Moto Guzzi Across NZ – Just mind your seat, watch your overtaking and up your skin protection

There’s nothing quite like motorcycling through Aotearoa – the curvaceous alpine roads, ocean views, and endless green. But before you venture on your motorbiking merry way, there are a few things to keep in mind, watch for and protect yourself from. We’re not going to bore you with them all, instead here’re three that sit near the top of the ‘be warned’ list!

Look out for our Kea

If you’re riding near the Southern Alps, keep an eye out for NZ’s native parrot, the Kea. These mountain birds are clever and curious and have a habit of destroying motorcycle seats. Leave your bike unattended and they can peck through your seat in seconds, and their talons are sharp enough to cause instant damage if they land on your bike. Eek!

Don’t cross double yellows

Two solid yellow lines marked on our roads are there for a reason – you must not cross them to overtake. They mark areas where visibility or road conditions make overtaking unsafe. Wait for broken white lines before passing – and don’t forget to always keep left.

Come sun prepared

New Zealand and Australia experience some of the highest ultraviolet (UV) levels in the world – our UV levels are approximately 40% higher than countries at similar northern latitudes. We’re blessed with clean air and low pollution (yay for us!) but this means stronger UV exposure, even on cloudy days. So, applying sunscreen (look for 30+ or 50+ UVA/UVB sunscreen protection) around the clock, no matter the season, is essential to a comfortable ride (no burnt skin) and skin health.