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two weeks in New Zealand [January 2011]

Daniel Kalal

Cruisin' Guzzisti
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Messages
301
Location
Kansas
My first trip to New Zealand was in November, 2005. On that trip I rode a Moto Guzzi California EV rented from Dave Gale's Guzzi Gander LTD. In fact, I was Dave's first customer. That was a terrific trip, but I did leave quite a few roads not ridden and large areas of New Zealand unseen. It was time to fill some of the gaps.

The idea was to reach Ohinewai and turn east to avoid the congestion of Hamilton.
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I stopped for the day in Opotiki. It was still early, but I was not in any hurry, and in any event, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to find a hotel.
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And, the Masonic Hotel was nice enough. A clean room, with bath and shower down the hall.
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It was pretty cold and wet the next morning. I don't like starting a morning ride in the rain, but that's what I did.
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Not my favorite kind of road... I think I had five kilometers of this sort of thing. It looks worse than it is, but it's still not good.
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I followed the coastline all the way around
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Not too far from Gisborne. Virtually all the beaches I saw were empty.
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Napier
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This is Porangahau Beach.
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Wellington
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Blenheim
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Invercargill
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The road to Milford Sound
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Milford Sound
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Lake Wakatipu.
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The Crown Range Road is the highest paved road in New Zealand.
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Haast Pass
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Arthur's Pass
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Waikari is a very small place, but it has a good hotel.
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Maruia River. The Maruia Falls were created by an earthquake of 1929.
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You know you're in Marlborough by the vineyards.
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The Rangitikei River.
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Chateau Tongariro was from the outside easily the most impressive place I stayed. Those windows at the top? One of those is my room.
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My map indicated that the road north to Raglan was sealed. That didn't turn out to be true. Twenty miles were dirt (not so bad) and gravel (horrid).
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Dave Gale and two of his Moto Guzzi Sports. Dave keeps his machines very clean. The black one is the one I rode--that white pillion cover was removed, which is where I strapped my duffle bag.
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Lordy, Daniel, you are a blessed man. Knew you were there and have been looking forward to your report.

Thanks, too, for some stunning photography. Several of those pix are better than any commercial postcards or coffee-table books content. Superb. You should copyright them.

We have limited money and less time, but have always spent our travel dollars in Europe, and most in Italy. But, when I look at photos such as yours, it makes me rethink.

Will show 'em to Kathi tonight.

Thanks again for taking the time to take and post. That takes effort, and I know so many here appreciate that ... especially in February in the upper hemisphere! :whistle:

Bill
 
Daniel,

Wow! I just took in the "extended" version and, like Bill, am thinking I am missing something by spending free time in Europe. Thanks so much!

Michael
 
Daniel -
simply heavenly!!! couldn't agree more about some of those pix being better than many professional/commercial photos I've seen. They took my breath away.....
Thank you so much for taking the considerable time and effort to put this together, for the rest of us to enjoy - no small feat.
Are there still many places there that you have not been to yet, that you would like to see? NZ III????
Thank you again for this food for the soul.......
 
jamileh said:
Daniel - Are there still many places there that you have not been to yet, that you would like to see? NZ III?

There are many, many, many places I have not been, but not all of those places can be reached by paved roads. I'd love to go back.

The combination of both trips looks like this:
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Wow!! Pretty good dent in both islands between your two trips!!! Tho it certainly looks like the kind of place that would take years to do justice to..... I'm guessing you're already thinking about where you'd go there, on your next trip....
Thanks again, Daniel - great inspiration!!!
 
Thanks for taking us along again. A beautiful trip. Another place this old man will never get to (unless I hit the lottery :lol: )

The old Bill :D
 
I did much the same roads when i was there last week. The ride to Milford Sound was probably the highlight. nearly didn't do it as the guy's we hired the bikes from said it was to dangerous. I'm glad we didn't take their advice.

There are no words good enough to describe the country, the roads, and thew landscape.
 
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