Riding in New Zealand

[Grumpy]

Snow White and I are considering doing a NZ tour and wondered if anyone on the forum had experience with any of the touring companies there? We'd appreciate any personal information or experiences. At the moment we're only working off of information gathered by doing a Google search.

jim

 

[RsvlFeej]

Snow White and I are considering doing a NZ tour and wondered if anyone on the forum had experience with any of the touring companies there? We'd appreciate any personal information or experiences. At the moment we're only working off of information gathered by doing a Google search.jim

Dunno if I'd want to tour on the wrong side of the road on a bike. Wife and I drove both islands and even with the steering wheel on the 'right' side of the car, I managed to pull into the oncoming lane a total of 3 times in our 16 days on the road. Locals were extraordinarily cordial about my idiocy and never came close to hitting me, but I'd have to think twice about a bike.

Oh, and it rained 14.5 of the 16 days we were there.

 

[jcyuhn]

A friend of mine did a tour on a rented ST1300 and was not at all pleased with the outfitter. I don't recall the name, but I will ask him and followup.

- JimY

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.rental-motorcycle.com/oceania/n...own_rental.html March of 2008-NO RAIN my Son Seth and I rented a Harley-Davidson from this AD-MO South Island dealership: Their service was excellent and the bike was perfect.

I've also used AD-MO Barcelona, Spain and London, England. They're a quality outfit and run a top notch rental operation.

If you decide to go with a M/C Touring Company, then consider https://www.edelweissbike.com I'm friends with the Owners Werner und Coral Wachter from Mieming, Austria. Do you know the Definition of a "Perfect German": That is an Austrian!!!

Even though I motorcycle Europe every two or three years like clockwork since I was stationed in Bavaria in 1969-70 there are certain tours that I still cannot do solo for less than Edelweiss runs their Tours. The Alps and Lakes Tour is an example.

I have gone on 3 Edelweiss Tours: Andalucia, High Alpine and Extreme High Alps. Well run, efficient and very cost effective!

https://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=244.0 Grumpy: Link will take you to an article that my biking buddy Uri Schumm, close friend of SkooterG's, wrote right after we returned from Spain in February 2006. High praise for Edelweiss!!!

 

[Grumpy]

Snow White and I are considering doing a NZ tour and wondered if anyone on the forum had experience with any of the touring companies there? We'd appreciate any personal information or experiences. At the moment we're only working off of information gathered by doing a Google search.jim

Dunno if I'd want to tour on the wrong side of the road on a bike. Wife and I drove both islands and even with the steering wheel on the 'right' side of the car, I managed to pull into the oncoming lane a total of 3 times in our 16 days on the road. Locals were extraordinarily cordial about my idiocy and never came close to hitting me, but I'd have to think twice about a bike.

Oh, and it rained 14.5 of the 16 days we were there.

Not worried about the "wrong" side of the road. Have driven a number of times in England, Bermuda and someplace else that doesn't immediately come to mind. I'll admit it's easier to follow someone than to drive by yourself, but it's doable. I'll need to practice right hand U-turns!

however, thanks for your warning.

 

[st4gary]

My couple of trips are a bit dated. I did an AMA tour there in '96 and then did another one

in 2000 with Beach. Beach (at least at the time) sub'd the tour out to https://www.motorcycle-hire.co.nz

John Rains still runs the tour group so I'm guessing it would be just as top notch. I enjoyed

the 2000 tour a bit better as having locals as guides we got to see more interesting places

than when we did the AMA run. Although I made several life-long friends during the

AMA tour. Riding on the left side of the road was not a problem. Never had to drive

on the left so can't comment on that. I'd go back to NZ in a heartbeat.

Gary

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34452 Grumpy, There's great Riding New Zealand thread going on here!!