Surfboards on Motorcycles - LEGAL in Australia & New Zealand - Yes or No ?
 

Hi Guys , I live in Indonesia where I can and do get away with riding a bike 1-2 or 3 surfboards fitted into purpose built Surfboard Racks that are attached to my bike - as I cruise up and down the coast , or on trips to other islands looking for the ultimate wave.

I'd like to do this traveling around Australia on a Motorcycle , and continue over to New Zealand if possible while carrying 2 surfboards on a bike, plus luggage if it is legally permitted - is this legally possible or not ?



EG;
After Google searches ;

.., the ONLY info find was some legal Info from Australia ...,
(ie; from the N.S.W Australia Dept of Transport only - not the other States , or N.Z)

.., where in N.S.W they has a rule saying that carrying a load was legal if it did not project wider than the handle bars projected and no further than 150mm in front of the bike and 300mm behind the bike .

.., going of that Australian State rule - means in N.S.W, I could remove one of the panniers and instead hang 2 surfboards up to 8 feet in length to be within those restrictions.

What about the Rest of Australia & New Zealand ?

From the NZ motorcycle road code:

Carrying a load on your motorcycle

• Your load must not extend more than one metre in front of the front wheel or more than one metre behind the rear wheel.
• Your load must not extend more than 50 centimetres on either side from the centre of the motorcycle.
• Your load must not be loose and must not touch the ground.

I have seen someone carrying a surfboard on their bike on a rack on the side here once or twice, so it's possible, but it's not common. If you are bringing a bike to NZ for your trip I would remove the board racks before you get the required WOF safety inspection then re-fit them afterwards to avoid any hassle with that.


Cheers
Clint

Hi Clint , thank you kindly for your informative reply , those NZ rules sound OK to me.

.., now the other States in Australia (outside of N.S.W) to work out - as in Australia each State controls their own traffic laws