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Riding Tips
Renting a motorcycle to ride New Zealand makes a wonderful adventure, whether you are just hiring a motorbike, or on one of our fully guided or self guided tours. There's a surprise around every corner. Packed with a kaleidoscopic of scenery, so much to see and a colourful history, you'll enjoy the route as much as your destination. Roads are often empty, with fantastic sweeping bends and great visibility. Some of the very best motorcycling roads in the world are to be found in the South and North Islands of New Zealand.
Road Conditions
The famous New Zealand motorcycle touring roads make for terrific riding, in some districts it looks like the designer who created the roads has a phobia of straight lines! Due to a small population, the roads are empty and the sufaces on the routes we choose are generally great. We avoid the main truck routes and stick to the bendy inland highways, we take you to the best biking roads this country can offer, and some that many other companies don't know or have time for.Road Riding
Motorcycle riding in New Zealand is generally relaxed, so you can take in the scenery and see this wonderful country at a comfortable pace, it's certainly the most important thing to us in the world that everyone enjoys the ride. This is why we use the best bikes, maintain them to exacting standards and equip them with the best Bridgestone touring tyres to provide the best grip possible, we never cut costs and are proud of our high quality service.Weather Conditions
New Zealands North Island is subtropical and the South Island temperate, to get the most enjoyment out of the weather December through to March is the best time to visit. June, July and August are the coldest months and the mountainous areas often close due to snow.During our summer our temperature range between 20 - 40c(68F - 104F)
During winter it can be anything between 0 - 20c (32F - 68F) The summer sun can be feirce so sun screen is highly recommended, also wear layers and be prepared to ride in both hot and colder weather.
5 Tips for motorcycle touring New Zealand
- Allow time to get over jetlag, you have just crossed 10 time zones in just over 24 hours. Not many of us get the chance to go to New Zealand more than once in our lives, so don’t rush it. I know of one jetlagged rider who crashed after just a few hundred yards – a damaged foot, and an uncomfortable and less than enjoyable holiday ensued.
- Stop over en route, how many times in your life do you get to visit Asia for free? Depending on who you fly with, why not use this opportunity to visit places like Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Los Angeles, Hawaii, or the Cook Islands. Ask your flight agent.
- Speed cameras, the myths are true! They are hidden in bizarre places. And they are NOT painted in bright garish colours so you can spot them a mile off. You have been warned.
- Metal roads are gravel not tarmac. Many side roads in New Zealand will show a sign stating metal road. If you don’t have the right bike and/or the experience, don’t attempt it.
- The sun is deceptively strong, so plenty of sun cream, and watch your camera settings if you want to bring back good photos. All due to a hole in the ozone layer.
Road Rules
It is important to view the road rules before you ride, below are some brief tips, we’ll always give you a safety briefing before you depart, but for the official New Zealand road code visit the Land Transport NZ website http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/index.html
Speed Limits: 100 km/h max on the open road and 50 km/h in built up areas, all speed signs are well signposted.
Giving Way: In general give way to the right, this will also apply when you are turning left and someone is turning from the right into the same road. Look at Diagram -->
Traffic not turning at cross junctions (going straight) have the right of way.
Signs at single lane bridges advise of who has right of way.
Corner Speed: There are speed recommendation signs on most bends in New Zealand, they do not need to be adheared to and can be used as a rough guide to judge your speed into corners.
Driving Licence: You must hold a full motorcycle licence or be able to legally ride the requested size motorcycle in your country of residence, proof will be required in the form of your physical drivers licence. Any foreign licences will need to be translated before arriving (check with your travel agent).
Safety: When riding in New Zealand you are required to wear a helmet by law, we can provide all your motorcycle gear, but for comfort purposes you can bring your own. Tinted visors are ok during the daytime but bring your clear with you.
Alcohol: Riding/Driving in New Zealand while intoxicated is a very serious offence and breath testing happens very often all over the country. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100mls of blood, in other words you could go over the limit with two pints of normal strength beer or a large glass of wine.
*** If you have a heavy night drinking you may still be over the limit first thing in the morning so delay your riding till later, if you are caught drink driving you automatically lose your licence, the bike, and will incur a large fine or be imprisoned. (Vacation Over)
Overtaking: You may not cross a solid yellow line to overtake, they are there to warn of hidden dangers so abide by this rigidly. Broken white lines are fine and you should stay within the speed limit. There is a 10% allowance for speeding so this can be used briefly although the police still have the final say, ie 110 in a 100, 55 in a 50 etc is borderline.
Parking: Consider your parking carefully, for your convenience remember to park the back wheel down to the kerb, this will make it easier to ride away, it also illegal to park on the opposite side of the road facing onto traffic.
BEWARE OF KEAS! If you are near the mountains keep an eye out for Kea parrots as they will happily eat your seat within seconds (we're not joking). Either cover your seat and back-rest, hide the bike or simply stay close to the bike!
Whilst New Zealand is generally a very safe place, be aware when parking that there may be someone nearby that's not as honest as you. Overnight, make sure the motorbike is locked with the disc lock supplied, and kept under-cover and out of sight if at all possible. Lasty, be aware of kiwi drivers generally, they are used to driving in a quiet country on very empty roads and don't have the same experience with motorcycles as other countries.
Roadworks: Roadworks are seldom motorcycle friendly in NZ. Whilst some are easy to navigate, others can be treacherous. Slow and steady wins the race.
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