New Zealand travel advice.

Alzero

Alzero

Hero member
Location
DaNang Vietnam
Hi all, we are winding down the first part of our Australian exploration and will be flying to Auckland the first week in November. Our plan is to drive around the North Island for a month or so and then take the ferry to the South Island for another five or six weeks departing for Tasmania on February 2nd.

We have read lots of guides and done as much online research as we can, but do and Kiwis have suggestions of not to miss places we should put on our itinerary? We do love food, wine and out of the way places just as much as the spectacular or popular. Perhaps even more!

So far, the only firm dates we have booked are the ferry over and back between islands and Christmas in Christchurch.

Thanks in advance.
 
Whale watching at Kaikura, south island, hely fly at the Fox or Franz Josef glacier up to mount cook area, find traces if John Britten in Chch….
 
I'm out of touch with the tourist things.

On that schedule there are two Suzuki series race meetings you could get to.
Taupo 7-8 December and Fielding 14-15 December

If you delayed coming to the South Island you could get to Whanganui on 26th December
For the annual street races. Peter Hickman is coming back for this meeting I see.
That meeting is a real bucket list item for a lot of people.

There's nothing on in the South Island till February bike related.
 
Alzero said:
Hi all, we are winding down the first part of our Australian exploration and will be flying to Auckland the first week in November. Our plan is to drive around the North Island for a month or so and then take the ferry to the South Island for another five or six weeks departing for Tasmania on February 2nd.

We have read lots of guides and done as much online research as we can, but do and Kiwis have suggestions of not to miss places we should put on our itinerary? We do love food, wine and out of the way places just as much as the spectacular or popular. Perhaps even more!

So far, the only firm dates we have booked are the ferry over and back between islands and Christmas in Christchurch.

Thanks in advance.
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Hi.
My tip:
Go to : Invercargill , and : see Burt Monroe: 2 racers, and see the museum:
Motorcycle mezza 💪💪👍👍
 
Shame you’ll miss the Burt Munro 6-10 Feb, something for everyone during that week, beach racing, hill climb, sprints, street, speedway…
There’s a minor racing event at Hampton Downs near Auckland on 3 Nov that I could meet you at, if you’re in town by then?
Just a small sampling of other top spots, according to me and my experience, roughly north to south, include:
-Te Paki sand dunes
-Hole-in-the-Rock cruise out of Paihia or Russell
-Matakohe Kauri Museum
-Auckland’s West Coast beaches
-climb Rangitoto
-Waitomo Caves
-any East Coast wine trail that includes Gimblet Gravels and Syrah
-Forgotten Highway including Whangamomona pub
-Mt Taranaki
-Marlborough wine and hop growing areas
-Takaka and Takaka Hills
-Punikaiki
-Denniston
-Lewis, Arthur’s, and Haast passes (Arthur’s can be done by train)
-Fox and/or Franz Joseph glaciers
-Otago pinot noir and reisling
-overnight cruise in Milford Sound
-if you get to Invercargill, you need to visit the local hardware store, where Burt’s actual bike is kept. Also, if you get this far South, try a cheese roll, a local “delicacy” which only seems to be made properly south of Dunedin…
 
My mate Kenny (BMW R60/5) rode NZ's North and South islands for two months, and I was on my 3c. The best piece of advice I can offer is, do not get caught up in a game of pool/drinking session with a couple of very nice-looking Maori ladies who later invite you back to their place only to be greeted by their large 300lb brothers and various other angry relatives, not a good ending. On a happy note great riding, good pubs knock on the back door after hours and they let you in, fantastic seafood and lamb, excellent camping, and few cops...a long time ago.
 
My experience of both islands is from 8 years ago, riding both islands by rental Ducati ( utter disaster at the time but a great laugh now). Sounds like your on 4 wheels not 2, so don’t need to explain the extreme sketchy-ness of chip seal pavement, on perhaps the greatest motorcycle roads on earth. Favourite city in the country is Queenstown, great summer tourist town full of great food and drink.

Being a total beer guy, you’ll find New Zealand a bit of a yawn, but more than make up with it with outstanding wines, and ciders.
 
A lot has changed in recent years. There’s a huge craft beer scene, as well as the world’s best coffee. Queenstown is now sister town to Hades, complete with casinos, shoulder to shoulder Asian and other tourists, expensive and scarce accommodation. Used to love it, now avoid it. Wanaka is now nearly as bad, expect to walk around town a few times to luck on a cafe with room to sit. But plenty of other towns to enjoy and get the real feel of NZ.

You could even visit us in Omarama!
 
78jotadave said:
My mate Kenny (BMW R60/5) rode NZ's North and South islands for two months, and I was on my 3c. The best piece of advice I can offer is, do not get caught up in a game of pool/drinking session with a couple of very nice-looking Maori ladies who later invite you back to their place only to be greeted by their large 300lb brothers and various other angry relatives, not a good ending.
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Once Were Warriors ... maybe you hadn't seen that flick, Dave? :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
On reflection, a nice day trip to Queenstown would be a ride up the gondola to see the panoramic views, plus a cruise on the lake on the coal-fired steamer Earnslaw. This is a real treat, several options to choose from. You’ll get it done before the greenies force electric conversion, which is being talked about.

There’s lots of good scenic/wine/food stuff to do around here so we’ll give it some thought.
 
Max said:
On reflection, a nice day trip to Queenstown would be a ride up the gondola to see the panoramic views, plus a cruise on the lake on the coal-fired steamer Earnslaw. This is a real treat, several options to choose from. You’ll get it done before the greenies force electric conversion, which is being talked about.

There’s lots of good scenic/wine/food stuff to do around here so we’ll give it some thought.
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Alas, that’s a great reason to visit New Zealand, before the entire country becomes a sea of ‘farmers market communists’.
 
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