink:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on November 19, 2015, 10:58:05 AM
I have a 2 week NZ trip booked for February .  Looking forward to it!
I'll be over there then also arriving on Feb 12th for a month, I couldn't find a Guzzi to ride so I settled on an old Red Brick (BMW K100).

Look for a pair of bikes with Canadian flag somewhere in evidence.
Put the billy on John
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: wymple on November 19, 2015, 01:08:22 PM
Yeah?

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/islands_of_new_zealand_tee_shirts-r957a9e08ca164a229862afde01a8e921_804gs_512.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/islands_of_new_zealand_tee_shirts-r957a9e08ca164a229862afde01a8e921_804gs_512.jpg.html)

(chuckle)

Wow, That's a great shirt!
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 19, 2015, 01:17:39 PM
I'll be over there then also arriving on Feb 12th for a month, I couldn't find a Guzzi to ride so I settled on an old Red Brick (BMW K100).

Look for a pair of bikes with Canadian flag somewhere in evidence.
Put the billy on John

The Billy? Well Muzz reckons I make a decent cup of tea too.
Here's his last one as he prepares to depart after the Tattley Rappit.

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/Breather%20guzziology%20002.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/Breather%20guzziology%20002.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 19, 2015, 01:51:06 PM
I'm not so sure. I keep hearing NZ sailors saying they look down to see advanced Aussie sailors.

Not sure what's that about.   :wink:

Could it be an oblique reference to this event? (One Australia sinking during the 1995 america's Cup)
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/One-Australia-1995-SanD%201.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/One-Australia-1995-SanD%201.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Muzz on November 19, 2015, 03:12:06 PM
Could it be an oblique reference to this event? (One Australia sinking during the 1995 america's Cup)
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/One-Australia-1995-SanD%201.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/One-Australia-1995-SanD%201.jpg.html)

Hence the saying, "nothing goes down faster than a Fosters". :grin: :grin: :grin: :boozing:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Muzz on November 19, 2015, 03:18:27 PM
Thanks for the geography lesson, the maps really put things in perspective. How many tanks of gas do you think it'll take to get a V9 Guzzi across NZ from East to West?

East to West easy peasy on one tank on the Breva.  North to South is a bit more. :wink:  probably about 7 or 8 for me.  I get about 230 miles no probs on a tank which they tell me is about 17.5 lits usable. Never found out as I have never run out.  The one time I was sweating it did not even take 16 lits.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 19, 2015, 03:20:33 PM
Hence the saying, "nothing goes down faster than a Fosters". :grin: :grin: :grin: :boozing:


 O F , funniest post today , brutal mind you, but HILARIOUS  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Muzz on November 19, 2015, 03:44:52 PM
My pleasure Dusty! :grin:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 20, 2015, 06:39:20 PM
I'll be over there then also arriving on Feb 12th for a month, I couldn't find a Guzzi to ride so I settled on an old Red Brick (BMW K100).

Look for a pair of bikes with Canadian flag somewhere in evidence.
Put the billy on John

Did you try these guys? http://www.guzzigander.com/

After riding Muzz's 750 Breva I would have to say that a V7 would have to be an ideal bike in this country.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 20, 2015, 07:18:35 PM
How many sheep/sq mile?

Beautiful country BTW! Fine folks.

This post meandered through my mind so I looked it up. Sheep numbers in NZ have dropped from over 60 m to 29.6 m.

This has come about due to wholesale conversion to dairying. But with a high and increasing demand for both wool and mutton from China combined by low milk prices we may see a reversal of this trend. I hope so, because intensive dairying is very bad for the environment.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on November 21, 2015, 12:26:40 AM
I figured you guys might give me asylum , I'm fairly handy  :grin: How hard can it be to learn the two accents :rolleyes:

  Dusty

Not much chance of asylum in Oz Dusty. Try that and you will find yourself incarcerated indefinitely in some concentration camp like Christmas Island.

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/Christmas%20Island.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/Christmas%20Island.jpg.html)

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/Christmas%20Island%202.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/Christmas%20Island%202.jpg.html)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/72541198/Kiwis-held-on-Christmas-Island-as-visas-revoked

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island_Immigration_Reception_and_Processing_Centre
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Crusty on November 21, 2015, 12:58:43 AM
I'm sitting in Spring Creek, Queensland typing this. I had to change flights in Aukland on my way here. I've found the people in both New Zealand and Australia to be very friendly and helpful. I won't compare the two countries. It would be like saying, which tastes better, Pizza or Barbecue? I like both.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Daniel Kalal on November 21, 2015, 02:16:35 AM
In pretty much the same thing that John did, I put this together prior to my first trip to New Zealand to give me a better idea of the distances involved:

(http://www.dankalal.net/2005trip11/newzealandonUSA.JPG)

and, then did it again prior to my first trip through Switzerland:

(http://www.dankalal.net/2008trip14/overlay.jpg)

which shows that all of Switzerland tucks away in a corner of Kansas (mountains make all the difference).

Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on November 21, 2015, 02:33:42 AM
Did you try these guys? http://www.guzzigander.com/

After riding Muzz's 750 Breva I would have to say that a V7 would have to be an ideal bike in this country.
Yes I did, just a bit too rich for a month so I had my Brother KiwiKev pick up a K100, it's a keeper he reckons
Just need to find a bike for my riding buddy now.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: azguzzirep on November 21, 2015, 05:42:31 AM
My wife and I just got back from 3 weeks driving a camper van around New Zealand.

I think most of the people in New Zealand are centered in and around Auckland.

It's a beautiful country and we had a great time.

I'll bet we crossed paths!!

My wife and I also just returned from a trip to OZ and NZ.

We started in Sydney, visiting Guzzi folks as we went. Met up with VDG !! From there we flew to Auckland, toured the North Island, Hawkes Bay, Napier, Wellington. Took a ferry to the South Island, drove directly over to the west coast. Beautiful!

We got as far down as Queenstown before looping back up and seeing Mt. Cook before going into Christchurch. From there, we flew back to OZ at Brisbi. (Brisbane) We went to Sippy Downs and also spent a weekend on Fraser Island.

Whew!! My wife says if we get back there, we definitely do the camper thing!!

Tom
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: oldbike54 on November 21, 2015, 09:22:36 AM
Not much chance of asylum on Oz Dusty. Try that and you will find yourself incarcerated indefinitely in some concentration camp like Christmas Island.

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/Christmas%20Island.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/Christmas%20Island.jpg.html)

(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb116/johnr39/Christmas%20Island%202.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/johnr39/media/Christmas%20Island%202.jpg.html)




http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/72541198/Kiwis-held-on-Christmas-Island-as-visas-revoked



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island_Immigration_Reception_and_Processing_Centre


 Dang , even if I promise to be a good boy  :laugh:

  Dusty
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: MGPilot on November 21, 2015, 10:39:12 AM
Could it be an oblique reference to this event? (One Australia sinking during the 1995 america's Cup)

Yep. (Hence, the wink.)

My older brother is an underwater photographer. For many years has spent 8 months or so a year diving the reefs in Australia. Spending more time in Indonesia recently.

But, personally, I'd prefer to visit NZ.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Kiwi Dave on November 21, 2015, 02:16:55 PM
Yes I did, just a bit too rich for a month.

I can't let this one go.  How would you know?  The pricing for a month is considerably cheaper than the daily prices on the website.

I tried PMing you twice, and even offered a buy back scheme as an alternative.  No response.  I couldn't do much more than that.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: malik on November 21, 2015, 04:33:28 PM
A few years back, I met up with a chap riding a mildly cafed old boxer - R100, perhaps - & his wife in Kaitaia (the north of the North Island). They were from North Carolina & this was their 11th trip to NZ. When the snow hits the ground enough to making biking uncomfortable there, they pop over to NZ for the summer. It's a tough life.

Well worth suffering the trip, and 2 months (or more) is better than one. The exchange rate is favourable for you guys at the moment, and a smaller bike is better than a bigger one in NZ.

Mal
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: RANDM on November 30, 2015, 05:22:36 PM
Hi people,
Re Australia's population density - this reminded me of
something I found amusing.
Apparently one guy involved in guided tours into the bush
has had some Japanese guests who have gotten half way
trough their trip and freaked out, panicked and run for home.
The reason given was that they couldn't stand the isolation,
the emptyness was too weird for them and freaked them out.

Amused me, as one of the first things I like to do most when
You get out there is to stop for a while just to appreciate that
isolation and breath it in.

Easy to forget how our cultures shape us innit?

Cheers Maurie.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Bisbonian on November 30, 2015, 06:09:45 PM
I'll bet we crossed paths!!

My wife and I also just returned from a trip to OZ and NZ.

We started in Sydney, visiting Guzzi folks as we went. Met up with VDG !! From there we flew to Auckland, toured the North Island, Hawkes Bay, Napier, Wellington. Took a ferry to the South Island, drove directly over to the west coast. Beautiful!

We got as far down as Queenstown before looping back up and seeing Mt. Cook before going into Christchurch. From there, we flew back to OZ at Brisbi. (Brisbane) We went to Sippy Downs and also spent a weekend on Fraser Island.

Whew!! My wife says if we get back there, we definitely do the camper thing!!

Tom

I think we were in Greymouth either the day before or after you, I saw your post.
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Sasquatch Jim on November 30, 2015, 06:24:08 PM
  Christmas Island detention center?  Who do those Aussies think they are?  The USA?
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Larry on December 01, 2015, 12:01:08 AM
Thanks for the complement wrbx.  There used to be 64m sheep in NZ as opposed to 3.5 m people. The number of sheep is vastly less now with the rise of dairying in the country but I don't know the current figures.

Looks like we can blame NZ for Global Warming  :sad:
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: johnr on December 01, 2015, 02:27:20 AM
Looks like we can blame NZ for Global Warming  :sad:

 :laugh: We contribute our share of volcanic ash too!
Title: Re: Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)
Post by: Testarossa on December 01, 2015, 03:29:15 AM
August, 1987, above Queenstown.
(https://skiinghistory.org/sites/skiinghistory.org/files/styles/large/public/gallery-images/sethnz87b.jpg?itok=Uu2L_QeB)