Classic Motorcycle Mecca back on the menu
The borders to New Zealand are open at long last, and that means Aussies can return to the country’s largest and most diverse collection of classic motorcycles.
Classic Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill is considered the leading classic motorbike museum south of the Equator. With more than 300 bikes, their provenance spread throughout Great Britain, the United States, Europe, Japan and beyond, it’s a title that is hard to dispute. With bikes dating as far back as 1902, and the collection covering three storeys and two restored heritage buildings in Invercargill’s city centre, Classic Motorcycle Mecca is heaven on earth for bike enthusiasts.
Motorcycling runs through the city’s veins. Thousands of people from around the world flock to Invercargill for the annual Burt Munro Challenge, and the city is New Zealand’s unofficial petrolhead paradise. It’s in no small part thanks to Classic Motorcycle Mecca. Stand-outs include a formidale collection of John Britten creations (including the number one Cardinal), the bike that saw the legendary Ivan Mauger take out the 1977 World Speedway Championship, more Hendersons and Harleys than you can shake a stick at, Vincent Black Shadows, and not one – but eight – Brough Superiors. Now is the perfect time to plan your visit from across the ditch. Direct flights between main centre Auckland and Invercargill have now returned, courtesy of Air New Zealand, which also services the southern city from regional centres daily. While Invercargill is located at the very bottom of the South Island, flights from Auckland take a mere two hours, and the city is a great platform to explore New Zealand’s many jewels including Stewart
Island, Queenstown, Fiordland and The Catlins.
The Burt Munro Challenge is back on the calendar for February 2023, after a brief pandemic-induced hiatus. Joc O’Donnell, the executive director of Transport World, says those behind the collection are excited for ‘the Burt’ to return. “The Burt Munro Challenge is always a real highlight on the calendar here in Invercargill, and the team at Classic Motorcycle Mecca absolutely love seeing people from all over the world come in only to be blown away by their experience with us,” she says. “We are really proud of what we have created, and to hear enthusiasts tell us that our collection is among the best they’ve ever seen is really gratifying. The Burt Munro Challenge is a wonderful way to showcase our city, and what makes it so special.”
Workshop manager Graeme Williams says the beauty of Classic Motorcycle Mecca is simple: here, there’s something for everybody. “Different things appeal to different people, and people who are into vintage or veteran motorbikes each have their own specific interests,” he says. “Some people would book a flight from Sydney to see eight Brough Superiors, whereas other people are more interested in Japanese bikes or really rare bikes like an Indian Camelback. Everybody’s got their thing. The collection at Classic Motorcycle Mecca is such a mixture, though, that pretty much anybody with an interest in motorbikes is bound to find something that really wows them.”
For more, and to book your tickets, visit their website at www.motorcyclemecca.nz ■