New Zealanders are very spontanous, uncomplicated and extremly hospitable. They talk to you when cycling and you can easily get into conversation with them. That helps to make travelling this country very easy.
The country has many different landscapes. They vary fast even in the speed of a cyclist. The pure remote nature is difficult to find as in any industrialised country but there are some regions still.
Among cyclists it is discussed controversly how well New Zealand is suited for cycle touring. For us the traffic on State Highways on North Island and SH 1 on South Island was too heavy. Otherwise the traffic was not so heavy on the roads. In our opinion they are manly suitable. Of course you find the odd racing truck driver or campervan overtaking close… Southisland in general has less traffic even on the SH between Rakaia – Wanaka. There is a growing number of cycle-/mountainbiketrails on gravel tracks of varying quality. Bike lanes or seald bike paths are not awailable and the awareness about cyclists of drivers is still small.
We found specially suitable on North Island: Hauraki Railtrail ; forgotten world highway ; Route 52
We found specially suitable on South Island: Moutere Highway ; Motueka Valley Rd and ongoing to Tophouse through Golden downs ; Rainbow Trail; around the Mountain trail Abschnitt Mt Nicholas – SH 94; Belclutha – Beaumont – Clutha Gold Trail to Roxburgh; Central Otago Rail Trail
It can be difficult to get good information. Most New Zealander only know about more than about their own backyard and unfortunatly that sometimes also accounts for Informationcentres. There are of course some very great exceptions ! Otherwise you depend on the internet.
Fresh food is very expensive, often more expensive than in Switzerland. Especially in tourist places prices are very high. The whole price system is very obscure and seems ramdom. Higher price doesn´t automatically mean more quality. Best and filing meals out we found in « old » country Pubs!
Freedom camping has become more difficult, is offically forbidden. However New Zealanders when asked tolerate it especially for cyclists. Official Campgraounds cost 10 – 25NZ$ per person, without relation to the infrastructur. The most beautiful as most natural campgraounds are the DoC places (Department of Conservation). They are situated in great locations offer just space, a toilet, mostly water and sometimes a shelter for cooking.
There is a hole army of budget tourists around, talking about nothing else than prices and how to travel for almost free, that we almost got sick of it.
WiFi is difficult to find. Regularly it is awailable at the libraries but as everywhere it is slow or too weak for the amount of users.
