Touring New Zealand: Anybody have any experience/contacts?

I'm planning a Tour of New Zealand for part of my gap year, and I was wondering if anybody on here has ever done any cycling there? I have a friend in kekerengu (south island, east coast), one in Taupo and another in Auckland, so the plan is to join the dots as it were. I'll need to stop in more places than that, and I don't want to miss anything that is worth a few days detour as I doubt I'll be in NZ again for years. Also as money will be tight, if anybody has a friend or relative that wouldn't mind giving me somewhere to sleep and shower for a night, or even a job for a couple of weeks that'd be extremely helpful! This will also be my first solo tour, and my second ever tour, so any advice would be appreciated!
Also, I am planning on buying a bike on arrival and selling on departure... is this a good idea?
Another thought is that I could also fly over to Australia and do a little bit of cycling there, but I have no contacts so any thoughts at all are welcome on that front! Thanks in advance!

http://www.lfgss.com/thread93977.html

ah cheers, sorry I should've noticed that thread... I guess that answers my question about shipping, no way I can afford £300+ to ship one of mine. Also that route "the forgotten world highway" looks like it'll be worth doing if I have the energy!

N.P., I was watching that thread slightly jealously, so I knew where to look for it :)
I went hiking in NZ just under two years ago, and it was awesome, but didn't see too many great roads for riding, so best to ask people who are there.

Also, be aware, it can be very hot in summer, and an older friend of mine went years ago for a weeks riding and it bucketed it down every day. Obv. YMMV.

Should be sweet though

yeah I was there 3 years ago for some hiking, but didn't get any cycling in. It was a beautiful place, I think I will enjoy it more from the saddle :) I was planning on mostly wearing summer clothes and packing lightly so a week of rain could ruin me... I'll have to buy a lightweight coat or something

PinkGottiMobs and I are out here at the moment. I've been doing some riding in the northland area and Pinkie riding in the Auckaland area.

In general there are some absolutely gorgeous rides across new zealand. A good place to start is with this book or if you're looking at proper touring then there are some small, local guidebooks I've seen in Whitcoull's (the NZ equiv of Borders)

ah thanks, looks like a good book! Are you camping at all or going to motels etc? I'm not sure which to do! I'd rather be there than here, I have work at 7:30 outdoors in the snow :(

When are you going? I'm moving to Dunedin in June/July, I don't mind putting you up for the night if you're passing that far south.

Friend of mine recommends nztopomaps.com - loads of tiny deserted roads if you don't mind riding on gravel or dirt (and beware some roads marked on the maps are private!)

I should be going some time around october/november, but I want to make sure I have things to do and so on, my girlfriend's brother went without a plan and ended up cleaning toilets for a couple of weeks on his gap year!

The furthest south I have planned so far is kaikoura, but if you wouldn't mind that would be amazing, i'd get to see much more of the south island! Both on the east coast so it should be a fairly straight forward journey as well (over a couple of days naturally) :)

October/ November tend to be quite wet in NZ.

There are some stunning roads but this isnt like Europe. Not many towns, rough roads and you will find yourself really quite remote at times. Also, most roads tend to be quite busy as most roads are state highways. It will be amazing though.

I am currently in Auckland and have done riding all over NZ. I would recoment the south Island (as much as possible) as the mountains are amazing. Feel free to PM me should you have any questions.

I was over there at Christmas and prior to that last March. My Wife's from Akaroa near Christchurch. I Saw some folks touring down the west coast of the South Island which IMHO is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

But, New Zealand roads are notoriously dangerous. A combination of fast drivers and alot of trucks (logging routes etc etc) because as PinkGottiMobbs said they are state highways. I think it would be an amazing experience but I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to ride it myself. Depending on how long you're over for check out http://www.graperide.com/tose/graperide which is up in Blenhein and also http://www.lerace.co.nz/ which is more a road race type thing but could be fun. Im sure there's more stuff going on too. And if you get a chance get down to Queenstown and have a go on the DH tracks from the gondola. If you're into offroad riding you'll love it. Failing that go into a few bike shops and ask around about rides/routes. Kiwi's are a good bunch and will be more than happy to help you out.

Oh and it might be worth dropping these guys a mail? http://www.skullbikeclub.com/
Friends of Mark at Tokyo fixed and some based in Auckland (i think?).

Thanks! I've never actually done any off road riding, but it couldn't hurt to try. I've been hearing about their roads, kind of makes me want to find alternative routes but there don't seem to be many.

You can definately go exploring and get off the main roads, but usually its down side roads that you would need to return back along, especially in the south island, but it is well worth it. I have spent the best part of my first 30 years exploring, albeit in a car with a tent, I would try and take a light tent as camping is most definately the way to go, lots of free camping spots / or cheap campsites in great spots, hotels / hostels arent that great / expensive.....not sure how much couch surfing has taken off since I have been away but you should have a look

Have you looked at taking a bike with you? Im sure you have looked into it, but some airlines (namely Air New Zealand) let you take bikes for free? I would imagine buying a good bike over there would be expensive, best to take one from here and if you are on a budget why not a second hand one? p.s. I have a dawes galaxy in mint condition (used once) that im thinking of selling, ha!

pm me if you want any tips for places to go or other questions

Yeah I was searching on trademe.nz for ages for a cheap hardtail; I found the increase in price of secondhand bikes in NZ was more than the cost of taking a bike on the plane, if that makes sense.

Otago Rail Trail looks good (if a little sedate), and there are loads of tiny dirt roads/4wd tracks branching off like Old Dunstan Road or Dansey's Pass, and I'm sure there are others. You can make a loop (according to the map, at least) - Middlemarch to Alexandra via the rail trail, then over the plains and back to Middlemarch on the Old Dunstan Road.

I actually don't have a shortage of bikes, I have a dawes galaxy, a super galaxy and a holdsworth, the only issue I thought of was transport! I'll definitely look into Air New Zealand if that is the case! I'll look around for a tent then, I was hoping to not need one but I'm sure it'll be worth it.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! :)

If you can get some mildly-treaded tyres (Kenda Small Block 8, which comes in 32c IIRC) then a Dawes Galaxy should be pretty good on dirt tracks without being awful on tarmac.

Yeah well, I just checked Air New Zealand and they allow bikes as your hold luggage so long as it is packed pretty tightly, which is great news! Assuming I can get all of my stuff to pack into a carry on bag... anyway, that was a great suggestion thanks a bunch!

I'll also look into multi-use tyres, at the moment all of my bikes have smooth 23c tyres, also a good point :)

Does anybody know what phone reception etc is like? As I'll be going alone I'd like to be safe in the knowledge that if my bike becomes unrideable or i am badly hurt I'll be able to make contact.

No idea about mobile reception, but you can get personal locator beacons for couple hundred quid.

Phone reception is pretty limited to towns. If you stuck on some 28c tires and dont mind gravel then it opens up loads more routes. A freind of mine just cycled from Wellington to Auckland not using any state highways. He has a book. I will find out what its called.

Air NZ is really good. If you have two bags then your second one (bike) is half price as it is sporting equipment. Vergin (to shanghi) is free for bikes.

While in Auckland definatly pop into T Whites bikes (who are all in skullbikeclub) as it is an awsome shop. Also, come along to bike gang on tuesdays (send me a PM for details). There are enough ridings who like a beer or 5 should you want.

Thanks! Will definitely look into auckland. I'll try borrowing/hiring a beacon, seems a bit pricey for me.
I'm starting to think my bike may not be so suitable, as it has no bottle cage mounts, or proper brazings for panniers... Also it can only manage a 6-speed block. Should I work with it,or just sell it on and buy something more modern?

Buy my 2011 galaxy, it's super swell :)

Little update and one more question.... I've almost finished building a fairly cheap bike for my tour, I'll get a pic up later (I was too cheap/skint for primitive robot's!). Just wondering how restricted I'll be by not having suspension forks, as some of the trail websites reccomend them for certain rides. Having lived in cambridge all my life I have next to zero experience of cycling in any sort of mountainous areas!