[Closed] NZ travels

By self supported do you mean cycle touring/bike packing the country?

I've done both, went out there in 2010 on a working holiday visa, took my full suss, bought an old 1980s bedford Ambulance within a day of landing so I had room to sleep and fit my bike inside then spent 6 weeks doing the full tiki tour seeing the country and riding. Settled in Wellington after 2 months and 8 years later I'm still there (technically in Wales right now but just for a holiday!)

On the flip side I've also completed Tour Aotearoa  http://www.touraotearoa.nz/p/home.html , an unsupported bike packing brevet from the top of the NI to the bottom of the SI. (You can follow the route at any time). Different vibe but equally awesome.

Ask yourself what you'd rather be doing? Mad hucks or mad kms?

Personally I'd go with the van option, at least to start. I guarantee you'll have no problems finding people to ride with at the major riding spots (Rotorua, Wellington, Queenstown). Can't speak for ChCh but likely the same with the adventure park. Most locations have either transient populations (Queenstown) or dedicated locals (Wellington) - turn up to one of the regular weekly dig days at either location and you'll have a bunch of ready made MTB mates to go riding with. All have Facebook groups too where you can organise rides. In Rotorua you'll get chatting to folk on the shuttle bus and nek minit you'll be following them down the trails.

Hit me up if you need any specific advice.

Do it 🙂

I'm currently parked up in Rotorua in the bus we bought a year ago. Love the trails here.

I typically ride on my own, my GF rides but she's more of a beginner so goes off on her own on the easier trails. I've ridden a bunch of places around the country, I bagged a couple of shuttles of some people at Coronet Peak and rode Rude Rock with them. Other than that though whilst I have had a few conversations with people out and about I haven't actually ridden with them. That's probably more just me though.

Personally I'd get a car or van and bring the 150mm bike.  Pretty of offload riding to be had and more fun that touring.

3 months is a good length of time too

Plenty of riding in:

Rotorua

Central Plateau

Wellington

Marlborough

Nelson

West Coast

Canterbury

Otago

Thanks Craig, I'll give the Facebook groups a go. Nice one on buying the ambulance, all the vans I've seen so far look teeny.

Thanks for that. I had never had any worries of being short on riding destinations ;).

i toured it 10 years ago . For 6 months

Great way to really get to know the country and meet people.

We went round both islands as far as Stewart island in the south and up to cape reinga

Importantly it was cheap.  We managed it on a 10er a day !

Touring on bike and then hire a mtb when you want? That would be my option.

I went over this Jan/Feb with my now ex gf. We spent £5k ($10K NZ) on a Toyota hiace camper that had been a camper from new rather than converted. Had fridge, cooker, sofa that made in to a bed, high roof which was another bed if needed. Bikes went in the back between sofa bits that made bed most of time, on rack for shuttles or small trips and on the front seats overnight while we slept.

The riding everywhere is great Rotorua, Nelson, Queenstown are the biggest spots and Craigieburn has trails to die for. You'll meet folks to ride with fairly easily in the bigger places.

I'll be out there from December as well for a few months, it'll be my third trip out there in the last 4 years.

I've bike packed it on my Krampus before (great fun and get to feel independent and free) and then been out with (the now) ex for a more touristy trip for a couple of months.  This time I'm hopefully taking the DH and 29er FS bikes, straight down to QT to hit some gondy laps on the big bike, then possibly bike pack on my 29er FS sleeping overnight in hostels.

Loads of riding options but the highlights are Alexandria, Craigieburn, Ghost Road, Hamner which are all in the south oddly enough.......!

The wife and I spent 4 months backpacking round NZ. It's over a decade ago so I'm sure lots has changed but...If I were in your position I would take the Van option.

Not only for the reasons the others have stated it will also allow you do do some of the other amazing stuff you can do in NZ like sea kayaking and the Great Walks.

Van or estate I’d go for. There was a backpacker car mart on Saturday mornings in Auckland with lots of vans and cars up for sale off other travellers. Just ask them when they’re flying and haggle from there. I preferred camp site to hostels. FOr me you met more locals and less many gapyear types. Hiring bikes will get expensive very quickly if you’re on a budget and a tight one. Take your own.

 I preferred camp site to hostels. For me you met more locals and less many gapyear types. Hiring bikes will get expensive very quickly if you’re on a budget and a tight one. Take your own.

This

"Not only for the reasons the others have stated it will also allow you do do some of the other amazing stuff you can do in NZ like sea kayaking and the Great Walks"

Cycle touring doesn't prevent that.

We did the Kepler tramp ,kayaked up the abel Tasman and came 9th in the Bannockburn classic MTB race on my touring bike while we were there on touring bikes.

Did a similar tour of northern BC and west Alberta last year. Still love the freedom of cycle touring

Van / Car is the only option IMO.  A Toyota Estima or a Honda Odyssey will be the best budget options if you can't afford a Hiace

Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Wanaka and Queenstown are the main biking hotspots but there are tons of others worth checking out along the way.

I wouldn't worry about finding people to ride with you will get chatting with others and have a crew to ride with, in no time. You might even meet someone doing the exact same thing as you.

Favourite trails

Queenstown - Salmon run

Nelson - 629

I'm in Whakatane and happy to take you out on some of the back country rides if you want.

Get a van, put your bike on the back and potter about under your own steam. Enjoy being in a beautiful place by yourself.

If you get tired of being by yourself, find some folks to ride with here;

http://www.vorb.org.nz

I had some great times with friendly kiwi riders all over both islands back in 2006. I would go back in a moment..

I'm going to be out there from December doing the same thing

Hit me up on instagram @thatpeskylimey