Hey folks, I am currently in Wanaka in a motorhome with the wife. I have seen some of the best road riding roads I have ever seen, and had to wave past motorcyclists frequently, with increasing envy. I need to get on a bike, if only for a half day or even a few hours. Tomorrow I head to queenstown, then going to be pretty much hugging the coast back to christchurch and maybe going further north time pending. Timeframes are not set. If anyone can suggest a good hire mob, that can also provide decent safety gear let me know. Road or trail, but I am slow on the trail (only a noob) so would have to be easy stuff. cheers.
Cheers. Easy to get lost with all the posts in here, + not familiar with the NZ forum. Weather is gone to shit anyway, so may not happen now. Might have one decent morning tomorrow and I plan to use that to charter a helicopter. Lets hope it clears up toward the end of the week, and I will definitely go for a ride!
I am tired, and pissed, and have no idea what you are going on about. These kiwis make some pretty decent beers ey'
Since the "where to hire bikes" & route suggestions are the most common questions why not have those as a seperate sticky? The answers aren't very obvious hidden in the FAQ thread. Save a lot of seperate threads
because sticky's are a pain in the arse they slowly breed and clutter up the front page the fewer the better....
Yes but it stops lil threads like this on where noone bothers replying cos they've read these kind so many times before. Hope you're having a good look around Andy
Been looking around alright! Great little spot you guys have here. Good beer, good meat pies. Lots of sheep (have not tried one yet thought) 2 things, I am coming back here to ride the south island, and I am going to walk the milford track (saw it from 6000' today). Just need to figure out how to combine the two. Anyone in the Te Anua area who could move a bike from Te Anua Downs to Milford I would be interested in talking to you. Thanks to those who have contacted me. My plans are changing everyday, so not sure where I will be and when, but should I chance to pass by someone at the right time I will definitely catch up. Plan is to head toward Dunedin tomorrow, then back up toward christchurch. Loving the alps, so not sure if I can drag myself away from the general area just yet. BTW. A separate sticky for bike hire would be great. I have done a few searches, including google with advrider site specific searches and it did not turn up the FAQ link. There is a lot of us west of the tasman keen to ride here, but not a lot of info. Google shows lots of hire mobs, but I dont know the best places to go..
Mods please pay attention I just want to say i told you so Ahhhh you mustn't have been looking around to much otherwise you would have noticed that there are prob more cows now than sheep as farmers are chasing the high dairy profits. I've done the Milford & wouldn't really rave about it. It's nice but I think there are other comparable tracks that are more accessible & a lot cheaper. From what I've heard the Routeburn is better. The Milford just follows a valley & has only one (I think) high saddle to cross. For me if you are over here to see more of NZ I would choose a track where you are on the tops more looking down. The pie shop inTe Anau is def the best.- hang on wasn't there a best meat pie thread around here somewhere?
How about we lose the for sale stickys? Less than 2 pages since they started??? I see adv rider as a better place to blog, RR & for visitors already on their own regional forums. This page is usually the first port of call for os riders. KB is really where the local guys do their business & plan stuff & as we've seen not many crossover to here. We may as well mold this forum to suit its purpose better.
Wow I helped change something for the betterment of all mankind - oh my word the power I am felling at this moment:eek1 I'm gonna go & write an "Angry from Atawhai" letter to the local paper now Tidy up looks good thanks!
you obviously didn't stop at the bakery in Reefton so have you found yourself leaning into the corners while driving yet?
Not yet, Went Christchurch to Greymouth via Authors pass, then went south from Greymouth. My plans have changed a lot, I am in love with the alps, so did a mammoth drive today to Omarama from Te Anau via Invercargill and Dunedin, hugging the coast where I could. I am going to try and get another heli flight tomorrow from somewhere north(ish) of here over mt cook, fox and frans joseph if I can. If I get the heli ride, I will probably head toward Hanmar springs tomorrow, and then past Reefton on Thursday. There is no doubt about it, I am coming back here to ride. Not sure when, but its going to happen. There is three of us (from ADV) are planning to do the north island next year and add in some sailing, so not sure when I will get back to the south island. I might even try to sneak in a week toward the end of the year. BTW, if anyone ever asks about frans joseph flights, send them to glacier country scenic flights. I turned them down due to time contraints, but they were the best value for money. I should have done the flight in hindsight, but dont have time to get back to them now. They leave from Whataroa and seem to be negotiable on price. Yes. But there is a pillar that seems to line up with the vanishing point in the best corners. Most annoying. I also find myself nodding to riders, and wishing I could let overtaking riders know that I am with them mentally. No, I am not just a fuckwit tourist in a motorhome (ok, yes I am) but I am also a rider that sympathises when other riders are stuck behind me. Please forgive me, I try to pull over to the left as far as possible when I see a rider
Have a look at the FAQ for tips on Northern routes & get in touch if you want to catch up for a beer when you hit Rotorua. Cheers Clint
At least I sit on 100kph, or 110kph if the wind aint too bad. I must be the only person in one of these overweight bohemeths that will dare to overtake a truck, or another motorhome for that matter. Everyone seems to drive them at 80kph. :huh I tried to get it onto 2 wheels in a few corners, wife has been none to happy about it though. To busy trying to figure out how I can get back here and ride this year.!!! When we comeback next year will have to put rotorua on the list! I am going to go chase the other two and start making formal plans. Will be myself, Dr AT and Drikko if all goes well.