In 2 years you might be off the ferry and on the Molesworth in 10 minutes

[Eddieb]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4976983/200m-port-planned-for-Clifford-Bay

Work on a new $200 million port south of Blenheim could be under way within months, with the Government set to announce a study today.

KiwiRail is backing the plan for a public-private partnership (PPP) terminal at Clifford Bay, replacing the Picton ferry terminal.

"It will take a while to get it built, but it will actually shorten the time between Wellington and Christchurch, and Auckland and Christchurch for rail by nearly two hours, and road by 80 or 90 minutes," Transport Minister Steven Joyce said.

[dogsnbikes]

Certainly Not a trip I would be happy doing in a southerly at least with going to wgtn/picton its a north/south sailing.....Wgtn/clifford is east/west so a southerly on the beam not a good idea...so any time travel they make up on the road they will loose in the late and cancelled sailing

[Bald Eagle]

They would'nt be considering it if the tree huggers hadn't made them drive up the sounds with the handbrake on. :facepalm:

[oneofsix]

Certainly Not a trip I would be happy doing in a southerly at least with going to wgtn/picton its a north/south sailing.....Wgtn/clifford is east/west so a southerly on the beam not a good idea...so any time travel they make up on the road they will loose in the late and cancelled sailing

Wgtn/Picton is not north/south. Wangas/Picton would be a lot closer to North South and so is Clifford Bay/Wellington. Wgtn/Picton is around the islands. Either route the Wgtn Heads are going to be an issue in the Southerly. Clifford Bay looks rather large and open so not sure how the weather will affect it.

[dogsnbikes]

Wgtn/Picton is not north/south. Wangas/Picton would be a lot closer to North South and so is Clifford Bay/Wellington. Wgtn/Picton is around the islands. Either route the Wgtn Heads are going to be an issue in the Southerly. Clifford Bay looks rather large and open so not sure how the weather will affect it.

The cook strait runs north south so going to picton you have too sail north turn right at Kaori rock....

[Paul in NZ]

One of the benefits of this route apart from a shorter sailing time is that the ferry will sail into and with the sou wester as it sweeps up the coast. The most unpleasant part of any rough crossing (and I've slopped across knee deep in womit on a few) is the right turn out of wellington harbour when you get the sea 3/4 on and the ferry corkscrews.

This route should be gentler on the passengers...

[DangerMice]

I guess that might be the death of Picton then?

[Paul in NZ]

I guess that might be the death of Picton then?

Pictons been dead for as long as I can remember. Getting rid of the interisland traffic and making it a destination port of call could be a way of it reinventing itself.

[Bald Eagle]

It might be quicker but it's still 3+ hours wasted, airborne is the only way to cross the ditch.

[merv]

Yep this Port should have been built years ago so the sooner the construction starts the better.

[merv]

It might be quicker but it's still 3+ hours wasted, airborne is the only way to cross the ditch.

How often have you flown your orange bike across the ditch then?

[scumdog]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.:yes:

[slowpoke]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.:yes:

Abso-farkin'-lutely! Hard to see how it's justified and must be one the most expensive stretches of water in the world.

[Kickaha]

Yep this Port should have been built years ago so the sooner the construction starts the better.

It was planned years (probably 5+)ago but for whatever reason put on hold

[White trash]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.:yes:

That's the "Ford price". Chevs and real cars are half that.............

[unstuck]

Well it better be cheaper too - nearly $500 return for two people and a pick-up truck is a tad on the nose.:yes:

No worries, couple of OZ,s under the seat you could pay for gas too.:innocent:

[scumdog]

Chevs and real cars are half that.............

Since the owners of said types of vehicles are only half people???:whistle:

[scumdog]

No worries, couple of OZ,s under the seat you could pay for gas too.:innocent:


You seen the prices of gas?

It'd take more than a couple of onces bro...

[James Deuce]

Pictons been dead for as long as I can remember. Getting rid of the interisland traffic and making it a destination port of call could be a way of it reinventing itself.
Queen Charlotte Drive. No Camper Vans.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[awayatc]

Since the owners of said types of vehicles are only half people???:whistle:

Nah...they just get off half way.....

[Padmei]

Pictons been dead for as long as I can remember. .

What makes you say that?
I reckon Picton's pretty cool myself & I drive thru it a few times to get to the bach. If you've got kids its a fantastic place to stop as they've done up the foreshore really beautifully with great playgrounds etc. The modellers run toy sailboats for 50cents & run a small train for about the same cost for a ride- basically not making any money but for the joy of giving.
If you have a look at the number of boats moored in the marina or parked or beached beside the thousands of baches lining the sounds you'll realise that there are many people using it as a supply for fuel, marine supplies & food for their holiday homes.
It is the startline for one of THE best scenic twisty motorcycling roads in NZ.

Unless of course if you're from Blenheim -they for some reason don't like Picton...

[Mungatoke Mad]

It was planned years (probably 5+)ago but for whatever reason put on holdIt's been talked about for longer than any of us have been alive about every 5years or so it get's talked about again terminal cost's Dredging, Road'ing etc then we hear nothing for another 5 or so years.I first heard about it in the 70's

[BMWST?]

What makes you say that?
I reckon Picton's pretty cool myself & I drive thru it a few times to get to the bach. If you've got kids its a fantastic place to stop as they've done up the foreshore really beautifully with great playgrounds etc. The modellers run toy sailboats for 50cents & run a small train for about the same cost for a ride- basically not making any money but for the joy of giving.
If you have a look at the number of boats moored in the marina or parked or beached beside the thousands of baches lining the sounds you'll realise that there are many people using it as a supply for fuel, marine supplies & food for their holiday homes.
It is the startline for one of THE best scenic twisty motorcycling roads in NZ.

Unless of course if you're from Blenheim -they for some reason don't like Picton...

a lot of that will go if the ferries stop

[Crim]

a lot of that will go if the ferries stop

In the short term and then I reckon it will re-invent itself as an upmarket destination (will have too) and it has certainly got the vistas and access to world class water sports / scenic delights etc- buy a house when the prices crash - your children will thank you for it!

[Night Falcon]

Unless of course if you're from Blenheim -they for some reason don't like Picton...

Back in the day...Picton was always cool too visit....but whenever you met the locals they seem to lean toward a bit of bif as the prefered form of greeting which made it difficult to foster longterm relationships ...we always put it down to inbreading; maybe it was the sea air:corn: bring on the new terminal :woohoo:

[Taz]

What makes you say that?
I reckon Picton's pretty cool myself & I drive thru it a few times to get to the bach. If you've got kids its a fantastic place to stop as they've done up the foreshore really beautifully with great playgrounds etc. The modellers run toy sailboats for 50cents & run a small train for about the same cost for a ride- basically not making any money but for the joy of giving.
...

My mum is one of the volunteers that run the train and sail boats.

[Grubber]

Yup, Picton is the bomb. Love the quiet scenic ramblings. You can go in any direction and get scenery you could die for and oh yes, that Queen Charlette drive is one of the most awesome roads i have ridin. The views are absolutely spectacular.

[pete-blen]

If there is a bad place to put a ferry terminal
Clifford bay is it...

I was a engineer at Dominion Salt...
The salt works are there for 3 reasons
1.. ground is inpervius ( holds water in ponds)
2.. heat / sun
3.. WIND.

going to be very intresting watching them park up
a ferry in those winds at clifford bay...

Pete

[oneofsix]

If there is a bad place to put a ferry terminal
Clifford bay is it...

I was a engineer at Dominion Salt...
The salt works are there for 3 reasons
1.. ground is inpervius ( holds water in ponds)
2.. heat / sun
3.. WIND.

going to be very intresting watching them park up
a ferry in those winds at clifford bay...

Pete

1.. how will that affect the ferries?
2.. wont it be lovely waiting for a delayed sailing after Christmas. Hope Coke have bought land.
3.. They will build an appropriate breakwater and wind barrier. now for the environment court action :corn:

[pete-blen]

1.. how will that affect the ferries?
2.. wont it be lovely waiting for a delayed sailing after Christmas. Hope Coke have bought land.
3.. They will build an appropriate breakwater and wind barrier. now for the environment court action :corn:

In the plans I seen when it was first proposed.. the farries were going to be berthed
side ways to the prevailing winds... imagine the surface area of a rail ferry..
a 20knot wind will apply 100s of tons of side force..

Pete

[Paul in NZ]

In the plans I seen when it was first proposed.. the farries were going to be berthed
side ways to the prevailing winds... imagine the surface area of a rail ferry..
a 20knot wind will apply 100s of tons of side force..

Pete

Got to say I wondered about that too. Always seemed to be the windiest part of any trip was going over the Malvern Hills etc...