Just how big is Australia? (and how small is New Zealand)

[johnr]

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.

[oldbike54]

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

[johnr]

Australia is one of the big boys, those NZ guys are sooooo jealous! 

Yeah?



(chuckle)

[Bisbonian]

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.

[johnr]

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.

[oldbike54]

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

[balvenie]

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

[Johncolleary]

I have a 2 week NZ trip booked for February .  Looking forward to it!

[Rough Edge racing]

 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...

[frans belgium]

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 

[johnr]

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.

[oldbike54]

I hope you haven't incriminated yourself, Dusty.
I wonder if it would do any good to plead the fifth ammendment

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

  Dusty

[johnr]

Same here, been looking for years to visit NZ, but we do mind the flight (25 hours) and first class is unaffordable 

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.

[Bisbonian]

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.

[MGPilot]

... those NZ guys are sooooo jealous! 

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.   

[Kiwi_Roy]

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

[wymple]

Yeah?



(chuckle)

Wow, That's a great shirt!

[johnr]

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.

[johnr]

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.   

Could it be an oblique reference to this event? (One Australia sinking during the 1995 america's Cup)

[Muzz]

Could it be an oblique reference to this event? (One Australia sinking during the 1995 america's Cup)

Hence the saying, "nothing goes down faster than a Fosters".

[Muzz]

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.   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.

[oldbike54]

Hence the saying, "nothing goes down faster than a Fosters".

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

  Dusty

[Muzz]

My pleasure Dusty!

[johnr]

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.

[johnr]

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.

[johnr]

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

  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://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

[Crusty]

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.

[Daniel Kalal]

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:



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



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

[Kiwi_Roy]

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.

[azguzzirep]

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