Rentals in NZ?

[mellow_gold]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I are traveling to NZ in April for 2.5 weeks and I would really like to rent a bike for part of the trip.  Can anyone recommend somewhere to rent a bike?  We will be touring both islands so I don't really care where we rent from as long as there are great roads close by!

Thanks!
Randy

[shards]

Just google  motorcycle rental nz  and you'll get plenty of hits.   South Island will not be very pleasant in April unless there's an indian summer going on!!

[Playinthestreet]

I used www.gotournz.com  They're in Nelson on the S Island, and April likely isn't the best time to go too far south.  Just checked their website, seems they have offices in Auckland as well.  Good people, they are.

[Orson]

I used www.gotournz.com  They're in Nelson on the S Island,

I rented from them also.

Kinda expensive but they make up for it in service and friendliness.

The bike was waiting for me at my hotel in Auckland. I didn't have to go through the usual red tape of filling out forms and trying to find a bike shop. All I had to do was load my luggage and go.

Kiwis are about the friendliest people around.  

[mellow_gold]

I rented from them also.

Kinda expensive but they make up for it in service and friendliness.

The bike was waiting for me at my hotel in Auckland. I didn't have to go through the usual red tape of filling out forms and trying to find a bike shop. All I had to do was load my luggage and go.

Kiwis are about the friendliest people around.  

Great, this is the kind of recommendation I am looking for. Thanks guys!

[stegs]

Actually the South Island will probably be great in April - may be a bit chilly but more than likely will be clear and dry. My family is joining 2 other families on a 5 day cycle ride/tour along an old rail bed in Otago in early April and as soon as we are back home I am heading off on the Southern Cross rally which covers the country from furtherest West (North Island)  to North Cape at the top of the North Island to East Cape to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island.

A similar but longer ride last year saw only about 250km of wet roads and grey skies-rest of the time clear and fine.

You will have a great time  

[mellow_gold]

Sounds like a great tour Sfof!  From what I've read, the South Island is the one to tour on.  It does seem very expensive to rent so I will either have to mortgage my house or only spend a day or two on bikes

Randy

[mellow_gold]

If anyone is curious I ended up reserving a bike from http://www.kea-motorcycles.com/  For the dates we are going in April I was able to rent an F650GS for 4 days at the very low rate of $269NZD.  I will do a review of kea if I remember when I come back.  So far they have been very prompt answering my inquiries.

So if you see someone thumping along, two up, on the wrong side of the road in April give me a wave  

[Orson]

If anyone is curious I ended up reserving a bike from http://www.kea-motorcycles.com/  

That reminds me about the Kea birds on the South Island.

Don't leave your bike unattended for too long! They'll chew up your bike seat!

Kea birds

"this mountain parrot is quite capable of doing damage to your car by pecking all the rubber from around the windows and pulling off windscreen wipers—not to mention what it might do to what you have on your roof rack!"

 

[Daniel Kalal]

Sounds like a great tour Sfof!  From what I've read, the South Island is the one to tour on.  It does seem very expensive to rent so I will either have to mortgage my house or only spend a day or two on bikes
Randy

I liken this whole South Island vs. North Island debate to the North Rim vs. South Rim of the Grand Canyon debate.  Both are amazing beyond anything else.  Neither is the second choice.  By the way, just in case you're thinking that a Guzzi would really make your trip perfect, you can rent one just outside of Auckland (but, this will not be the cheapest route).

[touring03]

[/quote]
I rented from them also.

Kinda expensive but they make up for it in service and friendliness.

The bike was waiting for me at my hotel in Auckland. I didn't have to go through the usual red tape of filling out forms and trying to find a bike shop. All I had to do was load my luggage and go.

Kiwis are about the friendliest people around.  
[/quote]

I'm in NZ from March 15 to April 15/07, The guys at GoTourNZ were the only ones I could find who would rent me a bike for one overnight jaunt, everybody else wanted a minimum of a three day rental.

PG

[mellow_gold]

I did check out gotournz too but I just couldn't turn down the price of kea.  The $269 winter special is 4 days including panniers and a top box.  At less than $70 a day that was too good to pass up.  

I will keep my eye out for the Kiwi birds ...don't want to be replacing a seat  

We will be touring both the north and the south but sadly the north will be done in a campervan rather than on two wheels

[Orson]

I will keep my eye out for the Kiwi birds ...don't want to be replacing a seat  

They're especially prevalent on the road to Milford Sound (a must see btw) on the South Island.

[Playinthestreet]

When you go to Milford Sound leave early in the morning to be ahead of the tour buses.  (mind the tunnel with no interior lights).  When your boat tour is finished RUN to you bike and get out ahead of the tour buses!!!!!!!!!!

[mellow_gold]

When you go to Milford Sound leave early in the morning to be ahead of the tour buses.  (mind the tunnel with no interior lights).  When your boat tour is finished RUN to you bike and get out ahead of the tour buses!!!!!!!!!!

  ..we will be doing our best to avoid tour buses at all times!