Vespa-straddling Wellingtonians Thornton Peck, Aaron Gill, Laura Feasey and Sarah de Wattignar arrived in Dunedin yesterday on a tour of the South Island.
The riders are all members of the New Zealand Classic Scooter Club and Wellington Scoot Well Club.
"Last year we went up to Cape Reinga, so we thought we'd do a South Island tour this year," human resources officer Laura Feasey said.
The 4000km trip started in Wellington and took the quartet down the West Coast to Milford Sound and to the Catlins before arriving in Dunedin yesterday.
"We've done about 2400km so far, to Dunedin," teacher Sarah de Wattignar said.
"The rain at Milford was fantastic. All the waterfalls and streams were going off."
There had been plenty of drama along the way, analyst Aaron Gill said.
"We got stuck in Golden Bay when the Waitapu River came up and we had to wait till it came back down. There was a foot of water on the road."
"We've had a few flat tyres and some electrical issues and some loose wheel nuts, but that's about it," sign language interpreter Thornton Peck said.
"And the splines on my kick start stripped, so I've been having to crash start it."
The quartet also wear earplugs against the loud buzz of the Italian two-stroke engines.
"Scooters are just so much fun. It's a great way to travel, because you feel connected with things," Mr Peck said.
"They're very approachable and friendly vehicles. Not so many people come up and talk to you when you're sitting on a Harley-Davidson."
"They're aesthetically pleasing, as well. You can make them very individual and original," Ms de Wattignar said.
"We've met four or five random groups of Italians who went `Oh, Vespas'!" Flat tyres and electrical issues permitting, the riders plan to be back in Wellington on January 16.
