Just arrived NZ, picking up my bike at the airport, Auckland on tuesday. Looking for some more info on what to do, where to go, where to stay,
Staying until beginning of mars, then to Australia.

Hi,
I think you will have a great time in NZ and you have chosen a good time - the children go back to school the first week in February and so accommodation will be a bit easier.

Where you go depends on interest. I found that a day or two in a location allowed me to travel out to several spots of interest.

I have hired a bike and shipped my own from Australia The community on this HU site is a good source of info regarding roads etc.

Weather can change but north island is easier to cross (if it is raining in the west go east) than the south island (only 3 ways to cross east/west on south island)

The locals will be very helpful and will respond to your questions. I suggest you try to contact NigelMarx on this site. He lives on South Island and is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Check if the coast road near Kaikoura (South Island) is open after the earthquake.

I rode from Auckland to Coromandel (traffic can be busy going across Auckland so headed south east first) then down through Gisborne then LakeTaupo then back to the south and clockwise to the Cape Regina and back to Auckland. South island - clockwise from Christchurch - top to bottom. Roads - very good, friendly people, all happy to help. Stop and ask the locals they are very helpful.

AA offices have good maps and information as do libraries.
Tourist parks are good for accommodation and information.

Hope this helps

Yes, feel free to get in touch, or drop in for a coffee if your going past. I live on Highway 1 about 50km north of Christchurch. Email or PM me and I'll send you my cellphone number.

Some idea of the kind of riding/scenery/experiences you are looking for would help with any recommendations.

Cheers
Nigel in Amberley

__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

Hello
Check out this guys website and scroll across to his 31 self guided tour.
List,s distances and what to see.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrgE...xlVx5VK3AySww-

NEW ZEALAND MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES - Home

Best place to get your motorcycle MOT or WOF safety check is at the VTNZ testing station at 3 Manu Tapu Drive , ( Corner of Tahinga lane , Mangere , South Auckland 2022 , phone 09 257 2180

Its just a couple of kilometers or less from Auckland airport and they are very use to international motorcycles coming in. They know how to do the paper work.

Heard to many unpublished stories of people taking their bikes to other places and other places not understanding how to do the paperwork and then needing to ride back to Auckland Airport VTNZ.

Damn, I totally forgot!
I rode down to Dunedin for Xmas & could have dropped in on my return leg

__________________
Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way

Great! My top tip is "Go South"!

The North Island is great, there are amazing places to visit but traffic can be slow as NZ doesn't have big or fast highways. Although tourists are here, as someone said, the kids have returned to school which means parents are back at work. Accommodation will be available.

Apart from heavy traffic around Auckland, few roads are 'bad' roads in NZ. So much to do, so many places to go. It would be really difficult to list them in such a small space. If you have a gravel friendly bike, there's even more to explore!

SH1 Picton to Christchurch is open but you could also take the Molesworth (gravel) road from Blenheim to Hanmer Springs.

The Adventure Riding in NZ web site has lots of information about open trails and tracks & there's a facebook page too:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdventureRidinginNZ/

You may want to get in touch with Xenia & Martin who arrived last week and are currently waiting for their bikes to be shipped from India.
https://www.xtadventures.ch/

__________________
Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way

Thank you.I got my bike cleared yesterday and start riding south
Be at the south Island in about 10 days,,

Thanks, crossing over in about a week

Nigel in Amberley[/QUOTE]

Hi Nigel,

OMG, that is a coincidence, I have lived in Amberley for 3 years!

I will send you a pm...........

Greetz,

Zen

[QUOTE=Nigel Marx;577639]Yes, feel free to get in touch, or drop in for a coffee if your going past. I live on Highway 1 about 50km north of Christchurch. Email or PM me and I'll send you my cellphone number.

Some idea of the kind of riding/scenery/experiences you are looking for would help with any recommendations.

Cheers
Nigel in Amberley[/QUOT
Hey I ll be passning your place later to day, on my way to Christchurch
IF you home. My nr in N Z 0275983958