OneMac Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 We are off to New Zealand in December - so exciting - and I thought it may be good to ask fellow Hubbers for a few tips. We will be sticking to the North Island, Auckland, Whangarei, Hammilton areas. 1. What is the best place to get some bikes?2. I see car hire places don't have a tow bar so what bike rack should I look for and where? Looking at 3 or 4 bikes.3. What trails would you recommend?
sawystertrance Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 We are off to New Zealand in December - so exciting - and I thought it may be good to ask fellow Hubbers for a few tips. We will be sticking to the North Island, Auckland, Whangarei, Hammilton areas. 1. What is the best place to get some bikes?2. I see car hire places don't have a tow bar so what bike rack should I look for and where? Looking at 3 or 4 bikes.3. What trails would you recommend?Hi,I am going in November and some mates there are organising rides there for us so perhaps I could give you feedback then. I know there is a bit of debate going on about the riding/drinking mix and exact locations but we are going to ride at least the Timber Trail and Motu trail ride from this site. Take a look at it and see what catches your eye. Riding there is much more family or scenery-orientated as opposed to here where technical skills and high fitness level are required in order just to complete most rides in SA. Here's the link and I will look through my eMails to find a bit more detail. http://www.nzcycletrail.com/explore/great-rides
Iwan Kemp Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 A friend of mine and his family immigrated to NZ at the beginning of this year. He has done quite a bit of research on where to ride and all the rest. If you'd like I can get you in touch. Iwan
Kranky Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 (edited) North Island, then try Woodhill Bike Park: http://www.bikeparks.co.nz/ Edited June 2, 2014 by Nick.
Stoffel76 Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Definitely try to get to Rotorua... It's about an hours drive south of Hamilton I was there beginning of last year. I was fortunate in that we were staying with friends and he organised a bike for me to use, so can't comment on hiring etc but there are loads of places that offer bike hire... We spent most of our time in Auckland and I wanted to try Woodhill as well but we were on the eastern side of Auckland and it was quite a trek to Woodhill which is on the western coast, so didn't manage to get there...
OneMac Posted June 2, 2014 Author Posted June 2, 2014 A friend of mine and his family immigrated to NZ at the beginning of this year. He has done quite a bit of research on where to ride and all the rest. If you'd like I can get you in touch. IwanI IwanThat would be great. Always good to have the "local" understandingIan
OneMac Posted June 2, 2014 Author Posted June 2, 2014 Rotorua is definitely in our plans. I understand there is a great SS community there!
T-Bob Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 So many good trails over there. Spent a fairy amount of time riding, surfing and boarding on both islands. Will see what I can find for you... if you bring me back a nice bottle of Felton Road Pinot (2010!). Spoilt for choice over there, what kind of riding are you looking to do? OneMac 1
TimC Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Go look at aucklandmtb.co.nz Auckland MTB club give you the trails in and around Auckland but I'm sure in you contact them they can give some more advice on where else. I've heard Rotorua is a must. I'm moving there in July, so I'm hopefully gonna get to ride and learn some great scenic trails. :-)
T-Bob Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Depends what kind of riding you want but there are so many options. Of my head I'd go for: - Mtns to Sea: Mt Ruapehu through Tongariro NP to Whanganui - Makara Peak MTB park. Wello'- Woodhill Bike Park. Auckland- Pan Pac Eskdale MTB Park. Napier Else if it's longer more roaming stuff then this link might work or the Rail trial, 42 Traverse, the redwood rides, vine rides etc. Also check out http://www.bikepirate.com
OneMac Posted June 2, 2014 Author Posted June 2, 2014 So many good trails over there. Spent a fairy amount of time riding, surfing and boarding on both islands. Will see what I can find for you... if you bring me back a nice bottle of Felton Road Pinot (2010!). Spoilt for choice over there, what kind of riding are you looking to do?MTB Trails - between 20 and 100km. Could also be from town to town, having the family meet us at the next night's stop. Keen on Youth hostels etc. Could be some camping. We will have Camping equipment from a friend.
T-Bob Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 MTB Trails - between 20 and 100km. Could also be from town to town, having the family meet us at the next night's stop. Keen on Youth hostels etc. Could be some camping. We will have Camping equipment from a friend. Heaps of those town to town trails around, just do some searching around and you'll have a route that links place to place in no time. I've always gone with camper vans. In fact I honeymooned on the Sth island and it was awesome as you can pretty much park up and sleep anywhere and it's fine. No one will hassle you and no one minds. Hell there are great camp sites but a lot of the pubs have electrical hook-ups in the car park so you can have a few Speights, wander to your van and have a kip / have a cook up / start a party.
Wernervdmerwe Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 (edited) Hey OneMac, I have now been a Kiwi for little over 4 months - lovely country to cycle in! Rotorua is great, bike hire and all sorts there. Kinna the commercial hub for MTB in NZ.Woodhill is a personal favourite of mine, also commercial, bike mechanic on site, pie shop etc. Trails are nice and flowy and something for everyone. West Auckland. Whitford is also very cool - many options including some nicer technical areas. Not commercial, so nothing there but trails. In theory you should get a license, but I have not heard of anyone buying them. Even have a bike store arranging weekly rides there without one *shrug* It is in east Auckland. Maraetai forrest is next to Whitford, also apparently good. Both Whitford and Maraetai is maintained by Puhutukwa. http://pcbc.co.nz/ 440 is apparently off the charts and competing for the prime spot - http://www.fourfortymtbpark.co.nz/I have not been as it is not the cheapest place to ride, but, with your ticket you get shuttle passes....... Plenty more - Riverhead is also nice for more Enduro riding, check out the links here:http://aucklandmtb.c...ls/quick-links/http://nzbybike.com/regions/auckland/http://www.nzherald....jectid=10798604 Those links were my initial research before just getting out. Many bike shops also have arranged group rides, which is always cool. It is an awesome country MTB-wise! Edited June 2, 2014 by Wernervdmerwe
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