Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

I'm off to cycle tour New Zealand and other countries down south in October. Does anyone have experience of New Zealand customs regarding; a clean bike and what they are looking for?

Regards,

Nigel

2006 all they asked me (bike was boxed) was "is it used on road or off road". I'd cleaned the bike of muck anyway and run the wheels through a bit of weak disinfectant but they were not bothered when I replied "road use".

Likewise in 2009.

Make sure the bike is clean - I also used weak disinfectant solution and told them so. They didn't look. Be careful also of other kit. They may be interested in your shoes and panniers, etc. I was once pulled up for my dirty panniers when going into Oz.

Also remember that you can't take lots of foodstuffs, herbs, etc.

Depends to some extent where you've been before you get to NZ, I've been taken aside to scrub tyres and mudguards on one occasion even though they looked fairly clean to me! Usually not a problem though, but still best to do a clean up before you fly.
If you're taking a tent they will probably take it away to shake it out or even fumigate it.
You will be asked to declare any potentially contaminated items like boots, tyres, tent, etc. so make sure you do, if you don't you could be stung with a hefty fine on the spot.

When I arrived from Tahiti, even though I had thoroughly cleaned the bike with diluted bleach (though unfortunately it rained as I cycled the last 6km to the airport, so it didn't look spotless), they took my bike away and fumigated it. But it didn't cost anything and only took 5 mins. I think they might have done my camping kit too, which I had likewise cleaned with diluted bleach.

Having toured in NZ here are the things to beware:
1 Tent groundsheet should be clean. Also turn the inner inside out to make sure it's spotless - no bugs or bits of grass inside.
2 Spotless bike - as said pay attention to the inside of mudguards, under the bottom bracket.
3 Fit new tyres. Then there is no argument about cleanliness.
4 Scrub boot soles.

If you do all that, then there should be no problem.

Many thanks for all the replies

I shall be straight out of Blighty.

I will clean/inspect the bike and tent ect. thoroughly before packing up.

Cheers,

Nigel

Also if you are taking fishing gear (a good idea - great trout fishing in NZ) ensure it is clean and dry - there is an issue with didymo invasion of some inland waterways.

Details about NZ biosecurity are available here.

Hi

As others have said take care to have everything clean.
But ex-UK will be less of a worry than other places.

They are quite friendly, so it's a good strategy to answer questions fully.

When I returned recently from New Caledonia, they asked about off-road use, and about mudguards.
I described what I had done to clean it, and they accepted that.

Enjoy your trip.

Ed

I flew into Auckland last October. I hired a bike at Natural High (about a half mile from the airport) for a fraction of what the airline were proposing to charge for carrying my own bike. I found customs very friendly but they dissappeared my admittedly filthy tent for 30 mins, sent me off for a coffee and when I picked it up, it was as good as new. I'm not proposing you abuse Kiwi customs as a free cleaning service, equally I wouldn't stress about this. BTW the cycling highlight of both islands for me was Te annu to Queenstown via the back road and the ferry (read up on this before attempting). Dunedin is the nicest city tho they're all pretty good. Don't worry about the roads - despite what you'll read, even Highway 1 is like a Highland B road for traffic. Take good waterproofs - when the weather does go it really goes!

DJD thanks for the heads up.

I shall be on the south island the full time. And once out of Chrictchurch, and Banks penisular will be heading for my brothers in Queenstown.

Anyone have experience of camp grounds in Christchurch please? Just to get me on the right footing!

Nigel

DJDScotland wrote: BTW the cycling highlight of both islands for me was Te annu to Queenstown via the back road and the ferry (read up on this before attempting). Dunedin is the nicest city tho they're all pretty good. Don't worry about the roads - despite what you'll read, even Highway 1 is like a Highland B road for traffic. Take good waterproofs - when the weather does go it really goes!

Te Anau - Queenstown route is the Mavora Lakes road, crossing Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship, this is definitely a highlight route in NZ, be aware that it is a gravel road though.
I agree Dunedin is the nicest city in NZ, but disagree about SH1 being like a B road! Maybe in a few sections in the far south, but otherwise it can be a busy fast road and is to be avoided, except perhaps between Picton and Kaikoura which is a very scenic coastal route.

rualexander wrote:Te Anau - Queenstown route is the Mavora Lakes road, crossing Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship, this is definitely a highlight route in NZ, be aware that it is a gravel road though.

Also unless they now run the Earnslaw much earlier than they used to, you are unlikely to get to Te Anau same day, and will probably need to overnight at Mavora Lakes, tent required, no food available. Careful with your food there, a possum got its head inside our closed pannier, which we'd left outside the tent, and ate enough of our loaf of bread for us not to wish to eat the rest.

Meadow Park is one of the better ones.

Beware of old information about anything in Christchurch.

Many many things are closed or moved since the earthquakes.
Anything that was in the CBD will have moved or closed.
There is much damaged in the east.

The west of Christchurch has much less damage, but it is much busier.
Accommodation can be difficult to find and busy.

Still a very interesting place to visit. One of the safer places in NZ - its dodgy buildings have already fallen.
For biking the damaged roads slow the cars down and some roads are blocked for one reason or another.
So in some ways its better for biking.

Enjoy your trip.

And if you're going south of Christchurch, be sure to take in Baldwin Street, Dunedin.