Another immigrant
Discussion
Morning,
It looks like I'll be coming over to NZ from the UK in Sept/Oct for six months or so to drive a tractor for the season.
Have had chats with a few employers, one North Island around Te Awamutu, others on the Canterbury plains.
Where should I go? Anything to choose between the two? I'll probably be hitting 70-80hrs most weeks so I won't have much time off (unless it rains), but may have 3 weeks or so after Christmas to have a look around. So nightlife isn't that high on my list of priorities, but nice scenery to distract me from work would be good.
I'm hoping to get a bit of trail riding done when I'm out there. How much is a solid trail bike going to cost me? Honda XR or a Suzuki DR or something. I assume there will be miles of uninhabited wilderness to hack across, or is that wishful thinking? Anyone want to show me around?
Look forward to hearing your suggestions/advice. On anything I may have overlooked.....
TIA
Charlie
It looks like I'll be coming over to NZ from the UK in Sept/Oct for six months or so to drive a tractor for the season.
Have had chats with a few employers, one North Island around Te Awamutu, others on the Canterbury plains.
Where should I go? Anything to choose between the two? I'll probably be hitting 70-80hrs most weeks so I won't have much time off (unless it rains), but may have 3 weeks or so after Christmas to have a look around. So nightlife isn't that high on my list of priorities, but nice scenery to distract me from work would be good.
I'm hoping to get a bit of trail riding done when I'm out there. How much is a solid trail bike going to cost me? Honda XR or a Suzuki DR or something. I assume there will be miles of uninhabited wilderness to hack across, or is that wishful thinking? Anyone want to show me around?
Look forward to hearing your suggestions/advice. On anything I may have overlooked.....
TIA
Charlie
I agree with Ben, south island!
(better get that in before all the jafas turn up.
)
check here for a general guide to bike prices:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/mcat-0001-0026-1255-2911-.htm
(better get that in before all the jafas turn up.
)check here for a general guide to bike prices:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/mcat-0001-0026-1255-2911-.htm
Not much to add except to agree with the other guys that South Island is the place to go for what you're wanting.
I don't know that we have any regulars in the forum here into dirt biking but plenty of people are, and I'd have thought there's bound to be some spectacular rides around Canterbury and up into the mountains.
Are you here for the money or the experience (or the girl)? There's been a lot of press here lately about how much money can be made driving mining equipment in western australia. Just a thought...
I don't know that we have any regulars in the forum here into dirt biking but plenty of people are, and I'd have thought there's bound to be some spectacular rides around Canterbury and up into the mountains.
Are you here for the money or the experience (or the girl
)? There's been a lot of press here lately about how much money can be made driving mining equipment in western australia. Just a thought...I dont think theres anyone on here from NZ whos into trailbiking.
If you want to ask specific trailbike questions Id recommend
www.kiwibiker.co.nz
NZs largest motorbike forum.
If you want to ask specific trailbike questions Id recommend
www.kiwibiker.co.nz
NZs largest motorbike forum.
Theres a few of us down south - I'm in Central Otago but some others in Canterbury. Much fun to be had on this little island anyway.South Island everytime too.....I'm afraid i'm a total hoon on a dirt bike too, but only on the farm 
If you get to central with a bike i'll gladly take you hooning over the thousands of square kms of beautiful emptyness.......and anyone else on here!
If you get to central with a bike i'll gladly take you hooning over the thousands of square kms of beautiful emptyness.......and anyone else on here!
Edited by pawsmcgraw on Thursday 26th June 19:59
pawsmcgraw said:
South Island everytime too.....I'm afraid i'm a total hoon on a dirt bike too, but only on the farm
If you get to central with a bike i'll gladly take you hooning over the thousands of square kms of beautiful emptyness.......and anyone else on here!
Definitely take you up on that. If know of anyone selling a bike.....If you get to central with a bike i'll gladly take you hooning over the thousands of square kms of beautiful emptyness.......and anyone else on here!
Edited by pawsmcgraw on Thursday 26th June 19:59
Just applied for my working holiday visa, and am trying to finalise work this week.
If I could count past 100, I'd be counting the days.
Right, thread resurrection time.
I'm flying in to Auckland on the 30th. Plan is to buy a trail bike and ride down to Ashburton where I start work "sometime in October". So I reckon I have about two weeks.
What's the deal with insurance/road tax/MOT test? What do I need, how easy is it to get, how strict is enforcement etc?
Anyone know of any good bike shops in/near Auckland, or any trail bikes for sale? (I'll have a look at trademe, but if you know of any others....)
Which ferry company? Bluebridge seems cheaper (much). Is this for a good reason?
Most importantly though, which route? Follow my nose, or is there something I should be sure to see on the way down?
Thanks in advance,
Charlie.
I'm flying in to Auckland on the 30th. Plan is to buy a trail bike and ride down to Ashburton where I start work "sometime in October". So I reckon I have about two weeks.
What's the deal with insurance/road tax/MOT test? What do I need, how easy is it to get, how strict is enforcement etc?
Anyone know of any good bike shops in/near Auckland, or any trail bikes for sale? (I'll have a look at trademe, but if you know of any others....)
Which ferry company? Bluebridge seems cheaper (much). Is this for a good reason?
Most importantly though, which route? Follow my nose, or is there something I should be sure to see on the way down?
Thanks in advance,
Charlie.
...you'd probably get a better deal on a bike in the south island too, although they may have been used off road!
Having said this, if you've got that long you could divide the trip up into short blasts and stay at camp sites or pubs along the way and have a bloody good laugh in the process. I'm old, i'd fly!
Having said this, if you've got that long you could divide the trip up into short blasts and stay at camp sites or pubs along the way and have a bloody good laugh in the process. I'm old, i'd fly!
You boring b
ds.
I'll probably have a week to do what the computer says is around 1200km. I make that 4 hours a day at 50k/hr for six days. Or step it up to 60k/hr and I can have another rest day.
Easy going I reckon.... And it may be the only chance to see anywhere outside Canterbury, so it's going to have to be done.
ds. I'll probably have a week to do what the computer says is around 1200km. I make that 4 hours a day at 50k/hr for six days. Or step it up to 60k/hr and I can have another rest day.
Easy going I reckon.... And it may be the only chance to see anywhere outside Canterbury, so it's going to have to be done.
Edited by bitwrx on Thursday 18th September 08:08
Roger A said:
Got a purple one in the garage right now. Good bike, but I need a little more poke.I was thinking more http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx..., or maybe a 600.
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