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matttnz

matttnz

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Gidday. New owner of a '74 TR6 PI. Hoping I've got a good one (or at least one that's not yet an absolute disaster...). Been besotted with these things for years & rap that I've finally got my hands one one. Originally a UK car, body off restoration and engine recon 1997 (20,000miles ago). Brought over to NZ in 2006. Has oil filter adapter, rear damper conversion, Kenlowe fan & headlight H4 upgrade so someone seems to have loved it at some stage. A few spots of rust peeking through on the front fenders and behind the headlamp which'll need addressing at some stage...

Currently hanging out for summer (around the corner...)

tr6.jpg
 
Welcome to BCF MAtt! Be sure to jump over to our Triumph forum - lots of fellow TR6 folks there.
 
Hi Matt-
Welcome to the BCF. Basil is right... head on over to the Triumph forum for all the help you could ever want.
I'll be visiting your city in a few months.... heard its spectacular.
 
Thanks guys. Have been doing a bit of lurking in the lead up to the purchase.

Gliderman8:hope you have a good time over here. I'm biased, I think Auckland's amazing, but then again, I live here so I would say that. The entire country is pretty spectacular-even for those of us who live here and see it daily. Make sure you get down around the South Island if you can.
 
Matt-
I'm planning on driving to Wellington... that's about as far as time will permit.
 
Pity. But the North Island is in no way a disaster.

Dunno how much time you have (or what you're driving...) but swing through Rotorua on the way to do the obligatory volcanic carry on. Wai-O-Tapu & Waimangu are probably the better thermal areas and it's worth having a look at the Blue/Green lakes/Redwoods/Tarawera area on a drive around. Stop off at the buried village on the way to Tarawera-it's an impressive little snapshot of the Tarawera eruption. I personally rate the trip up Mt Tarawera if it's a good day. You used to be able to hike up, now its a 4WD trip only (private land). On the other hand if you are into fly fishing just spend the whole time chasing trout.

Coromandel peninsular is worth a look, espl in summer and Tauranga/Mt Maunganui is a nice spot (as are many of the areas there-the Kaeuranga gorge has got an interesting old gold mining walk-the "windows" walk). otherwise down the East coast: East cape to Gisborne, Napier. On the other side: Raglan, Kawhia, Taranaki (New Plymouth).

If I were driving and had a few days? I'd go Auckland to Coromandel day 1 (3h ish), then across the top and down the other side to Waihi Beach/Bowentown d2. Drive into Mt Maunaganui for lunch and then over to Rotorua. Spend a couple of nights there doing the tourismy bits and then Taupo the next day or potentially find a nice lodge down at the bottom of the lake (Turangi etc-awesome fishing on the Tongariro). Take the National Park road (not the desert rd) down the Western side of the volcanoes (do the Tongaririo crossing if you're into walking and they're not erupting and stay Ohakune. Maybe aim to go over to Taranaki on the West. There's a nice, wild road called the "forgotten highway". The locals call it "a bit upsy-downsy" which essentially means windy as all he11 but I'm assuming if you are on this forum that the scenic drives appeal. I don't know the back roads lower down as well but there are a lot of great drives.

That's about a week though and I don't know how long you have. You can do Auckland to Welly in 1 bigger day but you won't see much. When figuring distance & time remember no roads are straight (or flat) and they're usually a lane each way so it's easy to get stuck behind logging trucks etc. On the other hand, they can be great driving and some are v isolated.

Enjoy...
 
Wow... a whole personalized tour guide. Thank you!
We arrive in Auckland on a Thursday then we'll drive to Wellington early Friday morning in one day. Our plan is to leave early and head to Rotorua and Taupo to take in some of the natural wonder. Saturday and most of Sunday will be exploring Wellington before flying back to Auckland on Sunday and have some additional time in Auckland on Monday before departing.... wish there was more time to spend!
Your TR6 looks wonderful... I know you will enjoy driving it. You might want to consider moving the steering wheel back to where it belongs on the left side :smile:
 
Uh oh-be careful driving over here then!:D

That's a really big day's driving (remember the roads can be windy) and you may not have much time to see things. However, Waimangu & Wai-O-Tapu are just off the Rotorua to Taupo road so they'll be easy enough to swing by. I'd still really recommend taking the "National Park" road down the west of the central North Isl volcanoes. Unless the cloud is low in which case just take the Desert Rd (State Highway 1) which is still pretty spectacular.

Wellington's a lovely city (when it's sunny) and miserable when its windy & wet...which is why it's got so many great cafes (to hide from the weather). Most of the earthquakes will have settled down by then ;)

Pity you've got limited time-hope it's not because you're spending too long in Australia...it's full of Australians!
 
matttnz said:
Pity you've got limited time-hope it's not because you're spending too long in Australia...it's full of Australians!
Click to expand...

Bingo! Sydney and Melbourne are the first stops! I won't mention the earthquakes to the wife :rolleye:
 
Matt-
Just sent you a PM (Private Message)
 
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