Possibly Coming to NZ

[chiang]

Please pardon the intrusion...

My name is Tony and I am considering a holiday out in NZ at the end of August. I will have taken my quals for the third time and pass or fail (again), I need to get outta that states for awhile. I am considering bringing my road bike and cycling across NZ and looking for places where I can get in some games of Canoe polo while I am there.

I have a few questions though. Considering that the weather over there will be quite different than the States, would it be a good time to try and cycle there at the end of August (or am I nuts for even thinking about this). Also, are there clubs out there that will be actively playing polo? Lastly, would some kind souls be willing to offer some floor space for a destitute mathematics grad student? I think that I will spend what I have saved to make the trip. I am going to let you guys convince me either to go for it or not.

Many Thanks,
--TC

PS - If any of y'all are ever in the States, I would also be obliged to offer my hospitality.

[SeanT]

If I was picking a time to cycle-tour NZ it wouldn't be the end of August. Having said that you can get some great weather then, likely to be pretty chilly +/- windy/wet in the SI. There may be some polo happening in ChCh but the local comp will have wound up and I'd guess players from the worlds teams will be winding down.

Waiting til a little later would be much better for this area (ChCh), nov/dec is generally much warmer. Our summer social comp is likely to be happening then as well.

If your cycling in NZ you've got to do a reasonable amount in the SI to see the best scenery / quietest roads but there are selected areas in the NI which are also good such as East Cape - it'll be warmer up there if you do come lat aug.

Sure we could find you a bed in ChCh

[mum]

Canoe Polo pretty much goes non stop in Palmerston North. They only have a few weeks break at a time there. You could also try Wellington. I am not sure about Auckland when it comes to when leagues are played there.

There is some great bike areas in the Wairarapa, but agian weather is not the greatest that time of year.

The players are a very friendly bunch here though. :thumbup:

[Aaron]

If you are going to come at that time of year I would suggest you stick to the top half of the North Island. That way you won't have to dig your way out of the snow. The bay of islands and Northland are nice but as with the rest of the country you won't see the best the area has to offer at that time of year.

Best time is usually February - March. The weather is generally fine and calm and most of us locals have had to go back to work so there aren't as many on the roads.

Polo in Auckland is played all year round and you can pretty much just turn up and Play.

[Jac]

Polo is pretty much played all year round in Wellington...and there are many helpful players with a couch or floor to spare. BTW there is plenty of mountain biking in and around wellington if you are into that as well...

[chiang]

Hi all,

Thank you so very much for the advice and hospitality. I think that the general thought is that I should wait until the early months of the year to visit NZ. I will take your advice to heart and plan on coming down sometime early in 2005 then. Might cycle across Ireland then.

Thanks again,
--TC