I am heading to New Zealand!!!

[twowheeladdict]

 

Going to be there from Jan 28th - Mar 12th, 2025.

This will be my first visit.  Going to spend some time with my son who lives in Hamilton, and am planning to do some riding on the south island if I don't die on the first day trying to ride on the left side of the road! 

I welcome all suggestions, advice, etc. 

I looked at guided tours and they were just out of my price range at an average of $1000 a day to start.  Many things not included in that $1000 a day.  It sure would be nice to have the kind of money to just plunk down $15,000 plus airfare, plus fuel, plus incidentals, plus, plus, plus, to not have to think about anything but just show up and ride. 

I will probably camp, with the occasional hotel in the lower cost areas.  I have studied many of the guided tours literature and although I might not be able to ride the exact roads they travel, I can see the sights that they highlight in their tours.  I may also cover the distances in 2/3rds to 1/2 of the time which means seeing more in the time allotted. 

Still working out the logistics and researching bike rentals and such.  Hard to find smaller bikes with better fuel economy in the rental fleets.  The smallest are the Honda 500X and the KTM 390 Adventure. 

I am looking forward to see why my son never wants to come back to the states. 

[Huzo]

Come to Australia and you’ll get the advice, gear and bike for nothing….
It’s a 2 hr flight from New Zulund

[SmithSwede]

Wow.  I envy you.  New Zealand is on my bucket list. 

Keep us posted on your plans and kindly post photos

[twowings]

Check out a vlog on YouTube done by user Off She Goes...she just posted up her recent trip through NZ...some stunning riding! 

[pehayes]

I once hosted an around-the-world rider from England.  He left California and went to New Zealand.  He sent me an email message that after two weeks he had just found his first boring road.  Have fun!

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Kiwi_Roy]

Congratulations, you will enjoy yourself.
No doubt you will arrive at Auckland
I went there once and rented a Guzzi from Guzzi Gander., he's on here.
Another time I purchased a flying Brick BMW off Trademe the local version of Craigslist, your son will be aware of it.

Eat lots of meat pies, available from every service station and most corner stores
The Beer is good
Camping is free or cheap
Don't worry about riding on the left, I often post a little "Think Left" sign in plain view, my wife's excellent suggestion, the trickiest time is when you first enter the road from a car park.
I grew up in a little town called Mangaweka on the main highway
Enjoy your trip!

[Mr Revhead]

Guzzi Gander shut up several years ago. I bought my Cali EV off him 10 years ago.

Quick tip;:  avoid Sh1 where possible. It's the busiest and most boring road here.

[tazio]

ENVIOUS  !! 
And I live in north Georgia, USA  !!!!

[guzzler]

G'day.
Like Kiwi Roy, I grew up in NZ.On the outskirts of Christchurch actually and less than 100 metres from the beach.
It was Idyllic time in an idyllic place and still thank my lucky stars for it!
Mate we may be a little patriotic but pretty sure you'll love your time there.
Enjoy.
Cheers
 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I spent 5 weeks traveling around NZ about 20 years ago.
Beautiful place with clear blue skies and a large variation in landscape and temperature.
Bay of Islands: would love to live there.
Auckland; pretty nice as far as cities go.
Nelson: super scenery
Wellington: set your watch on when the wind starts (circa noon).
Christchurch: brrrr
Mode of transport was the cheapest hire cars available on both main islands, though a sickle would have been excellent.
If it weren't for the expense of doing so, I'd love to return.
I'm sure that you'll enjoy the trip.

[Turin]

We went 6 years ago and loved it. We only did the northern half.

[Ratso88]

Sounds like you'll be there long enough to make the plane ride worthwhile.

I've sent you a PM.

Keep us updated on your trip.

 

[jcctx]

One of three places I never got to; other two are Thailand and Australia. Bet you have a great adventure!!!!!

[JJ]

"Lord of the Rings!" - - Good for you!!  Would love to go there someday, (*SIGH*)

I visited Singapore more than a few times, when I was still working and traveling....Anothe r great destination!

Enjoy....SAFE TRAVELS...and take a few photos for us!

[twowheeladdict]

Come to Australia and you’ll get the advice, gear and bike for nothing….
It’s a 2 hr flight from New Zulund

Really appreciate the offer.  Wish I could have stayed longer and then maybe got over to Australia while in the area, but since the focus of this trip is to visit with my son and see where he now calls home I am going to keep my focus on New Zealand. 

Also, my wife felt like 6 weeks was plenty long enough to be away from her. 

[kballowe]

We're going to need lots of pictures.

Just sayin'

 

[injundave]

If you find yourself heading to Hawke's Bay (North Island, east coast) please let me know. There is a bed here for Guzzisti who may need one.
You will enjoy your visit, NZ is just that kind of place.

Dave

[GuzziNZ]

Here's my 2 cents worth.
The South Island is bigger than it looks and it take longer than you think to get a good look around.
500x or 650 V Strom, the South Island is mountainous and loaded with gear I feel the 390 might be a bit small.
You have to go down the West Coast across the Haast pass and back up Central. Lots of riding down South if you have the days.  Reverse if raining on the Coast, it can rain!
There is a bed in Nelson if you are passing and I can help with a route and POI.
Just PM if I can help.

[Mr Revhead]

Thats a good point, I didn't notice the bikes intended.
You will turn the 390 around and take it back on the first day

[twowheeladdict]

I found a bike on Marketplace in New Zealand and between my son and a riding acquaintance there that I know from another forum they were able to inspect it and make the purchase.

I will be riding a 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 Adventure while I am in New Zealand.  It currently has about 15,000 miles on it and is set up to carry all my camping gear.  When I get there I will change the oil and clean the air filter, go over the bike and decide if I want to put a new rear tire on before heading to the south Island.

The guy we bought it from bought it from a dealer a few weeks ago to tour on.  He needed it sold before he left the country.  Nothing like a motivated seller.  He is happy because the dealer would have only given him wholesale, and I'm happy because I got a fair price so I don't lose much when I sell it.

[Ratso88]

The stars and planets seem to be aligning for you.

This sounds to be shaping up to be a true adventure.

Enjoy!

[Muzz]

I may be biased but I prefer the South Island to the North Island.

!00kph/63mph speed limit fairly rigidly enforced. I find about 650 kms in a days riding is about my limit, and you won't have time to stop and smell the roses at that pace.

metvuw, published online by Wellington University is overall a fairly accurate weather forecast, and when you do the West coast of the South Island it would pay to consult it. The scenery and roads are magic when it's not raining, you don't want to do it when it's RAINING. It can REALLY RAIN. Be warned. Roads around
Canterbury where I live are straight and boring. The road to Golden Bay at the top of the South Island is Magic. Rahu Saddle between Springs Junction and Reefton is lovely when it's fine.

[majstevetrevor]

There is an episode of the show Ride with Norman Reedus where he goes to New Zealand.  As I recall not as much riding and more general travelogue. But could be fun to watch before you go.

[twowheeladdict]

I may be biased but I prefer the South Island to the North Island.

!00kph/63mph speed limit fairly rigidly enforced. I find about 650 kms in a days riding is about my limit, and you won't have time to stop and smell the roses at that pace.

metvuw, published online by Wellington University is overall a fairly accurate weather forecast, and when you do the West coast of the South Island it would pay to consult it. The scenery and roads are magic when it's not raining, you don't want to do it when it's RAINING. It can REALLY RAIN. Be warned. Roads around
Canterbury where I live are straight and boring. The road to Golden Bay at the top of the South Island is Magic. Rahu Saddle between Springs Junction and Reefton is lovely when it's fine.

Thank you for the weather info Muzz.  I definitely plan to avoid the rain as much as possible by leaving plenty of time in my itinerary when I get to the south island.  I looked it up on the phone and it is a little cumbersome.  I need to see if they have an App I can download.  Edit: Found a metvuwmobile site that works well on the phone. 

I will also bookmark the destinations you named on my map.

I have a couple internet forum acquaintances near my son that will lead me on some day rides up on the Coromandel Peninsula and other spots that can be day rides out of Hamilton. 

Then I will do one night away excursions towards Hawkes Bay to check out camping off the bike to make sure I and the bike are ready to go explore the south island. 

[Off @ 90]

I just completed a 3 day ride around the top half of the South Island on the Stornello with two friends .Starting in Nelson and going down the east coast to Kaikoura and had a very nice grilled fish sandwich for lunch out on the peninsula (northern side ). From there we took the inland road to Waiau this has got to be one of the best roads in NZ  very little traffic ,sealed and lots of 60 to 80 km corners great fun. Glad I put the emulators and Hagon shocks on the Stornello really pays off on that kind of road . Had an ice cream in Waiau temps were getting warm 26 C  then headed to Gore Bay on the Leader road this is another great road for motorcycling . Spent night at Gore Bay at friends place had a tasty venison casserole for dinner with some beers very nice . Next day weather not looking quite so good on west side of mountains we headed for the Lewis pass via Culverden  and as forecast started raining just before top of pass this put a damper on an otherwise fantastic ride as the rain carried on all the way to Murchison .Where we spent the night at my other friends place got the gear dried out and had some hot soup and pizza and mused about getting some better rain gear . Next day I headed home back 127 Kms to to Nelson and foolishly thought may avoid some of the showers but no light rain started at half way mark all the way to Nelson just bad luck useally fairly dry here at this time of year.
I can also recommend the the Rainbow road from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs this is gravel and some river crossings nothing to challenging for a KLR in summer .
The other sealed road I recommend is between Mosgiel and Alexandra via Ranfurly and the Ida valley this is a fast curvy roller coaster type of road .Very scenic dry arid rolling hill country and good fun too .

[twowheeladdict]

After a few days driving my son around, I was ready to venture out on the motorcycle. 

I actually found riding the motorcycle on the left much easier than driving his 2010 Prius.  The Prius has huge blind spots with the long A pillars.

I am very right eye dominant so riding the motorcycle on the left works much better for my line of sight. It is also much easier to pull over to the left shoulder for a photo op. 

Wanting to spend time with my son, we rented E-bikes and rode the river path in Hamilton.





We also took a drive.to Raglan for.my.first seafood meal and view of the.west coast.








We stopped in at a local dealer and picked up supplies to perform an oil change, clean and oil the air filter, and maintain the chain.  Then the next morning I Rode up to Craig's house in Ngatea to use his garage and tools to do the oil change.




After servicing the bike,  we went into town for lunch. I enjoyed a lamb and mint meat pie.



Then Craig led me on a nice curvy.road ride on his MV Agusta.

[twowheeladdict]

My next ride was a solo ride up around the Coromandel Peninsula, then down the coast to Tauranga, up over the Kaimai Mountain Range and back towards Hamilton. A 500 Kilometer ride.

The roads on the Coromandel Peninsula range from hugging the coastline to climbing over the mountains and back down.  No squared off tires riding these roads! 




Despite having pretty worn knobby tires the bike handled the curves well.

[twowheeladdict]

My next ride was with a mate from the Kawasaki Versys forum.   He was going to show me an area with gravel.roads so I could see how the fully loaded for touring bike handled.





The ride stayed north of Raglan, and west of route 1.

The KLR did well. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Thanks for the trip report, sounds like you enjoyed the trip.
One of my favourite rides is the Gentle Annie from the East coast to Taihape

I believe there]s a South African gentleman over there at the moment riding my half of the V9 Roamer I owned with my brother, that was a nice machine for kiwi roads.