Around the South Island - Route suggestions

[Balu]

PB and myself are looking to do a SI ride in (probably the first set of school hols in 2010) and wondered if any of you have suggestions as to what route we might take.

We can't do off-road, so would be looking to stick pretty much to sealed road riding....

Probably be taking 8 - 10 days for the round trip, mainly motel accommodation, but open to suggestions for camping grounds if others have had good experiences of this. We fancy heading down the West Coast as far as Milford then back up through the middle, but this is only a starting proposition.

Any locations which are "a must do"???? (road, remember).

We've never done anything like this before so are open to ideas.

[Jantar]

I would recommend starting down the east coast, through the McKenzie country and Mt Cook, Central Otago, Te Anau Milford, back to Queenstown, Wanaka and up the West Coast, through Nelson and back to Picton. More details later.

[Big Dave]

Don't over-plan it either.

Get to the South Island.

Check the Weather forecast.

Go to the side of the Island that it is not raining on.

Repeat.

[Virago]

Have a read of this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=96143), which is our ride report from earlier this year.

We did a 10 day trip, done in easy stages (about 300km a day), covering most of the South Island scenic and motorcycling delights. However, we did not get to Milford, or down to the Catlins (South Otago to Southland scenic route). Note that you can't go down the West Coast to Milford, you go inland at Haast, down through Central Otago, down to Te Anau, before going back up to Milford.

For planning your trip, I suggest that you don't plan it in any great detail. Due to the influence of the Southern Alps, the weather is often completely different on the two coasts i.e. if it's raining on the West Coast it is usually fine in the East, and vice versa. By watching the forecasts, you can plan 2-3 days ahead to take advantage of the best weather. Hopping from one side to the other is generally only a half-day trip, and any of the main passes make for spectacular riding.

[NP82]

A mate and I rode from Dunedin to Picton in November... We went through Arrowtown and via Haast all the way up to Westport. From Westport we went to Nelson and from Nelson via the Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton. An incredible trip!
The crown range was a lot of fun, with its 25kph corners, the coast road was well sealed, nice and twisty in parts, with breathtaking views. The Buller Gorge was equally impressive and the Queen Charlotte Drive, although a bit lumpy was still a lot of fun, with some great views. There was another great road, I think just out of Nelson or just before that was super twisty with a perfect surface but I can't remember exactly where. With 8-10 days you can pretty much go anywhere though! Have a great trip.

[Daffyd]

I would recommend the Fairlie Motor Top 10.
Stayed there recently-very clean & tidy. Good cabins.

[Monkeynz]

I would recommend starting down the east coast, through the McKenzie country and Mt Cook, Central Otago, Te Anau Milford, back to Queenstown, Wanaka and up the West Coast, through Nelson and back to Picton. More details later.

Yea I agree, its awesome riding down from Blenheim through to south of Kaikoura. Head inland from State Highway 1 from Rangitata through Geraldine, there are some great twisties through all the way to Queenstown. Have a night stay in Lake Tekapo at the camping ground as there are some new hotpools nearby and boy they are good after a long ride. Go to Wanaka and go over the Cadrona road as there are about 44 bends at the end as you get to Arrowtown, devils elbow after devils elbow. On the way back up from way down South head over the Haast pass and up the West Coast. My only warning.... watch out for camper drivers, they are everywhere. Enjoy, its an awesome island, I'm a North Islander originally and love the South Island. :niceone:

[gijoe1313]

Awesome decision! You'll love it ... seems everyone has put in their ideas, here is gremlin and mine when we did the SI last year (so wanted to do it again this holidays ... but ... )

It's a longish ramble of ... madness ... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89265

[AlpinePossum]

Don't over-plan it either.

Get to the South Island.

Check the Weather forecast.

Go to the side of the Island that it is not raining on.

Repeat.

Second that. Life is simple down here.

The weather is either clobbering the "wet coast" or the front has just past and the southerly is clobbering the east coast.

Ride where it's dryer.

Why wade through foot deep surface flooding when you can enjoy dry blustery days with the most amazing cloudscapes you'll ever see?

http://satellite.landcareresearch.co.nz/noaa/

[Jantar]

Are you and PB still planning to make this trip? If so it looks like there may be a few other Northern KBers down here about the same time. Time for a get-together perhaps?

[Muppet]

Don't over-plan it either.

Get to the South Island.

Check the Weather forecast.

Go to the side of the Island that it is not raining on.

Repeat.

You've hit the nail on the head Big Dave. Balu if you get caught on the coast or in Southland when it's raining, no matter what you're wearing you'll get soaked!

[NighthawkNZ]

You've hit the nail on the head Big Dave. Balu if you get caught on the coast or in Southland when it's raining, no matter what you're wearing you'll get soaked!
Its only water... pfffft... its the only time the bike gets washed...

[neels]

Try and fit in as many of these into your trip as you can.....

Picton to nelson (or reverse), still fun even though they took out the really good windy bits.
Arthurs pass
coast road from westport to greymouth
Haast pass
Crown range (Arrowtown-wanaka, as mentioned previously)
Queenstown-Cromwell
Waiau-Leader valley-Kaikoura

[NighthawkNZ]

Try and fit in as many of these into your trip as you can.....

Picton to nelson (or reverse), still fun even though they took out the really good windy bits.
Arthurs pass
coast road from westport to greymouth
Haast pass
Crown range (Arrowtown-wanaka, as mentioned previously)
Queenstown-Cromwell
Waiau-Leader valley-Kaikoura

Catlins, Alexadra to Milton,
Mosgiel to Middlemarch and Macree Flat to Palmerston
Milford Sound
West coast
Buller Gorge

Well basically 90% of the SI roads are really worth riding if it is not State HWY 1... but even HWY1 has it spots... ;)

[neels]

but even HWY1 has it spots... ;)
Unless you're going north from Timaru......

[NighthawkNZ]

Unless you're going north from Timaru......

Correct gets a bit boring there... Timaru to ChCh :blink::mellow:

[PrincessBandit]

Are you and PB still planning to make this trip? If so it looks like there may be a few other Northern KBers down here about the same time. Time for a get-together perhaps?

We are still planning to do the trip; bikes both just had their 24k km service...all itching to go!
At this stage we're not planning to get right down the far end of the SI. although I'm going to pm oldrider to see if he and mrs o'r are interested in meeting somewhere between CHCH and his abode. Balu suggested he and i could get down as far as Tekapo or Mt. Cook on a day trip from Rangiora. Anyone interested in meeting up, we'd be happy to see what we can do!

[Big Dave]

The SH1 Kaikoura Coast is wonderful.

[Jantar]

Lunch at Mt Cook or Tekapo sounds like a great idea. :D

[Usarka]

I've done down the west coast and up the east and it's not too shabby either. Make sure you take time to enjoy the scenery it's easy to get caught up in the road.

riding places like this is the one time i wish i smoked - compulsory nicotine sit on a rock breaks.

Just don't go to Christchurch it's full of retarded inbred rednecks.

[rocketman1]

Just got back last week, doing 1 month around the SI.
Most of what has been said is correct.
Some places you just have to do in the sunshine, to appreciate the views, and get the best out the roads.
If the weather forecast says rain, piss off the other way, if you can
Note there are big distances between petrol stations especially on the west cost.
Roads on the whole are much better than NI roads, (built on rock), down south invercargill roads more like up here.
Also watch the forecast for highwinds, especially down Catlins, can get cold too.
Good luck getting to Milford Sound dry, it rains 220 days out of 365.
Mckenzie country probably best roads in my opinion
Take care and enjoy.
Dont rush, stop and smell the roses!!!!