New Zealand Rally: a real life epic adventure

New Zealand is heaven on earth; just ask anyone who’s toured there on a bike. Lake Taupo, the location of the 55th WIMA International Rally is a Mecca for motorcycle holiday makers. Spectacular mountains, beautiful native bush, and most importantly, twisty mountain roads through national park! If you can’t find a piece of road you want to ride again and again, you’re just not riding the right bike.

Rally organisers are currently putting together a six day AGM program to make the most of this incredible landscape. The Rally begins with a traditional Maori welcome. Each day will feature something new, with rides through the country during the day and entertainment in the evenings.

Lake Taupo is situated in the centre of the North Island half way between Hobbiton and Mordor (no kidding!). So you’ll want your own army of horses to carry you on this adventure and it’s not as difficult to arrange as you might think.

Getting your bike shipped over to Christchurch will cost you $1,430 from Sydney or $1,350 ex Melbourne through Get Routed. You’ll also have to budget for a bond payable to NZ Customs as a surety that you won’t sell your bike while you’re there. This is 12.5% of the bike’s insured value. There are still spaces available in containers leaving Sydney in late October for pick up in Christchurch on the 11th November.

Get Routed will organise a lot of stuff for you like temporary registration in NZ and a warrant of fitness for your bike. They will provide advice on preparing your bike for transport and can supply maps for you to organise your own way around. Alternatively, you can join the Get Routed tour that has been specially put together for WIMA members attending the Rally.

Accommodation at the Lake Taupo Top 10 Holiday Park for the duration of the Rally ranges from $NZ100 for camping to full service motel rooms for six at $NZ1,200. A 50% deposit is payable on booking. Registration for the Rally itself costs $NZ300 with a 50% deposit on booking.

For more information on the Rally go to www.wima.org.nz. Contact your State Rep for registration forms and more information on getting there. Or there’s www.getrouted.com.au for tours and transport information.