Danseys Pass pictures

[FJRider]

On a recent voyage in the work cage, I went over the Danseys pass ...and had my camera.

1. Danseys Pass Motor Inn. From the south.
2. From the north... saying the road is next to the pub, is an understatement.
3. Being an "open road"... is subject to the laws of the land... and speed limits. (Remember its not a target)
4. Warning signs give the impression its not just any gravel road...and they are right.
5. Road narrows... it does that a few times...
6. About halfway up... looking back towards Naseby.

Will post more photos in this thread later.

[FJRider]

A few shots of the view from the top of the pass looking in various directions. This road is usually one lane width, but plenty of places to pass.... watch out for dust ahead... vehicles coming.

plus a few more of the road as I came through.


more photos coming...

[FJRider]

The centre section of the road is probably the worst. Take your time... the route is unpredictable if its your first time through. NO armco... and substantial drop-offs if you "fall off the road". Civilization is scarse... at best. Just when you think the worst is over...

[FJRider]

There is a section near the Duntroon end...travelling north its uphill... that is sealed. It IS narrow, so look out for oncoming traffic. The final section of gravel is easy as anywhere... with the final downhill bit sealed. This is ALSO narrow and ONE lane width... no armco and bigger drop-off. The tarseal is rough surface and winding, with blind corners. Take care.The rivers round here are good FLY-fishing... apparently.

[thommo77]

Nice. Great part of enzed.

[Okey Dokey]

Great photos, FJR. How long does it take from one end to the other?

[driftn]

Beautiful place, Spent a bit of time there when I was a wee kipper.

[FJRider]

Great photos, FJR. How long does it take from one end to the other?

50 km's of gravel... you pick your pace. Steep up and downhill stages, with a loose surface in most places. Worse if the grader has been through. In a cage... allow an hour for the gravel stage.
Allow time for sightseeing stops, and photos. If you need to look about... stop first.
Remember its a TWO way public road.

[Ms Piggy]

Awesome pics. I used to work as part of a road maintenance crew out of Oamaru and we'd sometimes go up this pass cleaning culverts (fun times - not), it's a pretty little area aye.

[SDU]

Great pics, & love that pub. The road looks in really good condition, Not always so at Brass monkey time off the year.

[scumdog]

Went over that road in an open top Mistral kit-car, with the tail-wind blowing at the time the car went from red to orangy-grey and the interior had two clean bits where we were sitting, the rest was grey....
Good scenery but not much room for error (or oncoming traffic either).

[oldrider]

Mrs O/rider and I went over there on Saturday afternoon after our (very welcome) KB visitors left us on their day ride to Omarama!

We were torn between the March Hare and going down to watch our son and grandson motorcrossing at Lee Stream.

March Hare sort of momentarily came to us, so we made up our minds (after our KB vistors left) and went South for the Sunday racing.

Stayed over night at the (art decco) Ranfurly pub, visited some friends in Ranfurly Sat night.

The ride through the Dansey was very nice but uneventful as the road was in excellent condition.

The ride home through Dunedin Sunday afternoon was mostly in torrential rain until Maheno and turning up to the Waitaki Valley via Livingston and Duntroon we had a tail wind almost to home.

You just cant beat a good ride with a bit of variety in the weather and road conditions. (312.5 miles return)

How can life get any better than that? Cheers, John.

PS:For those of you who haven't done it!

The road from Kyeburn through Hyde/ Middlemarch has to be one of the best "motor" bike rides in the country!

Well I sure rate it anyway and so does my Tiger and Mrs O. "MAGIC" (ORGASMIC EVEN)

[LBD]

I agree, that 50 ks over Danseys is a magic spot n good weather and impressive in bad weather.

If you are touring the south on your cbr or gsx or similar, you must include Danseys on your route plan. That would be a ride you would never forget.

And there is a little cafe in Ranfurly on right heading west that does the best eggs benidict.


You can trust me....

[FJRider]

I agree, that 50 ks over Danseys is a magic spot n good weather and impressive in bad weather.

If you are touring the south on your cbr or gsx or similar, you must include Danseys on your route plan. That would be a ride you would never forget.

And there is a little cafe in Ranfurly on right heading west that does the best eggs benidict.


You can trust me....

Yes magic in GOOD weather... in bad, impressive is a word I would not use.
As hard as you try, you would never forget.
The Dansesys Pass pub is always a good stop.(I take the bypass PAST Ranfurly)

[RedKLR650]

Good scenery but not much room for error (or oncoming traffic either).

I know what you mean about not much room for error there scumdog.

A good friend of mine found that out last year by doing a bit of off-roading in a RAV4 cage near the summit - I just happened to be the silly bugger in the passanger seat......

blew the front drivers side tyre, then 6 x 360 degree rolls, ending up on it's feet luckily. My camera went out the smashed side window, and we found it and the remains of his socket set in the tussocks......

Photos were taken just before midnight, but with a VERY long exposure on the digital on the moonlit night, hence the grainy effect......

Luckily he'd paid the $20/day to Avis for the reduced excess - All up it cost him $200 to the rental car company, so relatively speaking, it was cheaper and more exciting than doing a bungee....


Sorry it's a bit off topic on a motorbike forum, but just shows how easy a simple error can become a bit more serious

Cheers, Stu