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Sstalder5's New Zealand Adventure Thread

Demomonkey

Monkey
Apr 27, 2005
857
0
Auckland New Zealand
I'm an exceptionally strong swimmer, a surfer, and a lifeguard so rough seas don't bother me.

I've been hanging out at Andrew Andrew at Viaduct basin the past few nights. How have you guys been hiding all this amazing beer from the rest of the world for so long?!?? Drinking an Epic Armegeddon IPA and I've been drinking Steinlager Pure and All Blacks all week!

And for the Americans, Steinlager is like the Budweiser of New Zealand but it tastes like craft beer!
FYI the West Coast will take your exceptionally strong swimming, surfing and life guarding experience and drown you.

If you like a beer that you can drink all day and isn't p*sswater try the Stoke range. I'd recommend The Bomber range (try the Smokey Ale) but only in small quantities. Steinlager pure gets a bit sweet after a few.

St Heliers was were I grew up. Great little village.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
It can't be that bad.. Not worse than American hurricane season at least.

I took the early ferry out to Rangitoto this morning and hiked all day. At least 25 miles total I think. I went all around Rangitoto and hit a few key points on Motutapu including the summit. Pictures and details will be up later.
 

DaveW

Space Monkey
Jul 2, 2001
11,160
2,685
The bunker at parliament
As an ex Karekare surf lifeguard (think I'm still listed on patrol 4's roster), it's not that bad.
Long as you know your limits and know how to work the rips.... not a problem.
 

gsweet

Monkey
Dec 20, 2001
733
4
Minnesota
Go drink Monteiths. Lots of it. Did a heli-drop on either Franz Joesph or Fox, then had a Summer Ale and fish n' chips... I honestly can't think of anything better. You know what, just get yourself to the south island. For scenic vistas, hiking, biking and the like, it's the tittys' tassels. And for a lame geologist like myself, I could (and did) occupy myself for months on end... amazing place! I'm so jealous.
 

kazlx

Patches O'Houlihan
Aug 7, 2006
6,985
1,957
Tustin, CA
So jealous. Can't wait to go back.

FWIW, my wife and I got the rubber glove on our hiking boots as well. We had bought new boots and worn them in for about a week, never even out hiking. I felt like I could have had a bomb strapped to my chest and they still would have been grilling me about my boots.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
So jealous. Can't wait to go back.

FWIW, my wife and I got the rubber glove on our hiking boots as well. We had bought new boots and worn them in for about a week, never even out hiking. I felt like I could have had a bomb strapped to my chest and they still would have been grilling me about my boots.
Seriously!! I had 4 or 5 knives in my bag that I was a little worried about but they didn't even look at them! But when I took out my boots caked in NC red clay they flipped isht and basically scolded me for trying to bring muddy shoes into the country like it was common knowledge.
 

Whoops

Turbo Monkey
Jul 9, 2006
1,011
0
New Zealand
It's wayyyy more remote than I expected.
Welcome to the rest of NZ. Auckland is often considered (by yokels south of the Bombay Hills) the bumhole of the country.

Were you expecting dangerous locals/wildlife? :-) You know the most dangerous thing in NZ is a fairly rare spider that you'll probably never see?
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
Welcome to the rest of NZ. Auckland is often considered (by yokels south of the Bombay Hills) the bumhole of the country.

Were you expecting dangerous locals/wildlife? :-) You know the most dangerous thing in NZ is a fairly rare spider that you'll probably never see?
That's not what I was referring to. This town doesn't even have an effing ATM and I was not warned! My american debit card only works at ATMs here and my AmEx works occasionally, but only big chain stores accept AmEx. I had $100 backup cash stashed for emergencies, so I'm alright for a few days, but I definitely learned my lesson.

I surfed South Piha yesterday. The waves were epic, but you guys talked up the rips way too much. They were tame compared to some of the hurricane rips I've been in. They were helpful though! There was a rip running along the rocks at the southern end, so I would just cruise out to the break on that, catch a wave, paddle back over to the rip and repeat. Super fun, and a lot less work than surfing big days back home! :thumb: And I climbed up to the top of Lion rock at dusk last night, there were some amazing views up there.

The rip was right along the rocks in the distance:

Lion Rock

Assorted other pictures










I'll be heading back to Auckland for a rest day tomorrow, then on to Rotorua on friday til the following wednesday when I'll be back in Auckland for a few days at the Volvo Ocean Race stopover before I head down to Wellington on the 12th!

Oh and I met a couple of cute German girls who invited me over to their camp for beers later. I think they just want company but you never know what'll happen :brows:
 
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MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,669
1,713
chez moi
Go to the free hot spring outside town. Forget the name of it right now.

Yes, it's a craphole. Yes, the riding is worth it.

There are 2 mountain bike experiences in NZ: 1) oldschool epic, long slogs on fireroads and mixed surfaces and old carriageways and through mud over hill and dale with amazing scenery

2) newshool bike-park purpose-built madness, with an insane number of trails built into a dense playground network


Rotovegas is a prime example of #2. And you may never leave.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
It seems like the kind of place that got over hyped as a resort town in the 90's, people started building all over the place and now it's a ghost town. Happened to a lot of little towns in America too. I haven't seen anything about the trails, I guess I'll have to ask at one of the 50 bike shops in town. I think I'm just going to chill out at the hot springs this weekend. I may have pulled or broken something in my foot avoiding a car on my longboard in Auckland the other day. Hurts like a b!txh but it's still useable but I'm going to rest it a day or two anyway.

So are the trails lift/shuttle access or will I actually have to pedal uphill? And where the fvck are they? All I've seen so far are crappy tourist traps.
 

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,669
1,713
chez moi
There was a big parking lot at the trailhead. Ask a shop; they'll tell you.

It's one network and IIRC there are some easy trails to ascend and then techy trails to descend. I believe there was also a shuttled DH world cup trail, at least at one time, but I never rode that.

Even ski resorts in NZ are generally not lift-served, I'm told, so shuttles tend to be by vehicle.
 

Demomonkey

Monkey
Apr 27, 2005
857
0
Auckland New Zealand
It seems like the kind of place that got over hyped as a resort town in the 90's, people started building all over the place and now it's a ghost town. Happened to a lot of little towns in America too. I haven't seen anything about the trails, I guess I'll have to ask at one of the 50 bike shops in town. I think I'm just going to chill out at the hot springs this weekend. I may have pulled or broken something in my foot avoiding a car on my longboard in Auckland the other day. Hurts like a b!txh but it's still useable but I'm going to rest it a day or two anyway.

So are the trails lift/shuttle access or will I actually have to pedal uphill? And where the fvck are they? All I've seen so far are crappy tourist traps.
Rotorua has always been and will probably remain, a complete **** hole. I only go there for the riding. If you're inclined, get a car and drive 20 minutes to Lake Tarawera or Okareka. Not much to see but purtyness.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
For a while there I thought I was missing something huge about this town. You guys could've warned me that the town itself was a ****hole.. I'm actually too young to rent a car so I guess I'm stuck here til I go back to Auckland wednesday for the Volvo Ocean Race stopover. But the campsite I'm at is pretty sweet. I've just been resting up in the lodge drinking Stella from these weird cans.


I'm taking this weekend as a much needed rest then hitting the trails hard Monday! :thumb:
 

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,669
1,713
chez moi
You don't have a car? How the hell are you getting around?

And if you don't ride while in Rotorua, a bitch-slap would be too good for you. It's the only reason to be there!!

Edit: Thankfully now that I re-read your post, you'll have at least 2 days' solid riding. Right on.

And I wasn't joking...there is a natural hot spring/stream outside of town (Kerosene Creek; thanks Google!) that was really cool to hang out in for a while. You will likely meet a lot of old Europeans skinny-dipping at some point, but watching wrinkly tube-sock Belgian boobs snake around in the water is just sorta hypnotic anyhow.
 
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sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
Yeah I'm heading out to the hot springs tomorrow for some more relaxation. Intercity coach lines is really good for getting around the country and I took a surf shuttle to/from Piha. I use my longboard to get around once I get to a town. I can cruise along at about 20kmh no problem as long as there's pavement. And long distances are no problem. I rode it from Auckland CBD to St Heliers beach and back no problem the other week.
 

ralf007

Chimp
Oct 30, 2007
23
0
new zealand
So are the trails lift/shuttle access or will I actually have to pedal uphill? And where the fvck are they? All I've seen so far are crappy tourist traps.
rotorua not too bad, you just need to look past the Asian tourist traps and know where to go and what to doo

just walk out side and look south, you should see a hill with pine tree's and the trails just go on and on

http://www.southstaradventures.com/shuttles_rotorua.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southstar-Shuttles-Rotorua/214156411928522

the shuttles run on a sat /sun and tue / thurs in the afternoons if its fine

also next weekend they have the oceania champs on witch should see a few of the better riders from Australia and NZ turn out.

flick me a pm and i will try and take you out for a ride in auckland or rotorua next weekend if your down. May be even a sail in auckland if the weather not bad this week
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
PM sent.

I finally got to hit the trails today!! They're pretty much amazing. Super flowy with what seems like way more descending than climbing. I didn't see much use for a DH bike, but I didn't make it all the way to the top. I'll do a more detailed mini ride report with pictures when I get back tomorrow
 

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,669
1,713
chez moi
IIRC, the DH track is a totally separate entity than the trail network, but it was closed entirely when I passed through.

And on the trail network a DH bike would be really stupid.

NZ bike park trail builders have a real knack for making the most of even small terrain, and crafting what feel like endless swoopy descents with seemingly gentle climbing to get back up. Even Woodhill near Aukland, in flattish, sandy terrain, was still fun due to the skill and ingenuity of the trail builders.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
Yeah It seems like those trails could've been cut into just about any terrain and been awesome. I rode it on a spec hardrock today, but I'm getting a Rockhopper 29er tomorrow. The trails seemed like they would suit a 29er pretty well.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
The 29er actually did pretty well for the most part. The closest I rode to DH trails was Hot X Buns which was fvcking terrifying at speed on a 29er hardtail. Some of those axle deep ruts were pretty scary as well. Overall I had a great time on the trails and it made staying in Rotorua well worth it. If I make it back there I'll just plan on riding every day I'm there.

And Butch, it sucks uploading pics because I can only upload them one at a time from my phone to photobucket where I have to copy the img code over to RM all on my mobile. But I'll follow up this post with some of the highlights, and the rest will come later.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
They gave me a brand new Spec hardrock for my first rental bike. I ruined the wheelset and the brakes, but for some reason instead of charging me for it they gave me a discount on my second day rental for riding hard. The rockhopper 29er was a way better bike for those trails.



The campground's thermal pool. Great for sore legs.





 

N8 v2.0

Not the sharpest tool in the shed
Oct 18, 2002
11,003
149
The Cleft of Venus
Kia Ora Bro! Air NZ rocks, aye?

Don't forget Rotorua! Dude... seriously DON'T FORGET ROTORUA!

Central Auckland isn't representative of the rest of NZ (and we're all migrants here any way), though there's some awesome Dum Sum restaurants downtown. Cracker day in Auckland today.
My kiwi buddy taught us that Auckland was a bumhole and its residents tossers.
 

sstalder5

Turbo Monkey
Aug 20, 2008
1,942
20
Beech Mtn Definitely NOT Boulder
Spent the weekend in Auckland "rotting in the Viaduct" and waiting for the Volvo Ocean Race boats come in. Team Groupama came in first, last night a little after midnight, and it was pretty awesome. Everyone rushed out of the bars onto the wharf to watch the boat come in. The rest came in about midday today. It wasn't quite as exciting sober but it was still pretty cool.

I'm taking an 11 hour bus ride to Wellington tomorrow, spending a week there, then flying down to Queenstown for about a week and a half, bussing it up to Christchurch for 3 days, then flying back to Auckland then back to the states.


Groupama



Brutally close battle for 3rd between Camper and Telephonica. Telephonica ended up taking it.

There were probably a thousand other boats in the harbor. It was pretty crazy.





Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand