Interview with Fabrice: Oceania Motorized Travel Specialist

Today, Planet Ride sits down with Fabrice, our New Zealand and Australia local expert for motorized adventures by motorcycle, campervan, and 4x4. He has been living in Oceania for 10 years and, beyond the road, he’s a true fan of wide-open spaces and rugby. In this interview, Fabrice shares his favorite places, his approach to travel, and what makes a ride in Australia or New Zealand so unique when it’s carefully prepared.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

First name: Fabrice
Countries I design trips for: Australia and New Zealand

When did you open your agency?

I opened my first agency in 2006, when I arrived in Wellington, New Zealand.

Why did you choose this part of the world to settle in?

I’m drawn to big landscapes, Māori and Aboriginal cultures, and rugby. For a long time, my wife and I hesitated between New Zealand and Australia. In the end, we chose New Zealand as our home base to build our family life in 2006. Then, in 2013, we left Wellington for Brisbane, Australia—turning a new page, with a different climate, different distances, and another way of reading the road.

What makes your agency different from others in the region?

There are a few points that really define how we work on the ground:

• We are the only French-speaking agency specialized in motorized trips in Australia and New Zealand.
• We don’t “sell a trip”; we provide advice. Our guiding principle is: “Our expertise at the service of your desires.”
• Every itinerary we recommend has been tested by us or by trusted people in our network—so we know what we’re talking about, beyond brochures and maps.
• We are reachable 7 days a week, which is a real comfort when you’re riding far from home, dealing with time zones, weather shifts, or route changes.
• Australia and New Zealand are safe countries to travel in, with an easy connection to locals—even with limited English. Kiwis and Aussies are generally welcoming, and French culture is often appreciated.

What’s your story? How did you come to create motorized journeys in Australia and New Zealand?

We’re originally from Normandy. In 2000, my wife and I left mainland France to settle in Réunion Island. From 2001 to 2006, we traveled regularly to Australia and New Zealand—learning the rhythm of these countries through repeated trips, not just a one-off holiday. In 2006, we moved to New Zealand. In 2013, we moved again, this time to Australia. Between 2000 and 2014, we traveled at least 10 times in New Zealand and Australia. We know these destinations because we’ve ridden them, driven them, and lived them—on both the “traveler” side and the “local life” side, where distances, seasons, and logistics become very real.

What bikes do Planet Ride riders usually ride with you?

We offer a wide range of motorcycles: Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, Harley-Davidson, among others. The key is not to push a brand—it’s to help each rider choose a bike that fits their riding style and, above all, the terrain and route that have been selected. In Oceania, that choice matters: you might be linking long road stages, riding on wind-exposed coastal roads, or dealing with remote stretches where comfort, range, and stability are more important than pure performance.

Why these types of bikes?

Because they are the best suited to the countries we operate in—reliable, well-adapted to long distances, and appropriate for the variety of conditions you can meet in Australia and New Zealand.

For you, what makes a trip to Australia or New Zealand unmissable?

The wide-open spaces. The diversity of landscapes. The cultures. And that deep feeling of freedom you get when you take a track in the Outback or commit to a legendary road with nothing but horizon ahead. Australia can confront you with scale: long days, changing light, remote areas where preparation isn’t optional. New Zealand, on the other hand, is intense and compact: short distances on a map can turn into slow, technical riding on tight, scenic roads, with weather that can shift in minutes—especially in the South Island.

What’s the real difference between a “simple trip” and a motorized journey?

A motorized journey is the freedom to stop whenever you want—because a viewpoint, a backroad, a hidden beach, or a quiet track suddenly deserves more than a photo. That’s also where Planet Ride’s approach makes sense: riders want autonomy, but they also want a route that is coherent, realistic, and well-timed. The goal is not to “tick boxes,” but to live and share a true experience—one that leaves room for the unexpected, without improvising the essentials.

Your favorite places in Australia and New Zealand? Do you have a photo?

Two outstanding places that few people get the chance to explore:

• Australia: The Kimberley
• New Zealand: The Catlins

These are the kinds of regions where planning and local knowledge change everything: road conditions, fuel strategy, daily pacing, and the right season all matter.

Your best riding memory?

The first time I reached Uluru (Ayers Rock). I was riding my BMW R1200GS Adventure. I’d done a lot of miles that day, but seeing the rock stopped me in my tracks. It had just rained, and the color variations were incredible. A major moment—an unforgettable memory.

A word for future Planet Ride riders?

Come ride with us. We’ll make sure you bring back memories that will stay with you.

Discover Fabrice’s Planet Ride journeys in Australia and New Zealand