What is xBhp? The route About The Great New Zealand Roadtrip A small guide about touring in New Zealand by road Wallpapers Kawasaki Concours, the Ninja ZX6R and other gadgets used in the roadtrip Home Press Releases
Touring Around New Zealand on a Motorcycle : A very brief but useful guide

This guide is not an encyclopedia of facts or information available already on the internet. I will not try to act super smart by restructuring the information you will already find on Wikipedia, but I am going to list down my experiences and tips in any order to ensure that you know most of the things that I now know before you start your trip.

First thing, while you plan your route do remember to refer to these :

  • New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas by Peter Mitchell. It also has the 100 best rides in New Zealand, saving you a lot of headache by providing you with easy checkpoints in your itinerary.

  • Get yourself the AA accommodation directory, which you can actually pick up for free from one of the many lodges in NZ. But I unsuspectingly paid $10 for it at the Auckland airport. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Nevertheless very useful to help you find accommodation. It’s online counterpart is also indispensable : http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/index.php

  • Wises Online : Roadmap and distances

  • A number of good options are available for hiring a motorcycle and going cross country. The best bike would be either a hardcore tourer like Kawasaki Concours 14 with lots of space or a dual purpose bike like the BMW 1200.

  • Lot of landscapes and experiences can be had by sticking to sealed (built) roads only. If you are not comfortable offroad or are having a pillion and a heavy payload, no need to risk going off the tarmac. Read my roadmap which was accomplished on roadbikes.

  • However, the road t o Cape Reinga will offer you hard gravel, which again should be ok if you are careful.

  • The roads in NZ are narrow (compared to countries like Australia which have lots of space). Due to this big vehicles often carry in the gravel from the side roads onto the main highway making it a little risky for motorcyclists.

  • Don't ride on the extreme edges of a road due to the above reason.

  • NZ roads after for most part, very twisty, so always be careful.

  • NZ has lot of tourists hiring BIG campervans. They drive it very slowly on the sinuous roads and often are frustrating for motorcyclists which are much faster. Proceed with extreme caution as the drivers are usually grey nomads and they have all the concentration on the road ahead and not on the rear view mirrors.  Make no mistake, for most part of the year you will find a lot of these big vans on the road.

  • Learn to say ‘Kia Ora’, which informally means ‘Hi’ in Maori, which is one of the three official languages in NZ. The other two being English and sign language.
  • You ride on the right side of the road.

  • NZ can often get very wet. Carry suitable rain gear, especially for your electronics.

  • Follow the usual precautions which preparing:
  • Extra visor for your helmet

  • Anti fog for your helmet visor

  • Tubeless tyre puncture repair kit with a small electronic air pump
  • Throughout NZ you will get cheap (less than $60 NZD) and good accommodation. Stay in motorparks or motels which allow you to get your own cabin. Park your bike right in front of the door. Do some research online, try tripadvisor.com for real people reviews. You can often find really nice places to stay for quiet cheap. For example the Brook Valley Holiday Park in Nelson.

  • Give yourself at least 14 riding days if you can for NZ.

  • Give a whole day to Rotorua.

  • South Island is generally more beautiful than North Island.

  • Install a radiator guard on your bike if you can.

  • Do not miss out on Milford Sound.

  • Keep within 100kmph on most highways, you never know there is an unmarked cop car nearabouts.

  • Try to get your own tie downs for the ferry crossing between North Island and South Island. Although I did not have mine, I faced no issues with Interislander Ferry service. (www.ferrytickets.co.nz)

  • Try to find out about races and motorsport events going on while you are in NZ. Specially the Battle of the Streets in Paeroa.

  • Don't speak too highly about Australians to a New Zealander. (:D).

I would advise you to go through my travelogue for photos and text which might give you more pointers on what to expect out of this wonderful country.
Kawasaki New Zealand Bike Rider Magazine New Zealand Draggin Jeans - Manufacturer of Kevlar® lined jeans, jackets