New Zealand: the bicyclers’ nirvana
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bill Martin is
an educational project aid with
the Outdoor Program and spent
three months cycling in New Zea
land from October 1977 to
January 1978.
By BILL MARTIN
For the Emerald
Is this you?
You like riding bicycles.
You enjoy touring in the United
States but get tired of pick-up
trucks cutting you off.
You've thought of touring the
British Isles or Europe, but you're
afraid Pan Am might abandon you
at the London airport when the
summer rush starts.
You could put up with the
crowds, but the dollar just fell
through the floor again, and you
may have to resort to filling your
pannier with gold cans.
You Ike cycling in the States
during the summer, but wish there
was a place where you and your
bike could escape from the rav
ages of winter storms.
Now. when the leaves start
dropping and the nights turn cold,
and the rain starts, don't despair
because there is a place in the
world where trees are budding,
snow is melting and the days are
getting longer. Just follow the sun
south and you may just run into
one of the finest bike touring areas
in the world.
New Zealand has long been a
country unsurpassed in scenery
and hospitality. And with the new
air fares and world dollar situation,
it will soon become noted for inex
pensive travel Until recently, the
cheapest round-trip non
excursion, non-limiting fare was
around $1,800. But now Pan Am
and Air New Zealand have one
way excursions for $349. West
Coast to Auckland This drastic
fare reduction coupled with a
favorable exchange rate (approx
imately $1 U S. to 1 N.Z. dollar)
makes New Zealand an overseas
bargain.
Bicycle touring is a relative
newcomer to this island nation,
and after a short time there, you
begin to wonder why it wasn t dis
covered before now. As with the
British Isles, bicycling in New Zea
land is one of the best ways to
meet people and expenence a di
versity of scenery found nowhere
else.
In an area the size of Colorado
there are three million people.
PN*oby 9rt« Martin
Bicycling in New Zealand provides numerous attractions, including
the opportunity to stand halfway between the equator and the South
Pole
sixty million sheep and scenery
varying from tropical jungles to
fiords, volcanoes, rolling pastures
and 12.000 foot mountain ranges.
All these things are in a country
where you re never more than 60
miles from the ocean.
The scenery is only surpassed
by the people (called Kiwis). The
Polynesian and English cultures
intermix to create friendly, helpful
people. Much could be written on
the merits of New Zealand Suffice
to say that New Zealand deserves
its popularity among travelers.
Being an agricultural exporting
country, dairy products and meat
are extremely inexpensive. If
camping and cooking your own
meals, figure on $5 per day to be
your average cost You II get by
even cheaper if you like milk
I Win ends Steeler ‘slump’
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—
Pittsburgh quarterback Terry
Bradshaw returned to early sea
son form with three tcucb-down
passes Monday night, two to Lynn
Swann in a second-quarter hot
streak, leading Steeters to a 24-7
victory over the San Francisco
49ers.
The Steeters improved their re
cord to 11-2, best in the National
Football League, while snapping
out of a two-week offensive slump
and sending the 49ers, 1-12. toan
eighth consecutive defeat.
Bradshaw took the NFL lead in
touchdown passes this year with
22 when he hit John Stallworth
with an 11-yarder in the fourth
quarter. Swann leads NFL receiv
ers with 11 scoring receptions
BOGART
is
BACK
FREE BEER SPECIAL
“When the Green Light Glows
The FREE beer flows” ^ ^ ^
Every Tuesday from 8 pm to midnight watch for ^ ( T r
he Green Light - it’s your signal for free beer! ^ \ ; K ^
woodside '
brewery
‘l»f»TAO«Am * fmtWH • DISCO
2165 W. 11th Ave.
(9C liter), cheese (70c pound), ice
cream (30c liter) or hamburger
(65C pound)
You won't starve, but hows the
riding? Once adjusted to New
Zealand roads, it can be very en
joyable Like all Bntish Common
wealth countries, traffic keeps to
the left. That s easy enough, but
everyone has a few exciting times
adjusting. The paved roads tend
to be a bit rougher than in the
States, so be prepared for vibra
tion. Don t expect many shoulders
to ride on either, although it's not
as bad as British Isles roads. New
Zealand roads are narrow. With
the dose proximity to the ocean
and the vast pastures, always
figure on wind, which, depending
on your luck, will be for or against
The best
wax is
Nbwax.
It - improNibit'
\*t ftnd 4«riN1*
( xsntn ‘hat $
ngh? W aU mnw am
dtttnf!> Thai -
jSlltr'Sc^J &t~ \( >* iX
EU6EME S CROSS COUNTRY
specialty SHOP
SIX YR PI\E RIDGE
877 E. 13tll 345-5584
you. The day I rode into Welling
ton. the winds were reaching 50
miles per hour, luckily a tail wind
Discouraged? Don’t be. New
Zealand makes up for all these
minor difficulties by offering light
traffic outside the four main cities,
spectacular scenery that changes
drastically daily, and people who
seem to always come through
when you need them most. After
riding 1200 miles on both islands.
I'm convinced I personally waved
to half the population. I spent one
day waving to the New Zealand
Army as they were on maneuvers
heading opposite to my riding. It
quickly grew tiresome waving at
tanks, personnel carriers and
trucks full of troops, but public re
lations for bicycle riders and a
good feeling toward Kiwis made
the task quite enjoyable.
Now s the time to start saving
and planning for next year.
Perhaps a few tips may help:
Take your bike and all your gear
with you New Zealand has a tax
that doubles the price on all im
ported goods, so all quality bikes
arid gear are double what they are
in the United States. Pan Am will
accept a boxed bike as one piece
of baggage, and there's no weight
limit into or out of the States any
more.
Be self sufficient, for tools and
parts are hard to come by except
in the large cities. Carry extra
Spokes and a spare tire
Plan on doing at least one hike.
New Zealand mountains are too
beautiful to just ride by. Plan on
going up into them. All the trails
offer huts with foam bunks, gas
stoves and heaters. All you need
to carry is good rain gear, some
wool clothes, sleeping bag and
food. If you can’t afford the
weight, it's easy to box it up. ship it
ahead by bus to the nearest town
and pick it up when you get there.
Hostels are S2 per night and
plentiful. Motor camps average
$1.50 per night and usually have
showers, central kitchen and TV
room. Rest areas are everywhere,
free and no hassle. Just plan
ahead for water. All towns have
public domains (parks) which
sometimes allow camping.
Think about carrying a small
transistor radio. It helps pass the
time dimbing hills and it lets you
learn about New Zealand life and
the things that are happening.
Have a great time. Leave peo
ple with a nice feeling about btke
tourers. Remember that others
will be bicycling behind you. You
are their ambassador.
M • F 8 - 8 Sat 9-5
T 1a offset
H 1C PRINTING
E I" SPECIAL
for 500 or more of an original
printed on white 201b. or 100% recycled
free collation - self service copies
Campus Copy 762 e. 13th 683-1431
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