I’d really like to ride the Nevis Valley. Tried to once but it didn’t work out. It might not actually be that great for riding, but it looks spectacular and adventurous.
Otherwise what MikeD said.
So, thinking about places to stay in NZ, I found out about freecamping and this DOC NZ map Geocortex Viewer for HTML5.
Now I just have to do the work in seeing where campsites/Public Conservation Areas intersect with the route.
Any other tips?
Get some DoC hut tickets as there may be opportunities to stay in huts ($5-$10) a night on the route.
Otherwise anywhere really, just not withing eyesight of roads and houses, and get up early.
I stayed in picnic grounds and an old cemetery on the last two brevets.
CHeers guys
Yep isn’t the freedom camping premise that you can camp anywhere as long as it’s 2-3km (or something) from a town’s border?
From the DOC website: Freedom camping is permitted on [b]public conservation land.
[/b]Public conservation lands cover a lot of the western Southland and central North, but are patchy elsewhere.
Check the map ^. There’s an overlay showing public conservation land
We avoided the cheap DOC campsites after our first stay in one. It was super crowded with nincompoops. We just bush camped after that. Glad we had full fly mesh in the North of the South eh.
I’m really interested in seeing how this ride goes for you all.
If you want to see some crazy good photos of NZ look at my buddy’s insta
He’s been touring around for a bit. It looks amazing, hopefully there are some trails like his.
Yep, I’ve been following him. Mean trip.
Na we don’t do the St James or the old ghost road or the wakamarina or the queen Charlotte.
But we do the timber trail and the Wanganui river trail.
Yeah, I’ve been loving his pics, so good. Tell him don’t stop riding, ever!
Thanks, for that. Now it’s even harder to wait!!!
I picked up my bike box and $NZD yesterday.
For those interested, you can track riders here Adam Lee in the Tour Aotearoa 2016 event - MAProgress
I don’t know why some people aren’t showing up. My only guess is that it might be those who brought their own SPOT tracker instead of hiring from the organisers.
I take it Mike’s riding out today?
Yeh Instagram says he’s well down the beach.
Someone else noticed the tracking error and also said it’s those who brought their own. Hopefully it gets sorted soon.
The base map is so nice on that site!
Good luck Adam! Some other Canberra dudes are rolling nicely from the 21 Feb start group. Hoping you/they all have a fun time 
Damn Mike’s ripping it up. Down to Helensville already. Bloody good stuff.
Man those leaders are smashing it though. Already through Auckland and will be in my neck of the woods by tomorrow morning. 
Jeez.
FYI - I’ll be riding from Christchurch to Queentown soon. I fly out on the 5/6th and back home sometime on the 18th. Will I be crossing paths will any of ya’s?
Loving watching Mike’s spot! I don’t know anyone else’s names though. Can someone list who’s there with a trackable spot?
I think Bigadz and Tom. are the only other FOAers riding?