South Island passes adventure ride

[Ruralman]

Looks like the date most likely to suit us for this adventure ride is the week starting Sunday Feb 11. The idea of this ride is a trip round the Sth Island that rides over every road pass mentioned in the Kiwi Maps road map. Jantar and I will be getting together soon to pick likely distances each day and stopping points. The list of passes in order starting from Dunedin is:: drum roll - Danseys, Haka, Mckenzie, Burkes, Dyers, Gebbies, Weka, Lewis,Buller Gorge(no pass but great road) to Blenheim, Dashwood, Redwood, Taylors, Wards, Jacks, Jollies, Weka again, Okuku,Lees, Porters, Arthurs, Haast, & Lindis
There you go, 20 of them. Hope to knock it off in 5-6 days
If people can't get away for the whole thing then you may be able to join up for part of it as we come through, or start when we come past your place and do the bits we've already done at the other end on your own etc. This is advanced notice so you can plan time off if you're keen.
Who's a starter?

[Zukin]

Sounds like a great trip

My wife and I will be in the South Island on our own motorcycle adventure ride then.
We will be starting in Picton on the 13th Feb, down the West Coast to Bluff then up the East Coast, departing Picton again on the 21st Feb.

I cant really tell you much more, but if we are in the same area at the same time you can count us in.

Cheers Scott

[Ruralman]

Sounds like a great trip

My wife and I will be in the South Island on our own motorcycle adventure ride then.
We will be starting in Picton on the 13th Feb, down the West Coast to Bluff then up the East Coast, departing Picton again on the 21st Feb.

I cant really tell you much more, but if we are in the same area at the same time you can count us in.

Cheers Scott

Keep in touch and we might meet up. Which way round might depend on the weather at the time.

[Jantar]

OK Folks here it is:

Ruralman and I had a good look at potential routes and distances this afternoon, and this is what we have decided on.

Sunday 11th Feb: Leave Dunedin and head north taking the coastal route. Turn inland at Glenavy and head to Wahou Downs. Then over Meyers Pass into the Hakataramea Valley. Over Hakataramea Pass to Haldon Rd. A short detour 15 minutes to the south to Littles Pass, then U-turn and head to McKenzie Pass. Then onto Burkes Pass. From here its Highway 79 to Geraldine, the Main road to Rakaia, then the back roads to Banks Peninsular. Up to Gebbies Pass, then the Summit road to Dyers pass and Evans Pass and down to Sumner.

From Christchurch its mainly main roads north to Waipara then via Weka Pass and Lewis Pass to Springs Juction. From here its north to Murchison and follow the Buller River to St Arnaud. A fairly straight but scenic road takes us to Blenheim.

We take the back streets of Blenheim then on to Taylors Pass. Out to Dashwood then Redwood Pass to get onto SH1. We cross Weld Pass and Dashwood Pass then turn southwest towards the very scenic Molesworth. Over Wards pass then down towards Hamner. Saxton Pass is also in this area, but its on a No Exit road, and now that DOC have taken over we may not get permission for that one. Jacks Pass and Jollies Pass loop then into Hamner.

Back over Weka Pass (yes we are back tracking a road we have already ridden) and down to Amberly then to Whiterock, Okuku Pass and Lees pass to Oxford. Then Porters Pass and Arthurs Pass to the west coast and down to the Glaciers.

Through the scenic west coast to Haast, then inland and over Haast Pass to Makarora. Follow Lake Wanaka, then Lake Hawea, and some back roads I know of to Tarras. Over Lindis Pass to Omarama, then Ahuriri Pass, and follow the Waitaki Hydro Lakes to Duntroon. Turn south to Cross Danseys Pass, and on to Danseys Pass pub.

No more passes, but 25 covered in 5 days, and the 6th day to get home again.

[miSTa]

I'm keen to tackle the top half of the South Island with you both (and who ever else comes along) at this stage. Sounds great.

I think there is a definate need to plan what trips I'll be doing this summer...

[Ruralman]

How about you Canterbury riders who just want a good days ride join up with us on Sunday late morning (11th Feb) near oamaru for the trip inland and back to ChCh via the Port hills.
That would include Myers, Haka, Littles, McKenzie, Burkes passes before heading up and out to Motukarara (how the F do you spell that) to do the Banks Pen. ones. We'll be stopping somewhere around ChCh that night.
Who would be on for that?

[Ruralman]

As you can see from Jantar's list another few passes got added getting us up to about 25, including a few that aren't actually in the Kiwi Maps road map but they have helped give us a better route and added a few more interesting roads. Has anyone been through the Myers Pass rd to the Haka? Oldrider reckoned Far Que would have done it recently. Whats the road like and how long to get through to the Haka valley road?
Cheers

[far queue]

How about you Canterbury riders who just want a good days ride join up with us on Sunday late morning (11th Feb) near oamaru for the trip inland and back to ChCh via the Port hills.
That would include Myers, Haka, Littles, McKenzie, Burkes passes before heading up and out to Motukarara (how the F do you spell that) to do the Banks Pen. ones. We'll be stopping somewhere around ChCh that night.
Who would be on for that?

No thanks. I will have been down that way, and probably over those roads, the weekend before for the Vincent rally. Plus I’ll be down there again March 3+4, possibly on some of those roads again, for the March Hare rally. So, not keen on a 640km round trip on the same roads 3 times in a month - sorry. I could meet up near Motukarara perhaps.

Has anyone been through the Myers Pass rd to the Haka? Oldrider reckoned Far Que would have done it recently. Whats the road like and how long to get through to the Haka valley road?

I’ve done that road a few times now and I love it. It’s mostly in great condition, and ranges from graded shingle near each end, to farm track in places. I don’t know if I would want to take a car through it, but you guys will get through no trouble. You’ll be able to maintain a good average speed. It’s only 18km long and will only take you 30mins or so to cross if you’re pushed for time. But you may want to take your time and enjoy the scenery – there’s an amazing stone bridge in the middle of nowhere that dates back to the early 1900’s from memory, as Myers Pass Rd used to be the main road. Oh, and watch for Wallabies. There’s some pics of Myers Pass here … post 212 …

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=20977&page=15

[rwh]

I'm not familiar with many of those passes - I take it this is the kind of adventure ride that will require an adventure bike to make it? ie a plain road bike won't do? Otherwise I could be interested; I should have my restricted by then ...

[Ruralman]

Thanks that info Far Queue and for those photos, I'm going to look forward to that part of the trip.
You're going to be doing a lot of Kms around then - we'll catch you another time or maybe for the last bit over the Port hills.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=20977&page=15[/QUOTE]

[Ruralman]

I'm not familiar with many of those passes - I take it this is the kind of adventure ride that will require an adventure bike to make it? ie a plain road bike won't do? Otherwise I could be interested; I should have my restricted by then ...

have a look at the photos on the link in Far Queue's post above. If you're confident riding your bike on those roads and some that may have a bit more loose gravel on them then you could do it. An adventure bike does make it easier because the front wheel in particular is bigger which helps on the rougher stuff and loose gravel. I used to ride a specialist road bike on gravel roads a long time ago without problems but I grew up on back roads and trail bikes so that probably helped. The other thing that makes a huge difference is the handlebars - as long as they're reasonably wide you're OK, narrow ones are a bloody nightmare, especially the low narrow clip on types.
You've got plenty of time till the ride to try out some local roads and see how you go.

[Jantar]

I'm not familiar with many of those passes - I take it this is the kind of adventure ride that will require an adventure bike to make it? ie a plain road bike won't do? Otherwise I could be interested; I should have my restricted by then ...

All of these passes are on public roads and would be perfectly OK for an experienced rider on a road bike. However some roads would be quite difficult for inexperienced riders, or even for experienced riders on pure sports bikes. For these parts there are alternative routes that stick to sealed roads and still give a scenic ride.

The Meyers Pass, Haka pass, Little Pass, McKenzie Pass section can be bypassed by sports bikes either going via Twizel- Tekapo, or Pareora - Fairlie, and then we all meet up at Burkes Pass.

I'm not trying to put you off rwh, but I would reccommend that you try a few endurance rides before committting to a ride of this nature. We are looking at 2500km in five days plus whatever distance is involved in getting to the start and home again. The longest day (day 1) will be about 9 hours riding, and the shortest about 5 hours.

[SDU]

Depending on work will depend if I can do some off the ride into our neck off the woods. Even if I hook up near Gebbies. I usually work split shits Sundays. But you can always get the locals out for a beer to meet with you the night you're staying.

[rwh]

I'm not trying to put you off rwh, but I would reccommend that you try a few endurance rides before committting to a ride of this nature. We are looking at 2500km in five days plus whatever distance is involved in getting to the start and home again. The longest day (day 1) will be about 9 hours riding, and the shortest about 5 hours.

Sure. I think putting me off would be in the best interests of all concerned :-)

[Ruralman]

Don't give up to easily RWH. JAntar tells me we might have a one armed fella in a sidecar coming!!