Simon_m
Guru
Hey there, just got back from a holiday in NZ south island, and thought I would share some cycling info in case anyone is thinking about going. (our holiday wasn't a cycling holiday)
So we flew into Queenstown and drove to Arrowtown
The roads are mostly quiet and we are in peak summer season. Cars and heavy trucks about, but not busy like in the UK "A roads". Very few if any side roads, so there is only one road to the destination due to the mountainous terrain. A bit like places in the alps.
Divers on the whole seem ok, we are in tourist areas though. I was put off cycling here by blogs and reports of bad driving and cyclists being hit by cars. Driving can be fast, 100km seems to the national speed limit and most drive slightly above this as, on a whole, it is quiet with not many police, good roads with clear visibility.
Lots of trail cycling routes and companies hiring those types of bikes. We did a ride which was on a trail with some road use and it was fine.
Roads are good quality, so much better than the ones at home which seem to be full of holes and a patchwork of different repairs. Some have a small strip for cyclists, but not all. A lot have rumble strips on the side and central road marking lines. On the drive up to Christchurch, there was a scenic route off the main road which we drove. This had more holes and was rougher, but again, not as bad as our roads.
Seen a few hardy adventure cyclists during a very windy and heavy rain day. Scenery is breathtaking and worth it, it is VERY hilly and mountainous, wet & windy. 9meters of rain a year in places. Long distances between towns/food stops. Can drink from lakes and streams though. Wild camping is allowed unless signed otherwise, like fires too.
We picked up hitchhikers along the way. People seem friendly. Terrain and features very similar to Colorado and Wyoming areas.
North island looks more flatter, no mountains Fromm the plane.
Saw 1 peloton of road bikes near Wanaka, must be local group.
On drive to Christchurch saw lots of adventure cyclists. Gave them a wave
In the city there were cycle lanes here and there, a lot of people just cycle on the pavement which seems to be allowed. Lots of crazy Lime scooters about. City not busy at all.
So on the whole it looks like if you are out of the main cities, the roads are in good condition and relatively safe. There are probably a few redneck types who like to scare cyclists as they do here in the UK. I would say go for it, hard work with the weather and hills though
So we flew into Queenstown and drove to Arrowtown
The roads are mostly quiet and we are in peak summer season. Cars and heavy trucks about, but not busy like in the UK "A roads". Very few if any side roads, so there is only one road to the destination due to the mountainous terrain. A bit like places in the alps.
Divers on the whole seem ok, we are in tourist areas though. I was put off cycling here by blogs and reports of bad driving and cyclists being hit by cars. Driving can be fast, 100km seems to the national speed limit and most drive slightly above this as, on a whole, it is quiet with not many police, good roads with clear visibility.
Lots of trail cycling routes and companies hiring those types of bikes. We did a ride which was on a trail with some road use and it was fine.
Roads are good quality, so much better than the ones at home which seem to be full of holes and a patchwork of different repairs. Some have a small strip for cyclists, but not all. A lot have rumble strips on the side and central road marking lines. On the drive up to Christchurch, there was a scenic route off the main road which we drove. This had more holes and was rougher, but again, not as bad as our roads.
Seen a few hardy adventure cyclists during a very windy and heavy rain day. Scenery is breathtaking and worth it, it is VERY hilly and mountainous, wet & windy. 9meters of rain a year in places. Long distances between towns/food stops. Can drink from lakes and streams though. Wild camping is allowed unless signed otherwise, like fires too.
We picked up hitchhikers along the way. People seem friendly. Terrain and features very similar to Colorado and Wyoming areas.
North island looks more flatter, no mountains Fromm the plane.
Saw 1 peloton of road bikes near Wanaka, must be local group.
On drive to Christchurch saw lots of adventure cyclists. Gave them a wave
In the city there were cycle lanes here and there, a lot of people just cycle on the pavement which seems to be allowed. Lots of crazy Lime scooters about. City not busy at all.
So on the whole it looks like if you are out of the main cities, the roads are in good condition and relatively safe. There are probably a few redneck types who like to scare cyclists as they do here in the UK. I would say go for it, hard work with the weather and hills though
