New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

The black art of moving from A to B on foreign soil
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

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This cheeky bird was the one eating our bananas that it, or one of its mates, had stolen from the vestibule of our tent during the night......note to self....don’t leave food out when camping in North America. BEARS!!
DavidS
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by DavidS »

There was a lot of cyclone damage round there last year. We stayed at the Top 10 in Waihi but gave up trying to get to the hot water place because of the state of the roads.
Did you do any of the Coromandel loops? Very bike orientated but rubbish slow in a bloody great camper.
The logging trucks are huge and fast, which doesn’t help.
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

We’ve been lucky with the weather during our time here, the heavy rain that washed away a bridge near Franz Joseph on the South Island hit a few weeks after we’d been there.
Same with the tragic events in Christchurch.

The roads around the Coromandel peninsula are definitely for bikes. Yesterday on some of the twistier sections we were certainly happy that it was a bank holiday....no logging trucks!
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

Good Friday was the last ride for us in NZ...all but 2 miles on Tuesday...100 miles, the first 30 in fantastic twisters with stunning Kiwi views across the sea.
A quick lunch stop in a badly chosen cafe in Thames saw us bid farewell to Sarah’s hydration pack....not that we realised we were saying goodbye until the next day....the last 70 miles was main road and motorway.
The hotel we’d booked in to was in an industrial/office block area and being Easter virtually everything else was closed.
Hey ho, the main thing was that we could get sorted for the next bike shipping.
Clean bikes, take prohibited item outs of the Panniers and generally have a sort out.
That done, the last last actual last ride in NZ was the 2 miles to a motorcycle dealer that was going to get the bikes in a certifiable state for air freight.
Empty the fuel, disconnect batteries.

We then got an Uber over to GT Logistics to drop off our helmets and retrieve our Lomo bag. A second Uber took us in to the centre of Auckland were we’ll be having a wander about until the 30th when we fly to Houston in Texas.
Today, Wednesday, we had a call to say that the bikes are all done and back in the crates that were made in Sydney for their journey over to here.

After 5160 enjoyable miles on some fantastic roads we’re done.

I would say this. New Zealand is a wonderful place to ride a motorcycle. It’s an easy far away place for us Brits to visit and bring our own bikes.
No Carnet required.
MotoFreight can sort the shipping.
GT Logistics this end will receive your bike.
Warrant of fitness, ACC levy and temporary rego is simple to do and pay for. £45 ish.
Insurance whilst not compulsory, is easy to buy for a foreign vehicle. We paid £40 ish a month fully comp with Youi.
We didn’t ship directly here from the UK but I was told that £1700 ish should get your bike here and back. Compared to renting a vehicle.......

Anyway, that’s us done. USA here we come.
I’m not sure if I’ll carry on with trip reports or not.....probably but I’m not sure.

Thanks for reading my drivel, we’ve had a great time, our bikes have had a good time too I reckon, so it’s still....

Two happy people, two happy bikes.
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

Views from The Coromandel Peninsula.
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

We’re up there....19th floor.
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DavidS
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by DavidS »

Thanks for all the reports. It’s been great partially reliving our trip last year.
Please keep them coming when you are in the US.
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daveuprite
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by daveuprite »

Great pics and write up. It's been good to follow - thanks. Believe that bird is a Pukeko, known for their suicidal tendencies on the local roads in NZ.
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by OnHellas »

I think you’re right on the type of bird. I’m not good at remembering that stuff, someone did tell us.
We saw a few wandering around at the side of the road a few times.....

Thanks for reading and positive words.
herman
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?

Post by herman »

Thanks, been saving and reading your reports in lumps. 8-)
The secret of a long life is knowing when its time to go.
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