General InfoCycleTouring.GeneralInfo HistoryHide minor edits - Show changes to output Changed lines 81-82 from:
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[[http://www.adventure-auckland.co.nz/adventurecycles/index.html|Adventure Cycles]], 9 Premier Ave, Western Springs, Auckland. Freephone 0800 BIKE-TOUR (0800 2453-8687) Changed lines 85-88 from:
[[www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz|City Cycle Hire]], 73 Wrights Road, Middleton, Canterbury 8024, mobile phone 027 222 9893 to:
[[http://www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz|City Cycle Hire]], 73 Wrights Road, Middleton, Canterbury 8024, mobile phone 027 222 9893 Changed line 593 from:
You can get a bike on a plane by (a) wrapping newspaper around the chain and turning the handlebars, (b) begging a bike box from a local bike shop, or (c) making/buying a bike bag of some sort. to:
You can get a bike on a plane by (a) wrapping newspaper around the chain and turning the handlebars, (b) begging a bike box from a local bike shop, or (c) making/buying a bike bag of some sort. Added line 509:
* [[http://www.cyclehire.co.nz|Independent Cycle Tours New Zealand]] Deleted lines 9-10:
* [[#Wellington|Getting in and out of Wellington]] Changed lines 248-285 from:
!! Getting in and out of Christchurch !!! North Not yet. !!! South Not yet. !!! West Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Wellington]] !! Getting in and out of Wellington !!! North Not yet. !!! South Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] to:
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There are no bike mechanic training course in New Zealand so 99% of our mechanics are self taught - some to:
There are no bike mechanic training course in New Zealand so 99% of our mechanics are self taught - some are obsessive long-term hard-core bike nuts, others will be fresh out of high school. Obsessiveness is usually a big city thing. Added line 547:
* [[http://www.advsouth.co.nz/cycle/|Adventure South New Zealand Cycling Tours]] Changed lines 321-322 from:
New Zealand has a compulsory tax payer funded health insurance system - the result of which is (a) accident-related to:
New Zealand has a compulsory tax payer funded health insurance system - the result of which is (a) accident-related medical expenses are covered by the government, even for visitors, and (b) people don't sue over accidents here. (It's a civilized system.) Deleted line 328:
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Tap water is usually fine to drink. Sometimes it's got See to:
Tap water is usually fine to drink. Sometimes it's got fluoride added. Water from rivers and streams is a bit more dangerous as we do have giardia (a parasite that can give symptoms such as; stomach pains, nausea and diarrhea) in many tourism hot spots, including National Parks. If in doubt boil the water for 5 minutes. Some say the risk of getting giardia is small if you take water from the surface of clear undisturbed streams. See also: [[#Safety|Safety]] Deleted lines 345-346:
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[[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] has office in various places around the world - check the web site for details. to:
!!! Online * [[http://www.nz.com/|NZ.COM]] website * [[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] has office in various places around the world - check the web site for details. Deleted lines 363-364:
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* [[http://maps.google.co.nz/|maps.google.co.nz/]] * [[http://www.smaps.co.nz/|www.smaps.co.nz/]] Changed lines 436-440 from:
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[[http://www.linz.govt.nz/|Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)]] produce a range of 1:50,000 which show elevation contour lines and almost all land details which make them great for off-road mountain bike trips. The 1:250,000 scale show elevation shading and are good for cycling touring throughout New Zealand. Topo maps are available from good camping and tramping stores. Changed lines 443-444 from:
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[[#Money]] Deleted lines 446-447:
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[[http://www.newzealand.govt.nz|New Zealand Government]] to:
* [[http://www.newzealand.com|NewZealand.com]] * [[http://www.newzealand.govt.nz|New Zealand Government]] Deleted lines 468-477:
!!! Other Activities %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] Deleted lines 499-500:
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Best to use a Kryptonite "D" lock. In the big cities also lock it in a well lighted place (or outside a Police station if you're really worried). to:
Best to use a Kryptonite "D" type lock. In the big cities also lock it in a well lighted place (or outside a Police station if you're really worried). Changed lines 563-565 from:
Shuttle buses are large vans with an enclosed trailer or minibuses. Bikes are to:
Shuttle buses are large vans with an enclosed trailer or minibuses. Bikes are usually not a problem, but they may charge $10. Changed lines 568-570 from:
Inter-city buses don't like taking bikes but they will. If you try to book a bus they tell you they can't to:
Inter-city buses don't like taking bikes but they will. If you try to book a bus they tell you they can't guarantee the bike will fit on - I've never had a problem. They'll probably charge $10 for the bike. Changed lines 573-575 from:
Again $10 for the bike. Trains run from Auckland down to Wellington, Picton to Invercargill (via Christchurch). There's a to:
Again $10 for the bike. Trains run from Auckland down to Wellington, Picton to Invercargill (via Christchurch). There's a train that goes form Christchurch to Greymouth too. Trains are my favourite bike alternative. Changed lines 578-580 from:
Several ferry ships run form to:
Several ferry ships run form Wellington to Picton - the main one being the Tranzlink (NZ Railways) ferry. It's cost you about $35 depending on the season, plus $15 for the bike if you ride on. If it's in a bag it should count as luggage and go free, or they may try to hit you with $4 excess baggage. Changed lines 595-596 from:
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[[#Traveling_to_New_Zealand]] Changed lines 618-620 from:
Most of the roads are sealed (tar sealed, paved, blacktop) so skinny tyres are fine. There are a few more gravel (unsealed) roads in the South Island, away from the main routes. If you believe remote=interesting then bring a to:
Most of the roads are sealed (tar sealed, paved, blacktop) so skinny tyres are fine. There are a few more gravel (unsealed) roads in the South Island, away from the main routes. If you believe remote=interesting then bring a mountain bike with 1.75 inch wide combination road/off-road tyres. If speed and distance is important then you could use a strong road bike. Changed line 628 from:
My personal preference is to stick with my beloved bike. Some airlines charge for bikes on international flights some don't. There's plenty of good bikes to:
My personal preference is to stick with my beloved bike. Some airlines charge for bikes on international flights some don't. There's plenty of good bikes available to buy here though (all the usual USA brand names), so that's not a problem. Deleted line 14:
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[[#Touring_Companies]] Changed lines 596-597 from:
!!! Hitch to:
!!! Hitch hiking Changed lines 637-638 from:
!! to:
!! Traveling to New Zealand Deleted lines 655-656:
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!! Security Deleted line 555:
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* [[#Traveling_to_New_Zealand|Traveling to New Zealand]] Changed lines 304-308 from:
[[www.paradise-press.co.nz|Pedallers' Paradise]] [[http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Cycling-Zealand-Guides/dp/186450031X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208831809&sr=1-1|Lonely Planet Cycling New Zealand]] to:
* [[www.paradise-press.co.nz|Pedallers' Paradise]] * [[http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Cycling-Zealand-Guides/dp/186450031X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208831809&sr=1-1|Lonely Planet Cycling New Zealand]] Changed lines 310-315 from:
[[http://www. [[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] to:
* [[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/|Lonely Planet]] guidebooks * [[http://www.newzealand.com/|NewZealand.com]] * [[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] Changed lines 317-331 from:
[[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Mountain BIke Rides]] !!! Adventure [[http://www.mountianbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Adventures]] website [[http://www.mountianbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Adventures]] guidebook to:
* [[http://www.kennett.co.nz/index.php/Books/ClassicNewZealandMountainBikeRides|Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides]] guidebook Deleted line 321:
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* [[#Events|Events]] Deleted lines 39-40:
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Your can pitch a tent at camping grounds around the country for about NZ$0- to:
Your can pitch a tent at camping grounds around the country for about NZ$0-15. Some camp grounds are privately owned whilst others are owned by the Department of Conservation (DOC). It is also possible to free camp in many remote places (eg, picnic areas beside the road). Free camping is prohibited in some popular North Island holiday regions (Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island, Coromandel Peninsula). Camping is also prohibited in National Parks, except in designated camping areas. Many local and/or regional councils also operate camping grounds (sometimes called 'domains'). Deleted line 46:
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Camp grounds often have small to:
Camp grounds often have small cabins available too. This can be very handy on rainy days. Deleted line 56:
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B&B's are often run by well to:
B&B's are often run by well traveled ex-professionals looking for a better life style. Find a copy of [[http://kiwihome.co.nz/stay/B-B/|The New Zealand Bed and Breakfast Guide]]. Changed lines 68-71 from:
The usual to:
The usual assortment are available throughout the country, including the big international chains. Cost ranges from NZ$50-200+. Deleted line 72:
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[[www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz|City Cycle Hire]], 73 Wrights Road, Middleton, Canterbury 8024, mobile phone 027 222 9893 Deleted lines 98-99:
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New Zealand has over 300 bike shops nationwide, ranging from huge bike "warehouses" to tiny "bike, mower and key cutting" shops. You'll find the former in Auckland to:
New Zealand has over 300 bike shops nationwide, ranging from huge bike "warehouses" to tiny "bike, mower and key cutting" shops. You'll find the former in Auckland and the latter in small town around the country. In remote areas you may find an isolated petrol station selling bike stuff too. In the cities you find shops mostly full of mountain bikes with all the usual USA brand names (Diamond Back, Marin, Gary Fisher, Specialized, GT, Giant, Raleigh and several others). Mountain bikes (or cheaper look-a-likes) make up about 90% of NZ bike sales. So for exotic road bike stuff you'll need look in city bike shops, rather than small town shops. Deleted lines 104-108:
[[../../shops/|NZ Bike Shops Online]] [[../../shops/list.htm|List of Shops]] Deleted lines 116-118:
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Come December, January or February for the to:
Come December, January or February for the hottest weather. Either side of that for milder weather (and fewer tourists). Changed lines 124-126 from:
We have a temperate but to:
We have a temperate but changeable climate. Because we're an island nation (the furthest ''inland'' you can get is about 75km.) we don't have sharply defined seasons - summer is hotter than winter but that doesn't stop us from getting lousy weather during summer or clear skies in winter. The tricky part about cycling in New Zealand is that you can get "Four Seasons in One Day". Deleted lines 137-139:
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Take a rain jacket/coat. You're going to get rained on at some stage - no matter when you travel. It might rain for an hour or for to:
!!! What to bring Take a rain jacket/coat. You're going to get rained on at some stage - no matter when you travel. It might rain for an hour or for several days straight. In summer you can expect to be fine in shorts and a t-shirt for most of the time. In the evening you might want long trousers and a sweat shirt. Unless of course you come from a hot climate - in which case bring some warmer clothes. New Zealanders have reputation for under-heating their homes in winter, so visitors may Deleted line 151:
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Numerous The big cities and touristy towns have Email/Web shops where you can go in and surf for about NZ$6 per hour. Once you have access to a web browser you can use services like [[http://www.yahoomail.com|Yahoo Mail]] which can be configuired to grab mail from your home/office ISP to:
Various companies offer nationwide dial-up and/or wifi access: [[http://www.tourism.net.nz/visitor-information/internet-cafes-and-travellers-internet/Internet Cafes and Travellers Internet]] All cities and touristy towns have ''Internet Cafes'' where you can go in and surf for about NZ$6 per hour. Changed lines 165-170 from:
Off-peak billing times are from 6pm throught till 7am weekdays and all weekend. to:
''Internet Cafes'' often also offer cheap international phone calls. Pre-paid phones are available in all international airports, all cities and, most towns. Changed lines 171-174 from:
There are post boxes for sending mail to:
There are post boxes for sending mail near most shops. You can buy stamps from most dairies and petrol stations. All cities and big suburbs and towns (anything with 1000 people or more) also have Post Offices which you can have Poste Restante mail addressed to (they'll hold it for about a month). Deleted line 175:
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The South Island is better. It has more remote regions, it has more mountains, it has fewer cars Every time I ride I learn more about the optimum setup for my bike and equipment. The only way to learn that is by doing it yourself. You should spend a week riding locally to learn how your bike and to:
!!! Spend more time in the South Island The South Island is better. It has more remote regions, it has more mountains, it has fewer cars and fewer people. !!! Do a small tour at home first Every time I ride I learn more about the optimum setup for my bike and equipment. The only way to learn that is by doing it yourself. You should spend a week riding locally to learn how your bike and equipment is going to handle a longer cycle tour. Changed lines 194-198 from:
Talk to people in your local bike club, or to:
Talk to people in your local bike club, or try the Internet [[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/forum/list.php?f=19|in New Zealand]] or [[http://www.cycling.org|globally]]. Deleted lines 202-249:
!! Equipment List !!! Stuff to take Here's '''a''' list, not '''the''' list: * bike * pannier rack [front and rear if you want to travel heavy] * panniers (saddle bags) * helmet * lights * more to come %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Events]] !! Events !!! Cycling [[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz|Mountain Bike Events]] [[http://www.cyclingnz.org.nz|Road/Track Cycling Events]] !!! Other [[http://www.americascup2000.org.nz|America's Cup]] [[http://www.festival.co.nz|Wellington Festival of the Arts]] %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] Deleted lines 206-208:
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Dairies to:
Dairies ("drug stores") are usually open from 8am till 8 or 9pm seven days a week - most are independently owned and operated. Dairies stock fresh milk, bread, newspapers, and groceries. Changed lines 214-217 from:
Most petrol stations are filling a to:
Most petrol stations are filling a similar niche as dairies - they stock the same sort of things with a bit more emphasis on junk food. Petrol stations tend to be open for longer hours than dairies or supermarkets, some 24 hrs. Deleted lines 218-219:
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The "classic" fast food outlet in New Zealand is the fish and chip shop, which will usually also sell ham burgers and chinese meals. All the cities also have to:
The "classic" fast food outlet in New Zealand is the fish and chip shop, which will usually also sell ham burgers and chinese meals. All the cities also have Macdonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, etc. Changed lines 229-231 from:
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Pubs (public bars) sell crisps, chips, and meat pies and other small meals. Oh, and they sell beer too. Changed lines 234-236 from:
Coffee culture has hit New Zealand hard - most obviously in Wellington which has more cafes per capita than New York. You can get a cheap meal and a short black or hot chocolate. Mains are usually under NZ$20. Some cafes are to:
Coffee culture has hit New Zealand hard - most obviously in Wellington which has more cafes per capita than New York. You can get a cheap meal and a short black or hot chocolate. Mains are usually under NZ$20. Some cafes are licensed to sell wine and beer too. Deleted line 238:
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The easiest way to get from Auckland Airport to town is jump in "shuttle" (a large van and trailer that will take up to a dozen passengers into town) and ask to go to your to:
The easiest way to get from Auckland Airport to town is jump in "shuttle" (a large van and trailer that will take up to a dozen passengers into town) and ask to go to your accommodation. Otherwise you'll just spend 2-3 hours riding through suburban street which are pretty much the same as any other western city in the world. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Christchurch]] !! Getting in and out of Christchurch !!! North Changed lines 266-269 from:
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!!! West Not yet. Changed lines 279-284 from:
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[[#Wellington]] !! Getting in and out of Wellington Deleted line 285:
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[[#Wellington]] !! Getting in and out of Wellington !!! North Not yet. !!! South Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] Deleted lines 300-301:
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[[www.paradise-press.co.nz|Pedallers' Paradise]] [[http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Cycling-Zealand-Guides/dp/186450031X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208831809&sr=1-1|Lonely Planet Cycling New Zealand]] Changed lines 357-359 from:
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Coffee culture has hit New Zealand hard - most obviously in Wellington which has more cafes per capita than New York. You can get a cheap meal and a short black or hot chocolate. Mains are usually under NZ$20. Some cafes are liscensed to sell wine and beer too. Changed line 363 from:
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Yep, we have restaurants with meals ranging from $20-200. Changed lines 159-161 from:
Come December, January or February for the hotest weather. Either side of that for milder weather (and fewer tourists). to:
Come December, January or February for the hotest weather. Either side of that for milder weather (and fewer tourists). Changed lines 172-179 from:
[[http://tvone.co.nz/weather/|TV One National Weather Summary]] national summary to:
[[http://tvone.co.nz/weather/|TV One National Weather Summary]] national summary [[http://www.press.co.nz/weather/weather.htm|The Christchurch Press]] national summary with map [[http://www.intellicast.com/weather/nza/|Intellicast]] 4 day forecast for Auckland Changed lines 212-214 from:
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Numerous companies (including [[http://www.xtra.co.nz|Telecome]] and [[http://www.clear.net.nz|Clear]]) offer nationwide access using a combination of local numbers in about a dozen cities and a 0800 (free toll call) number for anywhear else. And there's [[http://www.ibm.net|IBM Net]] and [[http://www.compuserve.com|Compuserve]] too. Changed line 458 from:
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'''New Zealand By Bike''' by Bruce Ringer Changed lines 132-136 from:
New Zealand has over 300 bike shops nationwide, ranging from huge bike "warehouses" to tiny "bike, mower and key cutting" to:
New Zealand has over 300 bike shops nationwide, ranging from huge bike "warehouses" to tiny "bike, mower and key cutting" shops. You'll find the former in Auckland amd the latter in small town around the country. In remote areas you may find an isolated petrol station selling bike stuff too. In the cities you find shops mostly full of mountain bikes with all the usual USA brand names (Diamond Back, Marin, Gary Fisher, Specialized, GT, Giant, Raleigh and several others). Mountain bikes (or cheaper look-a-likes) make up about 90% of NZ bike sales. So for exotic road bike stuff you'll need look in city bike shops, rather than small town shops. There are no bike mechanic training course in New Zealand so 99% of our mechanics are self taught - some will obsessive long-term hard-core bike nuts, others will be fresh out of high school. Obsessiveness is usually a big city thing. Changed line 166 from:
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* [[#Accommodation|Accommodation]] * [[#Bike_Hire|Bike Hire]] * [[#Bike_Shops|Bike Shops]] * [[#Climate|Climate]] * [[#Clothing|Clothing]] * [[#Communications|Communications]] * [[#Cycle_Touring_Tips|Cycle Touring Tips]] * [[#Equipment_List|Equipment List]] * [[#Events|Events]] * [[#Food|Food]] * [[#Auckland|Getting in and out of Auckland]] * [[#Christchurch|Getting in and out of Christchurch]] * [[#Wellington|Getting in and out of Wellington]] * [[#Guidebooks|Guidebooks]] * [[#Health|Health]] * [[#Information_Services|Information Services]] * [[#Information_Services_Overseas|Information Services Overseas]] * [[#Languages|Languages]] * [[#Maps|Maps]] * [[#Money|Money]] * [[#New_Zealand_in_Brief|New Zealand in Brief]] * [[#Other_Activities|Other Activities]] * [[#Public_Holidays|Public Holidays]] * [[#Road Rules|Road Rules]] * [[#Security|Security]] * [[#Training|Training]] * [[#Touring_Companies|Touring Companies]] * [[#Transport_within_New_Zealand|Transport within New Zealand]] * [[#Travelling_to_New_Zealand|Travelling to New Zealand]] * [[#Your_Bike|Your Bike]] \\ ---- %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] \\ [[#Accommodation]] !! Accommodation !!! Tenting/camping Your can pitch a tent at camping grounds around the country for about NZ$0-7. Some camp grounds are privately owned whilst others are owned by the Department of Conservation (DOC). It is also possible to free camp in many remote places (eg, picnic areas beside the road). Free camping is prohibited in some popular North Island holiday regions (Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island, Coromandel Peninsula). Camping is also prohibited in National Parks, except in designated camping areas. Many local and/or regional councils also operate camping grounds (sometimes called 'domains'). !!! Park huts Most National Parks have "huts" which can be used for a fee. These are well away from roads though (to avoid vandalism) so you'll only find them if you go walking/tramping. !!! Camp ground cabins Camp grounds often have small crude cabins available too. This can be very handy on rainy days. !!! Backpackers All cities and most big towns have "backpackers" accomidation which are often close to the town centre. The cheapest rooms offer the chance to listen to strangers snoring. !!! Bed & breakfast B&B's are often run by well travelled ex-professinals looking for a better life style. Find a copy of [[http://kiwihome.co.nz/stay/B-B/|The New Zealand Bed and Breakfast Guide]]. !!! Hotels/motels The usual, including the big international chains. Cost ranges from NZ$50-200. !!! Baches & holiday homes (renting) If you want to stay somewhere for a bit more than a night you might find a nice weekend cottage. Find a copy of [[http://www.nelson.co.nz/holidayhomes/|New Zealand Baches and Holiday Homes to Rent]]. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Bike_Hire]] !! Bike Hire !!! Auckland [[http://www.gen.com/akmtbclub/advcychm.htm|Adventure Cycles]], 1 Fort Lane, Central Auckland, Freephone 0800-33-55-6 !!! Christchurch %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Bike_Shops]] !! Bike Shops !!! What to expect New Zealand has over 300 bike shops nationwide, ranging from huge bike "warehouses" to tiny "bike, mower and key cutting" shops. You'll find the former in Auckland amd the latter in small town around the country. In remote areas you may find an isolated petrol station selling bike stuff too. In the cities you find shops mostly full of mountain bikes with all the usual USA brand names (Diamond Back, Marin, Gary Fisher, Specialized, GT, Giant, Raleigh and several others). Mountain bikes (or cheaper look-a-likes) make up about 90% of NZ bike sales. So for exotic road bike stuff you'll need look in city bike shops, rather than small town shops. <BR> There are no bike mechanic training course in New Zealand so 99% of our mechanics are self taught - some will obsessive long-term hard-core bike nuts, others will be fresh out of high school. Obsessiveness is usually a big city thing. [[../../shops/|NZ Bike Shops Online]] [[../../shops/list.htm|List of Shops]] [[http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/cgi-bin/search?key=bicycle&lkey=&stype=&search.x=42&search.y=17|NZ Yellow Pages]] predefined search on "bicycle" %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Climate]] !! Climate !!! When to come Come December, January or February for the hotest weather. Either side of that for milder weather (and fewer tourists).<BR> !!! Weather We have a temperate but changable climate. Because we're an island nation (the furthest inland you can get is about 75km.) we don't have sharply defined seasons - summer is hotter than winter but that doesn't stop us from getting lousy weather during summer or clear skies in winter. The trick part about cycling in New Zealand is that you can get "Four Seasons in One Day". <BR> Summer runs from December to February, winter June to August. The mountainous regions get snow in winter (but also sometimes in summer too!). Temperatures are pretty much always warmer the further north you get and range from highs of 30 degrees Celsius in afternoons in mid summer down 0 degrees Celsius nights in mid winter. <BR> [[http://tvone.co.nz/weather/|TV One National Weather Summary]] national summary<BR> [[http://www.press.co.nz/weather/weather.htm|The Christchurch Press]] national summary with map<BR> [[http://www.intellicast.com/weather/nza/|Intellicast]] 4 day forecast for Auckland<BR> %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Clothing]] !! Clothing !!! What to take Take a rain jacket/coat. You're going to get rained on at some stage - no matter when you travel. It might rain for an hour or for three days. In summer you can expect to be fine in shorts and a t-shirt for most of the time. In the evening you might want long trousers and a sweat shirt. Unless of course you come from a hot climate - in which case bring some warmer clothes. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Communications]] !! Communications !!! Internet The two main telephone companies ([[http://www.xtra.co.nz|Telecome]] and [[http://www.clear.net.nz|Clear]]) offer nationwide access using a combination of local numbers in about a dozen cities and a 0800 (free toll call) number for anywhear else. And there's [[http://www.ibm.net|IBM Net]] and [[http://www.compuserve.com|Compuserve]] too. The big cities and touristy towns have Email/Web shops where you can go in and surf for about NZ$6 per hour. Once you have access to a web browser you can use services like [[http://www.yahoomail.com|Yahoo Mail]] which can be configuired to grab mail from your home/office ISP. !!! Telephone The above mentioned Email/Web shops may also offer cheap international phone calls. If not you'll find public phone booths all over the place, in towns, cities and remote petrol stations. There are three types of public phone booth; coin operated, phone card (available form daries and petrol stations), and credit card phones - and each type works with only the system it's designed for (you can't use a credit card in a phone card phone.) Doh! You can direct dial to anywhere national or international. Off-peak billing times are from 6pm throught till 7am weekdays and all weekend. !!! Postal There are post boxes for sending mail all over the place - near shops, bacisally. You can buy stamps from most dairies amd petrol stations. All cities and big suburbs and towns (anything with 1000 people or more) also have Post Offices which you can have Poste Restante mail addressed to (they'll hold it for about a month). %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Cycle_Touring_Tips]] !! Cycle Touring Tips !!! Take it easy Some people ride 160 km (100 miles) a day - others 50km. Others spend a day off the bike for every four on. Some say it takes four days to get used to riding - after that your body gets used to it. Remember it's a hilly country, you might find 50 hilly km harder than 100km flat km. !!! SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SOUTH ISLAND The South Island is better. It has more remote regions, it has more mountains, it has fewer cars amd fewer people. !!! DO A SMALL TOUR AT HOME FIRST Every time I ride I learn more about the optimum setup for my bike and equipment. The only way to learn that is by doing it yourself. You should spend a week riding locally to learn how your bike and equipent is going to handle a longer cycle tour. !!! Finding ride partners Talk to people in your local bike club, or even try the Internet [[../../forums/touring/index.htm|in New Zealand]] or [[http://www.cycling.org|globally]]. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Equipment_List]] !! Equipment List !!! Stuff to take Here's '''a''' list, not '''the''' list: * bike * pannier rack [front and rear if you want to travel heavy] * panniers (saddle bags) * helmet * lights * more to come %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Events]] !! Events !!! Cycling [[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz|Mountain Bike Events]] [[http://www.cyclingnz.org.nz|Road/Track Cycling Events]] !!! Other [[http://www.americascup2000.org.nz|America's Cup]] [[http://www.festival.co.nz|Wellington Festival of the Arts]] %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Food]] !! Food !!! Dairies Dairies are usually open from 8am till 8 or 9pm seven days a week - most are independantly owned and operated. Dairies stock fresh milk, bread, newspapers, and groceries. !!! Petrol stations Most petrol stations are filling a similiar niche as dairies - they stock the same sort of things with a bit more emphasis on junk food. Petrol stations tend to be open for longer hours than dairies or supermarkets, some 24 hrs. !!! Supermarkets You'll find a supermarket in cities, suburbs and towns. Open from 9am to 6-10pm (early for small towns, late for cities). !!! Fast food The "classic" fast food outlet in New Zealand is the fish and chip shop, which will usually also sell ham burgers and chinese meals. All the cities also have Macdonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. !!! Pubs Pubs (public bars) sell crisps, chips, and meat pies and other small meals. Oh, and they sell beer too. !!! Cafes Coffee culture has hit New Zealand hard - most obviously in Wellington which has more cafes per capita than New York. You can get a cheap meal and a short black or hot chocolate. Mains are usually under NZ$20. Some cafes are liscensed to sell wine and beer too. !!! Restaurants Yep, we have restaurants with meals ranging from $20-200. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Auckland]] !! Getting in and out of Auckland !!! Airport into city The easiest way to get from Auckland Airport to town is jump in "shuttle" (a large van and trailer that will take up to a dozen passengers into town) and ask to go to your accomodation. Otherwise you'll just spend 2-3 hours riding through suburban stret whixh are pretty much the same as any other western city in the world. !!! Heading north Not yet. !!! Heading south Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Christchurch]] !! Getting in and out of Christchurch !!! North Not yet. !!! South Not yet. !!! West Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Wellington]] !! Getting in and out of Wellington !!! North Not yet. !!! South Not yet. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Guidebooks]] !! Guidebooks !!! Cycle touring [[http://www.voyager.co.nz/~dabhand|Pedallers' paradise]] <!-- A HREF="" -->'''New Zealand By Bike''']] by Bruce Ringer !!! Tourist info [[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/|Lonely Planet]] guidebooks [[http://www.nz.com/|NZ.COM]] website [[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] !!! Mountain biking [[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz|New Zealand Mountain Bike Web]] website [[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Mountain BIke Rides]] guidebook !!! Adventure [[http://www.mountianbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Adventures]] website [[http://www.mountianbike.co.nz|Classic New Zealand Adventures]] guidebook %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Health]] !! Health !!! Insurance New Zealand has a compulsory tax payer funded health insurance system - the result of which is (a) accident-related midical expenses are covered by the government, even for visitors, and (b) people don't sue over accidents here. (It's a civilised system.) !!! Chemists Chemists sell legal drugs. !!! Hospitals In an emergency get yourself to the Accident and Emergency Ward of the nearest hospital. !!! Water Tap water is usually fine to drink. Sometimes it's got flouride added. Water from rivers and streams is a bit more dangerous as we do have giardia (a parasite that can give symptoms such as; stomach pains, nausia and diarrhoea) in many tourism hot spots, including National Parks. If in doubt boil the water for 5 minutes. Some say the risk of getting giardia is neglidge if take water from the surface of clear undisturbed streams. See <B>[[#Safety|SAFETY]] %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Information_Services]] !! Information Services !!! In New Zealand The Information "Shop" Network, Tourist Information/Booking Agents !!! Overseas [[http://www.nz.com/|NZ.COM]] website [[http://www.nztb.govt.nz/|New Zealand Tourism Board]] has office in various places around the world - check the web site for details. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Languages]] !! Languages !!! English * '''bach, crib''' holiday cottage * '''bush''' native forest * '''chemist''' pharmacy * '''dairy''' neighbourhood store selling groceries * '''footpath''' sidewalk * '''garage''' petrol/gas station, also car storage building * '''jandals''' rubber sandals * '''licensed premises''' licensed - to sell alcohol * '''motorcamp''' commercial camping ground * '''motorway''' freeway (motors only - no bike allowed) * '''parka''' rain jacket * '''petrol''' gasoline * '''petrol staton ''' gas station * '''pub''' bar * '''sandfly''' nasty little biting insect, gnat * '''scrub''' low bush * '''sealed road''' blacktop * '''takeaway bar''' small take-out fast food outlet * '''track''' trail * '''tramp''' hike, walk in the mountains * '''''' !!! Maori * '''kia ora''' hello * '''tena koe''' greetings to one person * '''tena koutou''' greetings to a group * '''haere mai''' welcome * '''haere ra''' goodbye * '''ae''' yes * '''kahore''' no * '''marae''' meeting place * '''pa''' earth fort * '''pekeha''' white person * '''tangi''' funeral, grieving * '''tangata whenua''' people of the land, maori %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Maps]] !! Maps !!! Steet maps Maps of the whole of New Zealand and city street maps are produced by [[www.linz.govt.nz|Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)]] and various commercial organisations (Mobil Tourist Guidebooks, NZ Automobile Association Route Guides). These maps are available from tourist information centres and petrol stations. !!! Topographical maps [[www.linz.govt.nz|Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)]] produce a range of 1:50,000 which show elevation contour lines and almost all land details which make them great for off-road mountain bike trips. The 1:250,000 scale show elevation shading and are good for cycling touring throughout New Zealand. Topo maps are available from good camping and tramping stores. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] <DT><A NAME="Money| !! Money !!! NZ dollar Current NZ [[http://www.dna.lth.se/cgi-bin/kurt/rates?NZD|exchange rate]]. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#New_Zealand_in_Brief]] !! New Zealand in Brief Check out these site for a brief overview: [[http://www.newzealand.com|NewZealand.com]] [[http://www.newzealand.govt.nz|New Zealand Government]] %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Other_Activities]] !!! Other Activities %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Public_Holidays]] !! Public Holidays On Public Holidays government agencies are closed, also; banks, offices, many shops. Public transport runs on a Public Holiday (reduced) timetable. * '''New Years Day''' 1 January * '''Day after New Years''' 2 January * '''Waitangi Day''' 6 February * '''Good Friday''' Easter weekend (late March or early April) * '''Easter Monday''' Easter weekend * '''Queen's Birthday''' 1st Monday in June * '''Labour Day''' 4th Monday of October * '''Christmas Day''' 25 December * '''Boxing Day''' 26 December * '''Anniversary Day''' varies by region %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Road Rules]] !! Road Rules !!! Stay left Bicycles are classified as vehicles so you need to obey the standard road rules - most importantly ride on the left side of the road. Also, you not allowed to ride a bike on motorways. This is especially relevant to those riding in and out of Auckland which has several motorways. Find yourself a copy of the '''New Zealand Road Code''' or its cousin, the '''New Zealand Bicycle Code''', available in libraries and bookshops. You must wear a helmet while riding on New Zealand roads. When tuning left you must give way to all other traffic. At night you must have lights. It has been observed that New Zealanders are not very good driving - one study revealed that 80% of drivers thought they were above average drivers. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Security]] !!! Security !!! Yourself Best to ride with a partner. The odds of any bad happening a very small, but... !!! Your bike Best to use a Kryptonite "D" lock. In the big cities also lock it in a well lighted place (or outside a Police station if you're really worried). %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Training]] !! Training !!! Do a small trip at home It's the best preparation. At least two or three days, preferably a week. At try to test your rain gear too - you'll need it at least once. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] <DT><A NAME="Touring_Companies| !! Touring Companies There are a few companies offering fully supported guided tours: * [[http://www.holiday.co.nz/cycling.html|NZ Pedaltours]] * [[http://www.pacificcycletours.co.nz/|Pacific Cycle Tours]] %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Transport_within_New_Zealand]] !! Transport within New Zealand !!! Hitch hicking If you have serious problem you can try hitching. You're bike limit the number of cars that can take you but will probably engender more sympathy. !!! Shuttle buses Shuttle buses are large vans with an enclosed trailer or minibuses. Bikes are usaully not a problem, but they may charge $10. !!! Buses Inter-city buses don't like taking bikes but they will. If you try to book a bus they tell you they can't garrantee the bike will fit on - I've never had a problem. They'll probably charge $10 for the bike. !!! Trains Again $10 for the bike. Trains run from Auckland down to Wellington, Picton to Invercargill (via Christchurch). There's a tran that goes form Christchurch to Greymouth too. Trains are my favourite bike alternative. !!! The ferry Several ferry ships run form Wellingon to Picton - the main one being the Tranzlink (NZ Railways) ferry. It's cost you about $35 depending on the season, plus $15 for the bike if you ride on. If it's in a bag it should count as luggage and go free, or they may try to hit you with $4 excess baggage. !!! Planes Planes go all over the place. Bike will usually get whacked with a $25 fee. It helps if you have a bike bag. !!! Cars Yep, you can rent cars from all the main centers - all the usually multinationals, plus a few Australasian companies. Check the [[http://www.yellowpages.co.nz|Yellow Pages]]. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Travelling_to_New_Zealand]] !! Travelling to New Zealand !!! By air Get on the plane. Wait a long time. Get off the plane. !!! By sea Not really an option unless you (a) have a private ocean going boat/yacht, (b) you hop on a luxury cruise. Unlikely. %right% [[#wikilogo|Top]] [[#Your_Bike]] !! Your Bike !!! What type Most of the roads are sealed (tar sealed, paved, blacktop) so skinny tyres are fine. There are a few more gravel (unsealed) roads in the South Island, away from the main routes. If you believe remote=interesting then bring a mountian bike with 1.75 inch wide combination road/off-road tyres. If speed and distance is important then you could use a strong road bike. Most cycle tourist seem to be using mountain bikes which cope with the extra stain of panniers fine. !!! Bring or buy? My personal preference is to stick with my beloved bike. Some airlines charge for bikes on international flights some don't. There's plenty of good bikes avialable to buy here though (all the usual USA brand names), so that's not a problem. You can get a bike on a plane by (a) wrapping newspaper around the chain and turning the handlebars, (b) begging a bike box from a local bike shop, or (c) making/buying a bike bag of some sort. |