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  #1  
Old 19 Jul 2011
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NZ South Island Road Conditions
Hey,

I'm heading off to the bottom island in summer for 4-5 weeks
just wondering about the ratio of gravel to sealed roads?
currently have a sportsbike but tempted to get another adventure bike at some point and wondering whether it would be a good soon or not?

Obviously a few secitons of gravel are ok, but are there many long gravel roads that are worth a look as there are in the North?

Cheers,
WN
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  #2  
Old 19 Jul 2011
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Gravel
Not as many as in the North. I would take the sport bike. Just keep an eye on the snow levels its normally only in the high parts and you will need to go high at some point to get directly from the east to the west. Watch the ice in the mornings if its been wet.
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Old 19 Jul 2011
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Gravel
Sorry . I see your going in the summer. Thought you were a forigner braving the winter.
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Old 19 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by louiekiwi View Post
Not as many as in the North. I would take the sport bike. Just keep an eye on the snow levels its normally only in the high parts and you will need to go high at some point to get directly from the east to the west. Watch the ice in the mornings if its been wet.
hey, thanks
yea i'm just still planning where to go etc. and know there a few places in the NI that i wouldn't want to take a sport bike due to some of the roads (Urewera/Coromandel etc.).
Obviously this depends on where exactly i want to go etc. which i am still figuring out.
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Old 19 Jul 2011
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I guess it depends how far off the beaten track you want to go.

All the usual tourist destinations are accessible by sealed road but you have few extra options if you are prepared to ride the gravel.
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Old 22 Jul 2011
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If you haven't been down south before & want to have a look at the sights as well as just ride, you could quite happily fill up 4-5 weeks on the tar on a sportsbike. Once you've done that however, you need to go again on an adv bike as there are masses of great gravel roads & 4x4 tracks to explore also.

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Clint
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Old 22 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by clintnz View Post
If you haven't been down south before & want to have a look at the sights as well as just ride, you could quite happily fill up 4-5 weeks on the tar on a sportsbike. Once you've done that however, you need to go again on an adv bike as there are masses of great gravel roads & 4x4 tracks to explore also.

Cheers
Clint
Yea i think thats what i'll do ... cheers for all the replies
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Old 15 Aug 2011
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Just as well you are coming here in summer.

If you were here at the moment you'd be going nowhere -- snow everywhere!
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Old 15 Aug 2011
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Hope it´s going to better in 10 weeks, we are comming with my little Africa Twin to rock the islands for 2-3 month and after this we are going to SEA ...

c u on the road maybe ....
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Old 16 Aug 2011
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Originally Posted by bikerIn View Post
Hope it´s going to better in 10 weeks, we are comming with my little Africa Twin to rock the islands for 2-3 month and after this we are going to SEA ...

c u on the road maybe ....
The weather should definitely be better in 10 weeks! keep us posted as to your travels & get in touch when you are near Rotorua if you would like to meet up for a ride or or come stay.

Cheers
Clint
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Old 16 Aug 2011
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The weather should definitely be better in 10 weeks! keep us posted as to your travels & get in touch when you are near Rotorua if you would like to meet up for a ride or or come stay.

Cheers
Clint
be warned, maybe we do that! First we will stay a bit in Auckland to visit some friends there and then we go arround you little nice islands

I hope there will be not so much rain then... Everything I read it´s about rain in NZ. but amazing landscapes... the landscapes are OK for me but I can drop the rain. I am in Germany at the moment and its raining every day for weeks now ... got enough of that!

Thx. for the offer, anyway ll keep in touch.
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