Thanks Rob!

[Wombattle]

Skidoooo and I recently did a ride in New Zealand and just wanted to express our gratitude to the OzSTOC NZ Connection Rob Gardner (RGardner) for his help and advice planning the ride.  Rob has known we were coming for some months and provided advice critical to the planning of the ride and at our request kept it under his hat.  He also rode to Wellington from Palmerston North last Tuesday afternoon for a couple of drinks and allowed us to pick his brain about our chosen route. Invaluable information and off the cuff from Rob since he's ridden just about every road in New Zealand!

Thanks again Rob   

As sometimes happens the ride didn't quite go to plan.  If you are interested a rundown of the trip see http://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12939&PN=1&TPN=1

If you ever get the chance to ride in NZ don't pass it up.  It's amazing.

[Abe]

Well done Rob 

I was talking to Karl last night and he said the same thing as Craig, your assistance was invaluable.

Karl has a new friend also, Mr Morphine.

Karl should be out for Xmas, fingers crossed.

[Gadget]

Good RR Craig. 

I'm jealous you got to ride Gisbourne to Opatiki, I drove the reverse trip in a Tarago in 2005 and thought the whole way it would be fantastic on the bike.  The other road I thought would be awesome was the highway from Gisbourne to Hastings/Napier.

Really sorry to hear about Karl's off, but glad to hear he will recover. 

Noel is a legend and from my experience in NZ is typical of NZ hospitality. 

A couple of hints for pronouncing NZ place names, I've been reliably informed that "Wh" at the start of a name is pronounced with an "f" sound.  Tauranga is pronounced "tau - wronga"

[ST2UP]

Well done all you legends......allowing us all to live vicariously through you 


Cheers 

[Old Steve]

I'm jealous you got to ride Gisbourne to Opatiki, I drove the reverse trip in a Tarago in 2005 and thought the whole way it would be fantastic on the bike.  The other road I thought would be awesome was the highway from Gisbourne to Hastings/Napier.

The Gisborne to Opotiki road, the Waioeka Gorge, is on my list for when I get back to NZ.  And while the Gisborne to Hastings/Napier road is OK, there's a newly sealed road (The Gentle Annie) which goes from Napier across the Ruahine Ranges to Taihape, from the east coast to the centre of the North Island, which is spoken highly of.

Then if you want something challenging, Ride down through Hawkes Bay, turn off at Waipukurau and ride to Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, the hill where Taumata, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower, the mover of rivers who travelled about, sat on a grass mat and played his nose flute to his loved one.

[Biggles]

Then if you want something challenging, Ride down through Hawkes Bay, turn off at Waipukurau and ride to Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, the hill where Taumata, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower, the mover of rivers who travelled about, sat on a grass mat and played his nose flute to his loved one.

Sounds like a plan.  Hopefully I'm not asked the password!!

If it was amazing in that piss-poor weather it must be indescribably amazing in good weather.     

[Old Steve]

Yes, the weather is a factor over there.  February and March, and into April would be the best riding months in NZ.  Just wait until I've retired back home and I'll plot out some itineraries for you.  If you're going over next year (Jan/Feb 2015) PM me and I can recommend a few routes in the Auckland to Taupo region of the North Island.  There are so many fantastic roads, and they're not too far apart.

Get a copy of Mike Hyde's "Twisting Throttle New Zealand" out of the library.  After riding around the edge of Australia (Twisting Throttle Australia) and through all the states of the U.S.A (Twisting Throttle America), Mike Hyde rode around NZ and documented his best 50 roads - there are a few roads best suited to adventure bikes, but many, many excellent roads for a sports touring bike.

I have just read in a motorbike magazine that, "If you're visiting only one overseas country, make it New Zealand.  If you're going to visit two, make it the North Island and South Island of New Zealand."