Cycling
in and around Oceania can be a great experience.
In Australia the distances are great but
people can and do cycle in the outback.
In New Zealand it's a little hillier and
wet but a great means of exploration with
numerous hostels and guesthouses dotted
around the country. And on the numerous
islands in the pacific it's a good way to
meander around, see local life and meet
people.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP
If you are planning a cycling trip through
Oceania you need to be prepared. Here are
some handy hints and absolute essentials:
- a basic repair kit and knowledge of bicycle repair. Make sure you take spare inner tubes, tools for adjusting seat heights
- extra snack food and water (it can be a long way between towns in some parts, particularly if you get marooned with an injury or fault on your bike)
- pack light! You can buy extra food as
you go and you really only need bike riding
gear and a change of clothes for evenings
in town.
- learn a bit of the local language for
small villages
- maps (detailed for side roads that you
might take) - itinerary – give someone a copy of your itinerary and check in with them every few days so they know you are okay.
- helpful hints – there are lots of people
that have biked in this region and a lot
of them have put up details on websites.
- learn road rules and driving habits.
CAN
YOU FIX YOUR BIKE?
If you are not going with a tour or with
someone that knows there bikes then you
need to have a working knowledge of your
bike components. Most people that embark
on this kind of holiday know their apparatus
but obvious essentials are:
- spair inner tubes
- tyre repair kit
- tools for adjusting brakes, seat height,
and other parts of your bike
A trip to your local bike shop would be
the best place for more advice.
SUGGESTED
ITINERARIES
Routes on the south island of New Zealand
are popular as are the coastal strips in
Australia. Cyclists in New Zealand are advised
to take rain proof gear and warm clothes,
in Australia have plenty of water bottles.
If you have cycled an interesting route
in Oceania email us the details to paste
on the site for other travellers - oceania@backpackglobe.com
SAFETY
Always inform someone of your intended route
and check in with them as regularly as possible.
Make sure you have checked the weather forecast
and know what the normal weather is for
that time of year.
