** The Official NZ FAQ Thread** Bike hire, trip planning, NZ info etc look here first

That sounds excellent. Looks like it's another beautiful morning and will go down to check out the ferry for Devonport or Waiheke.

Check fullers.co.nz for ferry timetables. Will be nice either way but Devonport is a v short trip whereas Waiheke is more like 45 mins. Used to be 3 hours back in the day! If you go to Devonport a walk up Mt Victoria and/or up and around North Head is worth the effort. Extinct volcanoes make great viewing points.

Devonport was a great suggestion. My wife and I had a great time there.







Thanks for all the help. It's off to Sydney tomorrow.

Haere Ra and enjoy Sydney. Hope the weather is as good as here

If you squint you can see the house I grew up in in that first pic.
Enjoy Sydney

You had a great view from there.

Not sure if this is the page to ask and eyes go cross-eyed scrolling thought the posts. Looking at Epic Events Taupo ride this year. (Did the Dusty Butt 3x when Ryan Cooney organised it). My Tiger is too unwieldy for this I feel and too expensive to ride there. (Sold my 690). Any suggestions for reasonable hire of something suitable for a couple of days in April?

They used to offer some hire bikes. Might be worth asking them: even if they don't hire, they may know someone.

Years ago I traded my DR200SE for a DR-Z250 with a chap Nick Reader introduced to me. He had a trail bike hire company in Taupo or thereabouts. He wanted a smaller (shorter) easier to ride bike in his fleet.

My apologies if this has already been asked, but I'm not apt to scroll through every post: is there anywhere to buy a bike with the hopes of selling it at the end of the trip? I know this is something often done elsewhere in the world, namely SE Asia. I'm thinking this could be a more affordable way to get around NZ...

Yes. For anything more than a few weeks that is what i would recommend.

Try any of the many motorcycle dealers and ask about a buy back deal on one of their secondhand bikes.

Or buy one when you get here from Trademe and sell it again at the end of your trip.

What bike are you looking for and when are you planning to come?

Thank you for the quick reply, mate! I don't have a particular bike preference, though I'm going for an ADV/Dual Sport style. I would be interested in Africa Twin, V Strom, DR650/DRZ400, CRF450/250, and other similar bikes depending on the price.

And you are coming when??

The current plan is around July.

Good time to buy a cheap bike....it being the middle of winter. If you post here again nearer the time someone might be able assist. Happy planning.

I do see a discount with the rentals too with it being the "off season" for travelers. What kind of weather can I expect around that time?

south island will be cold and often wet.

north island will be wet and often cold.

Wairau beat me to it...haha...Depends where you intend to ride. North island will be wet and cold with occasional spells of sunny and cold. South island will be wet icy and colder with occasional dry days. West coast south island mostly just wet

Its probably the worst time to tour nz on a bike. Only thing worse would be not coming at all.

A very nice summation, indeed.

Thanks all for pitching in. Seems like a lovely time of year. Perhaps we'll adjust our timing to fall, or not at all (for now).

Autumn is some of the most stable, pleasant motorbiking weather. Through to the end of April, at least.