Hello, I've been reading all the helpful replies to jophiel and his plans to travel to New Zealand (/ Australia) for the meeting and I would like to join you guys!

I'm turning 42 in February, bought a 2002 Suzuki DR650 last April, (so I'm relatively new at motorcycling, but am in good shape and have experience cycling long distances by mountain bike...) and am just beginning to plan an extended trip and since it's winter here in Canada, your meeting in New Zealand sounds perfect!

However, I have a feeling I'm going to need some help buying a bike down under and am extremely enthused by the quantity of bikes listed on trademe.co.nz !! I noticed not many of the bikes posted have back racks attached, would getting a bike rack added be a problem?

Unlike Jophiel, I'm not on a shoe-string budget, yet would like to keep my costs down as I'd like to stay as long as possible... (mid Jan - April/May) and hopefully have an authentic adventurous experience.

In Canada we have "graduated licensing", I have what we refer to as an 'M2' license. (One holds this for 18 months before taking an 'exit' exam to obtain a 'full' M license.) Any idea if this this going to be a problem for me?

Any specific advice for lone female riders in New Zealand / Australia?

Laura

Hi Laura - As a Brit, I cannot help you precisely with the license issue, but take a trawl through these sorta NZTA web pages for some clues:

Getting a motorcycle licence

Information for visitors and new residents

.. or why not give them a call and ask for specific guidance on this issue? - trust me, they're a friendly and helpful bunch. Remember though, New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of your local time in Toronto, so allow for this if you do call direct.

As far as your concerns go about getting around as a lone female rider? My answer is: "No worries mate!" .. .. NZ is a highly organised western society, intermingled with some fascinating Maori culture. During my visits I have found the overwhelming majority of ordinary New Zealanders to be: very kind, courteous, honourable and hospitable beyond expectation. Such striking levels of warmth, politeness and consideration from ordinary Kiwi folk - just like their country - just never ceased to amaze me. You’ll have a great time. Looking forward to meeting you ‘down under’.

Cheers for now

KEITH (& ELLEN)

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Right Way Round ...

Hi Laura, a local company called Ventura make racks for a wide range of bikes, including most dual purpose machines sold here. Any NZ shop should be able to get one delivered & fitted in a matter of days.

Or if you get another DR650 (a great pick for touring NZ & they are common & cheap too!) here you could just unbolt whatever luggage setup you have on your own bike at home & bring it over for the trip.

Have fun, we might see you in Feb at the meeting, & if you're in Rotorua definitely get in touch & we'll show you around some of the awesome local MTB trails.


Attn Nigel: We are planning on coming down for the meeting & are waiting on more details... is it still on :confused1: Do we need to book anything:confused1:

Attn fellow travelers: we're planning to sail over on the morning of the 21st, head for the meeting, then make our way to Queenstown & surrounds for a few days, then the ADV meetup near Te Anau, then sail back north 1 March.

Cheers
Clint

Hi Clint

Not getting any responses from Nigel I called Wainui Heights directly and was told by 'Robyn' that the venue booking was cancelled back at the beginning of December.

She was told that the 'committee' had decided not to hold a residential meeting that weekend.

So I don't know if that means that the whole HU meeting is cancelled or just that venue.

Being a real novice in this forum I do not know if there is anyone else we can check with other than Nigel, do you?

Is Nigel ok?

Isn't it odd that he hasn't responded to postings for a while?



Safe riding
Lisa

Good question. This is all very odd indeed.

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Laura - I would want to see and carefully inspect any bike before I bought it. A test ride would on my list of priorities too. Auckland is the main 'gateway' into NZ and 25% of the country's population lives in and around the City, so it's not a bad place - in fact, probably the best place - to start looking for a set of wheels. Plus, you can probably acquire all you want (parts & accessories) in Auckland to 'set-up' your bike the way you want it before commencing your tour.

If you think you're going to be in the Auckland region for at least a week, then consider stopping with Donna Pengelly (& Mum Val) at the Cockle Bay Heights B&B as one of your options; there's a discounted weekly rate on offer (or there was when I stayed there).

I stopped with the lovely Donna & Val for nearly a month all told a couple of years ago. Home from home bliss so-it-is, with more than a hint of luxury thrown into the bargain. Howick is a suburb of Auckland, and nestles in the southeast corner of the City. It has a 'village feel' about it, which is why I chose to stay in that particular region. I just got lucky with my choice of B&B. Although it's not 'down town' by any means, there is a decent bus service that picks-up/drops-off just a 5-minute stroll away from the B&B. The bus takes you right into the heart of the City.

pic - setting-off on my tour from the B&B:

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Right Way Round ...

Keith: Thanks for the advice, sounds like a perfect starting place!

Hope Nigel reappears!

I'm only making plans (without) Nigel... we only want what's best for him...

Laura

Hi Laura, if you find a bike on Trademe in the Rotorua area I could go & have a look at it for you, & if buying from a shop (most shops have all their used stock on trademe anyway) they should be honest about the mileage & condition, so organising something beforehand may be possible. Otherwise Keith is right, checking the bike out is a good idea & Auckland is the best place to start.

Cheers
Clint

Hi all, very sorry for the lack of communication, but until yesterday I was not sure if I could go ahead with the rally, due to some major health and business issues. Yesterday I got the best news for ages; the doc rang to tell me they are sure they have got all the cancer in the surgery back in December. Woohoo! I live to ride another day. That's the fourth operation (two for cancer) that I have had in the last year or two so the old body has had a recondition, and service.
It was not possible for me to be sure that I could do a full HU Meeting so I have scaled it back to a mini-meeting at our house. We will be doing the same as we have done five times previously, with a meal including spit-roasted lamb, and a keg of from a friend who has a boutique brewery. It will be a day affair on Saturday 21st of February so Sunday will be free for a ride out or another casual gathering.

New details as below:

Venue: 25 Rollin St, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch

Please email or PM me directly if you are coming, as there will be no enrollment form here. This will give us some idea of numbers.

There IS a registration form now to make life easier for Nigel! (edit by Grant)

Peter and Kay Forward will still be guests of honour, and will be speaking in the evening about their 12 year, 515,000km, 193 country journey.
There will be no accommodation available at the venue, so people will have to organise their own, around Christchurch. I will be looking out for camping areas close by and post here if I can locate any. Otherwise search the Net for backpackers etc.

Again, I'm very sorry for the delays and for the inconvenience to those who been planning their trip around the rally, but until I was sure of MY availability there was nothing I could do.

Kind regards

Nigel and Lee

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

Any suggestions on how much time and where would be the best place in NZ to acquire a bike? (Such as a DR650)

If I want to be in NZ for the meeting, I suppose it would be nice to have a bike prior to the meeting or would it be better/easier for me to get one at the time/after the meeting?

If it makes sense to get a bike prior to the meeting, should I try to negotiate one from the ‘trademe’ website here from Canada or should I fly to NZ first and then buy one? If I fly to NZ first, what town/city would be the best place to acquire a bike in? And what/where would be a good place to stay? (Wow, I have lots and lots of questions, don’t I?)


Thank you for the responses I have received so far!



Thank you in advance!

Laura