Home New Zealand, 2008: First Annual HU Travellers Meeting

New Zealand, 2008: First Annual HU Travellers Meeting

Why Come to a Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Meeting?

You can meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or Africa or across Asia, or even around the world! Admit it, all your 'normal' friends and most of your family fears for your sanity! So, this is your opportunity to meet the people who will encourage you in that craziness, share their experiences and advice on how to do it, and maybe you'll meet them again in Mongolia or Timbuktu!

Want to know what people thought of other HU Meetings? Is it worth coming to the Meeting?

"I'm so looking forward to another UK meet. My only problem is that I simply can't get to every talk I want, such is the amount of terrific presentations on offer. Each year I've been astonished at how articulate, intelligent, informative and entertaining the speakers are. I'm willing to help with anything that doesn't keep me from a talk - and my timetable will be full to bursting!" More comments here.

Short History of HU Meetings

How you can help - put up a few posters 2008 poster available! Please post it everywhere!

The Plan

The plan is simple. Show up by Saturday morning, meet people and setup. Travel Presentations and Tech seminars are planned throughout the meeting.

2008 Speakers and Tech Seminars (so far, more to come):

  • Travels in Northern India. Talk and slideshow.
    • Sam Rowntree.
      Sam lived in Manali and worked as a bike guide there.
  • Women only
    • a very popular session - I'm told it's a must for the ladies, so be sure to plan on being there!
  • How to fix it when it all goes wrong
    • Phil Clausen
      Phil traveled in India, Africa and Asia for two years and is a qualified motorcycle mechanic. He will run workshop on some of the common travelers bike problems.
  • Experienced Travellers Panel - ask the experts anything you want!
  • and more to come as we get closer to the date.
  • How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and seminars - but we need volunteers to give them! Any topic you can contribute having to do with motorcycle travel, maintenance, planning etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact me here to volunteer.

Rideouts

Rideouts are limited to 6 or 10 people per ride, no exceptions.

All rides will be back on site at or before 5.00pm

Road Rides - two planned, details to come.

Off-road - we could use some help - any ideas, locations, routes, off-road tracks?

The cost of going on any ride is included in the registration fee.

All rides are "register on the day." There will be signup sheets for each ride posted the evening before. First in best dressed.

Charity

Last year we raised almost €2000 for Riders for Health, through the sale of raffle tickets and the generous donation of prizes from all the vendors on site and from afar at our HU Meetings. Many thanks to everyone, let's hope we can raise even more this year. And if you'd like to donate a prize, please contact Grant in London or Nigel in NZ.

Free stuff - A Scratch Patch

(as suggested by Michelle Clarke in an email:)

"We all know how expensive these overland travel dreams can be, but also how you often manage to accumulate travel equipment and bits and pieces that just end up gathering dust. That thingiemabob that you have been meaning to give away for ages could be exactly what some broke newbie is in need of before a first trip.

How about a table set aside inside as the Scratch Patch at the HU meet? A place where people can put those extra inner tubes for the bike that they already sold but forgot to give to the new owner (clearly labelled as to size of course ); that jerry can that you bought that doesn't fit your mountings; that Lonely Planet for Mongolia - anything that might be a big help to someone else.

(of course, anything that does not find a home by the end of the weekend will need to be reclaimed)"

Perfect - we'll set up a spot somewhere, so bring your goodies!

Camping

Camping is INCLUDED in your registration fee.

Dogs - Noisy dogs will be ejected.

Travel Equipment Vendors

We're looking for Travel Equipment vendors to come and display your products, and sell as well. Please contact Grant

Leaving on a big trip in 2008?

Plan on leaving from the Meeting! We'll make it a great send-off! Or coming home around the time of the Meeting? What a great place to arrive at!

Schedule

All times - and everything - approximate!

An up-to-date schedule will be posted at the Meeting.

Saturday morning

Saturday Lunch

Full cooking facilities, bathrooms and laundry onsite. Restaurants, bars, cafes and fuel within 200m.

Saturday afternoon,

Guided walk and / or guided ride

Saturday, dinner

See Saturday lunch above. More details later.

Speakers presentations

Sunday

Sunday 17th. Phil Clausen, traveled in India, Africa and Asia for two years, qualified motorcycle mechanic. He will run workshop on some of the common travelers bike problems.

Registration

Entry fee includes admission to the slide shows Saturday night, and other events during the day Saturday. Camping is also included in your entry fee for.

How to Pay

Please PRE-BOOK by filling in the form below and click the "Count me in" button below it. NOTE: Use one form per person!

Pay on the day, NZ$16.

Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!

Just to clarify the membership situation: Currently there is no requirement to be a member to access the website, the HUBB or to receive the monthly e-zine. For now, what you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive.

We will also upgrade your status in the HUBB to Member. In addition to recognising your contribution through your status, this will allow you to upload a custom profile picture and custom avatar, store up to 50 private messages, upload more pictures (10 MB maximum storage) and create polls.

Another benefit we can provide is if you decide you want a t-shirt, mug, fleece jacket or other Horizons logo product from the Souk, you can purchase Member logo products at the basic price. Just let us know and we can arrange access to the Members Private Store.

You can help!

If you have a few minutes, please download the poster (Adobe pdf format) and print off a few and hand them round your club or your local bike shop or anywhere seems like a good place.

(You may need to right click and choose "save target as...")

Poster in pdf format, English (886kb) full colour 2008 poster.

Thanks for the help!

The Meeting Location for 2008

Outdoor Education Centre, Arthurs Pass Village,
NW of Christchurch.

Facilites: Bunk rooms with 9, 6 and 3 beds. Sleeps about 40 total. (NOT FREE)
Good camping on site also. Full cooking facilities, bathrooms and laundry. Restaurants, bars, cafes and fuel within 200m. Swimming in Bealey River for the hardy. Many marked walks starting from the Village.

Getting There - GPS, Maps

 


Map to the Meeting coming

If you have any links or details for the area please let us know.

Other Accommodation Possibilities

If you have any information for the area please let us know.

Other accommodation options for those who want something a bit more up-market are available. Google Arthurs Pass accommodation. Nigel recommends www.apam.co.nz

Information about the area

 

If you have any links or details for the area please let us know.

Local Hosts

Nigel Marx is the lead organizer of this event. Thanks for volunteering to bring Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meetings to New Zealand once again Nigel!

If you have any questions, or would like to help out, give a presentation or whatever, please contact

with rideout registration, vendor, venue and speakers questions.

See you at a meeting this year!

(though sadly not this one), Grant and Susan


 

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