New Zealand on a Vespa

New Zealand on a Vespa, or rather, FROM NEW ZEALAND TO ITALY, this is the dream of my trip, that is, to leave from the farthest place in the world and return home, riding my Vespa. When I thought of this journey, as beautiful as it is absurd, I couldn’t resist jumping into it, maybe I won’t make it, but maybe I will and anyway, as I already had to say on my first trip to Nepal “The first defeat is not trying.” A year of preparation, from late 2023 until November 4, 2024, the day of my departure. A lot of work on the Vespa, practically back better than new, accouterments, reinforcements, new materials, then drastic reduction of luggage and weights (still too much anyway), the journey and air transport of the Vespas to New Zealand first and Australia later (both countries with strict Biosecurity controls) and finally the bureaucracy, carnet de passage, visas, health, insurance. Arriving in New Zealand, as with all travel was a difficult moment, you feel bewildered and are about to begin an experience that will last a long time, looking ahead intimidates you, but looking back also does not, thinking of all the sacrifices made to be here.

Then finally the Vespa arrives, you get it ready and start looking at the map and hypothesizing an itinerary. Thinking today about where to go tomorrow is one of those feelings of freedom that really has no equal, you alone in front of a map, the various options, choosing where to sleep based on your budget and then deciding, on your own, for better or worse, taking responsibility for your choices. I decided to tour the whole of New Zealand, when will I ever get back here and when will I ever ride a Vespa. Thus began an exciting 24-day non-stop journey, each night in a different bed, with rides ranging from a minimum of 70 km to a maximum of 400 km daily. 5,500 km starting from Auckland to Bluff, the most extreme point in the south, and then up to Cape Reinga, the most extreme point in the north. I saw a country far from the problems of the world, where nature takes over and people live well. 6 million people in a territory as large as Italy, including 5 million on the northern island and only 1 million on the southern island, roughly the equivalent from Tuscany on down. I almost always traveled alone, in isolated places where I often traveled 100/150 km between gas stations. I always hoped to have no problems with the Vespa and I must say that it never let me down, just little non-blocking things.

Among the many beautiful things I saw and experienced I remember:
– The welcome and hospitality I received in Auckland, the friendliness of the people everywhere
– The hot spring water in the middle of the forest at Kerosene Creek
– The arrival in Picton with the ferry that took me from the North Island to the South Island
– The Great Coast Road, a spectacular road on the west coast of the South Island
– Arthur’s Pass
– The entire coastline northeast of Auckland, from Mangawhai Surf Beach to Bay of Islands
– The endless natural landscapes of sea, mountains, hills and lakes that I encountered everywhere The most difficult moments: Definitely the two days from Picton to Greymouth, pouring rain and cold, going through forests without finding a hole to stop for warmth and something to eat. On Dec. 5 I shipped the Vespa to Perth, Australia, I flew on Dec. 7.

Finally yesterday, December 16, I completed all customs formalities, Biosecurity and all paperwork. Starting tomorrow, Dec. 18, the second part of the journey begins, Australia from the west coast to the east coast, paying attention to kangaroos crossing the road and huge trucks with several trailers in tow (they are called trucktrains or something like that) that take care not to slow down when they pass you, creating dangerous air gaps. The trickiest passage should be the Nullabor Desert, 2,000 km “in the middle of nowhere” with temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees, refueling and rest stops every 500 km. I plan to pass there between Dec. 24 and 29, but more on that later.

MY MANTRA

…and the beginning of my book…purchasable here

“I value the most precious thing I have, my time, as if every day were my last🍀”

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