Edelweiss bike excursions – New Zealand

On the 2nd of November I boarded a aircraft in Boise Idaho and landed in Auckland on November 4th, love that worldwide date line. Air New Zealand made the 23 hour journey all most nice, however at 73 journeys of that size are arduous on the physique. The journey began from Christchurch on the south island and ended 19 driving days later in Auckland. This was my second Edelweiss tour, the primary was Iceland in July 2022. These excursions are top notch with a number of bike in wonderful form, on each journeys mine was a R1250GS, skilled guides, good accommodations and eateries, properly although out routes and relying on the tour nice sight seeing alongside the best way. The Journey: 2023 – New Zealand by Motorbike / Official Guides Weblog of Journey: NSZ 2302 New Zealand Tour / Hyperlink to 2022 Iceland Tour

As you may see if you happen to observe both NZ hyperlink, this was a tour that noticed numerous the New Zealand driving each the north and south islands. In all of the 21 day tour is a bit over 3,200 driving miles. The roads have been 98% paved, the two% was development and chip sealing. Official velocity limits are 100KM and under. Velocity indicators ending in 0 are the official restrict, indicators ending in 5 are solutions and are yellow. Generally the NZ drives are probably the most courteous I’ve ever encountered, I feel street rage is sort of unknown, and dashing is uncommon and the native police take dashing critically. There are principally round-a-bouts, some properly designed and a few utterly bizarre with as much as six exits. The roads we rode, principally secondary are slender, twisting and have extra turns per mile than any you’ll encounter out aspect of the Alps or Tail of the Dragon. I stay in Idaho and trip mountain street on a regular basis they’re freeways in comparison with a few of these. Blind corners are widespread! Hazards, most RV (that are pushed principally by vacationer) as they are often doing 10 kph round a blind nook, assume driving right into a wall, farm tools, livestock (principally sheep), rocks on the street, street harm on account of earth quake or flooding. On our tour we had 4 rain days, three of them it actually got here down at occasions, so have a very good rain swimsuit or water proof gear. Count on the roads to get slick and restricted visibility.

Tour Group: We had 15 visitor and three information for the primary 14 days and 5 visitor and two information for the final 7. The guides have been all Germen – Austrian and a variety of the visitors have been additionally from Europe. The remainder of us have been from the USA this time which I suppose was uncommon as previous excursions have principally been from Europe and the UK. The group naturally broke down into two driving kinds. I’ll consult with them because the Racers and the Tourers. The racers have been principally within the RIDE, tended to take the corners quicker and did not appear to be all that involved in being vacationer. The Tourers, tended to need to trip slower and wished to cease for photos, go to locations of curiosity and never cross the automobile, truck or RV in entrance simply since you may. By the best way passing with a bunch of 8 riders on these roads is Russian roulette in my opinions. If you have not guessed but, I used to be a staunch member of the Tourers.

Sightseeing / Driving Steadiness: Of the 2 excursions I’ve taken with Edelweiss I feel the Iceland tour bought the steadiness higher, we rode between issues to see every day. In NZ we rode and infrequently stopped to have a look at issues many day. Some days might be outlined as nice roads with espresso stops at 10:30, lunch at 12:30, espresso cease at 15:00 and lodge between 17:00 & 18:00 with dinner at 19:30. I felt we rode by a variety of locations that I’d have stopped on a self guided journey. Do not get me improper we did cease and do some actually attention-grabbing issues, I’d identical to to have ridden a bit much less and seen a bit extra.

The northern extension had 5 visitor (4 racers & me). After a day of chasing tail lights in a heavy rain, I went to the information and stated I wished to modify to self-guiding which is at all times an possibility. My bike was outfitted with a GPS (Garmin XT) and the deliberate routes. I additionally had the lodge handle which if the GPS died may with Google Maps get me to my mattress for the evening. Whereas I rode just like the NZ drive and stopped for extra photos and at time simply to go searching and speak to individuals, the remainder of the journey I arrived inside + or – 10 minutes of the group, typically earlier than. Why, I did not take 30 minute espresso / nicotine breaks and far shorter lunches. Typically I bumped into the group, or extra doubtless they drove by me 4 or 5 occasions a day as we have been doing the identical route. They have been happier to not be ready for me and I did not really feel the stress of racing to maintain up. All future excursions my bike can have a GPS, understanding the place you’re going and the subsequent prove of a round-a-bout make a big distinction. Talking of excursions, my subsequent is Scotland in August 2024.

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Rental Bikes in New Zealand since 1987
That is one other wonderful possibility if you wish to trip in New Zealand – They offered the bikes for the Edelweiss tour!