HU Travellers Meeting in New Zealand
 

Hi

Does anyone know if there is a meeting organised for New Zealand this year?
I am keen to come along and listen to all the wise travellers :)

Where have the previous meetings been held?

NZ HU Meetings.
 

I have ran three some far, at my house in Amberley, Nth Canterbury, in January. I didn't run one this year (reasons why have been thrashed out here enough but include shifting house) and have been thinking about organising another one for next year. It will probably be for around the second week in March as some importants things are happening in January... If anyone else wants to take up the reins, feel free. The past meetings have always been somewhat informal, more just a group of like-minded people eating, drinking and yarning. Is there a demand here for a meeting, more like what has been held in most other countries, with trade support, speakers and seminars? Here's everyones chance to thrash it out.

Regards

Nigel Marx

I've had a couple of folks stop by in Dunedin through the communities mailing list, notably an American called Dave whom I believe Nigel met as well. Putting your name on the communities list is a good way to meet some of these wise traveller types (substitute crazy for wise in Dave's case).

I guess whether or not anything more organised than a bbq is required depends on how many are keen. I'd definately come along to something more organised but I'm out of the country from July onwards so my interest is only speculative at this stage.

Hi Guys

I was just curious to see if there was one organised, I had a look around but only found the details on the previous meets.
We may do something informal when you get back Matt, I would be keen to hear your experinences of you across Oz trip

Cheers Scott

HU meet
 

Gidday,

I'd be up for a meeting too... preferably North Island but what the hell - have bike, can travel.

Sorry we never made it to your place last year Nigel - we weren't on the road in time for the HU meeting and too many people to catch up with on our lightening lap of NZ... Are you ever up Auckland way?

HU Meeting
 

That's ok that you couldn't make it, mate. At least you let me know. I don't get up that far north very often, but next time I will be sure to meet you for a beer. If anyone wants to organise something for this year, can they let me know early? It would be good if it's on one of the very few weekends I have off work, but with enough lead-in I have some chance of getting someone in to do my job. There's only four of us in the South Island, so it's not always possible. As far as hooking up with travelers, and that's one of the best things about an HU meeting, the peak season seems to be Jan-Feb-March, but that's pretty obvious! Like I said, I could do another one next year, early March, but anyone else (North Island?) can step up. The last three have been great fun. I have put on a lamb on the spit (traditional style, over hot coals and hand turned) and put down about 100L of good home brew six months out to get it well aged. Two years ago, we had about 25 travelers and 15 locals, and went for a head-clearing ride into the Nth Canterbury Alpine Lakes, 120km of gravel and FWD tracks, the next day. Great fun!
Ahhh but it's great to see people interested.

Cheers, guys
Nigel in NZ

P.S. Yes I did have Dave Smith stay with me three or four times. Man, but could he make a hole in your beer fridge in a short time! A very entertaining bloke.

I would be keen to get involved if there was enough interest in the BOP / Waikato (or even Auckland).
Could chuck a slideshow & some stories together.

Ok the real reason - And I need as many of you as we can
 

The real reason is we are planning something REALLY BIG in Feb/ Mar next year, at this very early stage I cant let on what it is but it will be good!! :D

So if you arent planning anything too much keep the last 2 weeks in Feb free, more will be revealed (including the final dates)

Cheers Scott

Stop teasing!

What are you on about?

I cant let on, or at least not until we have firmed up on allot of the details, but you have my word, HU readers and members will certainly find out about it first :)

What I can tell you is
1. It is a motorcycle tour.
2. It is related to HU
3. You can join in for 1 day or all 14 days (lenght to be confirmed)
4. You will make a difference to peoples lives

That is all I can give out
Once the info has been released I will accept offers of assistance

Regards

HU travellers meeting?
 

Gidday Scott,

Looks like a fun tour you are arranging -http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/motorcycle-events-around-the-world/new-zealand-3-day-tour-21337

Lots of great roads there, have riden most of them several times. I take it by the route through Mataki Valley you mean the back road from Murchison through Matakitaki?

I agree with y_kiwi's comment about the first 2 days being a bit short - surely 1 day is enough for these roads with a pub lunch at Hamner? :thumbup1:

If you want to make the tour longer and more fun then why not continue further south, plenty of good options - Grebe river, the Nevis, Danseys, Hakataramea, etc

What is the tie-in between this tour and a HU meeting? I'm all ears - or is that eyes?

Hi Rich

This has no tie into the Hubb Meeting/event I am also looking at doing, that is still in the planning stages.
All will be revealed soon

The tour is still in the early stages, but I am still securing private land to ride through, I havent given all the secrets out :)

Cheers Scott

any more news
 

Just read this thread any more news or plans from anyone?

Hi Humpy. Nothing that I've heard of at this stage. I'm getting married this summer, so I'm all tied up, so to speak... There's still time for someone to decide to do something. I will be organising something for the next year (2008), unless someone else wants to. I don't claim any devine right!

Regards

Nigel

Congratulations
 

:D :D Good news - congratulations Nigel :thumbup:

My husband and I have hosted a few touring motorcyclists and are keen to continue to do so. I'd like to know more about signing up for the communities thing but I can't send a private message as I haven't posted enough! Please let me know how it all works as we've thoroughly enjoyed the three German couples and two young Swedes we've had staying here. We don't charge, we just ask that the travellers treat us and our home with respect. We live north of Levin and have a spare room/double bed and secure garaging. Keen to have more travellers!

Keep right on posting!
 

Good to see more Kiwi's on here. And also good to see someone who has one of those lovely Suzuki Gooses (Geese??). The community system is a great idea but the most common complaint is people are too shy to use them. In about three years I have only had maybe 2 people come to stay thru the community system. The direct approach seems to work best; I'm often dragging home strays I have accosted after performing mad U-turns to chase and stop. Keeping an eye on the Blogs here for people heading for NZ and offering a bed to those people is also very rewarding.
I see you are from Levin. Do you know Murray Speirs by any cahnce? He is from Levin and his and Kathy's blog can be found at www.kathyandmurray.com
Also see this thread:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ers-your-23895
There's a bed and a garage if you are ever down south too.

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ (Rangiora)

gday
 

Hi Nigel,
Maybe you can give me a hand.

I'm doing a fare-thee-well trip of the south Island before heading off overseas.
I'll be down the West Coast from Monday 4/12/06 coming around to a Kiwibiker meeting near Mt Cook 9-12 Dec and then I have until 15/12/06 ferry back to Picton. I will be going via Christchurch to see family but can't really be naffed going down to Dunedin, although I do have family there also.

Are there any really interesting roads from Otematata/Omarama through to Christchurch as SH1 gets a little boring?

Yes, Nigel, we know Murray Spiers well - my husband has gone on trail rides and adventure rides with him and others for many years. He used to be at Waitarere Beach and we're at Koputaroa - about 10kms as the crow flies! We get most of our travellers from www.kiwibiker.co.nz where they have a 'coming and going' section for tourists to post in. We got two couples and a single guy that way, then one of the couples told us about two more who were coming and we had them to stay too. The two Swedes were broken down on the side of the road so I got my husband to go back with the bike trailer and they stayed the night while he fixed their bike. We love having them to stay - we don't have kids and live in a lovely quiet area of the country so they find it quite relaxing. My husband knows all the good rides in the area so he often takes them out if they feel like it, otherwise they are welcome to chill out and take a well-earned break.

The Goose is great - I started off with a Suzuki RG150 then bought a BMW F650CS (hence the username Beemer on Kiwi Biker), but I sold that last year and bought the Goose. Great bike, but VERY uncomfortable seat, I keep meaning to do something about it!

What is the etiquette about posting contact details on here? I wouldn't want to put our home address but wondered about a phone number or email address? I'm a journalist and photographer and work from home so having people to stay isn't usually a problem. We're non-smokers - oh, and I love to cook!

We have the HU Communities for that express purpose - your personal details are not exposed to anyone until after you receive an email from them, AND you choose to respond! See the Communities page - link on left.

Thanks Grant, but I can't figure out how to join the community - I clicked on the 'join a community' link but can't see how you actually do this. I notice on that page there is a comment by you about Helpful People and having your details listed there. That may be easier - I'd only want to list my email address and possibly a phone number - maybe my mobile - for people to contact me if they are in NZ. All the travellers we've had to stay have contacted me by email or private message on other forums and that seems to work quite well.

Omarama
 

Hi Josh. There is really only one other more interesting ride than SH1 up from Omarama, unless you get into some fairly hard-core gravel. That is to take the main route from Mt Cook, Tekapo, Fairlie to Geraldine (Nice!), but just past the one-lane bridge 5 km north of Geraldine, don't take the posted turn for Chch and SH1, but carry on straight ahead on the Inland Scenic Route (72) via Mayfield, Mt Somers, Mt Hutt and the Rakaia Gorge (Extra Nice!), then Windwhistle, and Glentunnel. About 5km after Glentunnel, leave the Inland Route (72) at Homebush and take the Chch turnings. That will spit you back out on the the boring straight road again at Darfield on the road to Chch from the West Coast, about 30km from Chch. It's more simple than it sounds.
Watch for speed traps around Twizel, Tekapo, Fairlie and Mayfield esp. Other than there I have never seen a cop on patrol *wink*.
There's a bed and a shed for you here if you need one. I'm about 25km north of Chch. You lucky bastard, you are in for a very nice trip.

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ (Rangiora)

thanks Nigel
Have lodgings in Christchurch but would be interested in having a beer or lunch with you if time permits.

This trip's just the warm up! Check out what we have planned www.locokiwi.com

Josh