Auckland to Christchurch (16-23 Dec) - My trip plan

[.chris]

Hi,

Below is my rough plan for heading south next week.
Any last spots I should check out of my way?
Anyone want to meetup? (if you do buzz me a PM and I shall give you my mobile number so we can co-ordinate while on the road).

You will notice that my trip involves pretty low km/perday, this is intentional since I have hardly been on the bike since winter (cold kiwi was my last ride longer than 1hr) and I want to take it easy. I also have a couple of books I want to make a decent dent in.
So my trip is going to be based around a casual days ride then an early stop and some relaxing camping.

I will also be logging photos using instagram (with geotagging) which will populate the below map, so you can follow my progress (this is especially for you 9-5'ers still stuck at work).
<iframe src="http://snapwidget.com/mp/?h=emVhbGFuZGVyMjAxM3RyaXB8aW58NjAwfDJ8M3x8eWVzfDV 8bm9uZQ==" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border-style: none; overflow: hidden; width: 600px; height: 600px;"></iframe>



Sunday 16th - Auckland to Taupo/Pueroa Forest
Camping Pueroa forest (Kakaho Rd)
272km


Monday 17th - Pueroa to Takapari Road Traverse Hut
Tukino Ski field Road
Takapari Rd, Traverse Hut Free Basic Doc Hut, also camping available if busy (around hut, or down Piripiri campsite (just north of takapari road)
290km


Tues 18th - Ruahine Ranges - Ocean Beach
Ashurst up Whariti Road.
Carterton - Mt Dick
Cape Palliser
Camping at Ocean Beach.
350km


Wednesday 19th - Ocean Beach to Wellington - Ferry - Picton - Sounds
Over to wellington in the AM,
Embasy Theartre (hobbit)
Ferry to Picton 10:25pm or 2:30pm/ bluebridge 1:30pm
Ride up to Kenepuru Sounds camping at Doc Campsite.
108km to Ferry
125km to Sounds/Route


Thursday 20th - Marlborough Sounds towards Golden Bay
Out of East Side of sounds, up to French Pass
Hori Bay.
Camp at Totaranui (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/conservation-campsites-by-region/nelson-tasman/golden-bay/totaranui-campground/)
381km


Friday 21st - Totaranui up to Cape Farewell
Up to Cape Farewell
Anatoni (maybe, 370+km option)
Mungatapu Road/Track investigate (gate apparently closed, but might ride up to gate anyway), Tinline road
Perlorus campsite for night.
286+km


Saturday 22nd - Group Ride - Mt Patriarch - Rainbow Road, Maling/Edwards Pass
9am meeting in Renwick
Up Mt Patriarch - 3hrs approx back to Renwick
Renwick to St Anard 93km
Meeting group at 1:30pm St Arnaud.
St Arnaud to Hanmer approx 100km
Maling/Edwards Pass diversions 160km.
Camping Mailing Pass.

Sunday 23rd - Hanmer/Maling Pass to Christchurch/Fairlie.
Visit friends in Waipawa/CHCH maybe carry on to Fairlie.
310km

[clint640]

I will also be logging photos using instagram (with geotagging) which will populate the below map, so you can follow my progress (this is especially for you 9-5'ers still stuck at work).


:bleh: have fun ya bastard :niceone: Will be in touch next month re meeting up before the dusty.

One suggestion for your 1st night if you make good time on the way down & want a change from Kakaho, have you been into Piropiro flats campsite on the other side of Pureora from Kakaho? It's back in from Waimiha, turn off on Ongarue Stream Rd just before Waimiha village, then onto Kokomiko Rd & a nice ride back into the bush, the campsite is quite good with some nice shelters if it's wet.

Cheers
Clint

[Steelie]

Shall follow with interest while working through.
See you at the Dusty
Anthony

[pete-blen]

Did you manage to get the go ahead for Rainbow prier to the 28th..?

[.chris]

:bleh: have fun ya bastard :niceone: Will be in touch next month re meeting up before the dusty.

One suggestion for your 1st night if you make good time on the way down & want a change from Kakaho, have you been into Piropiro flats campsite on the other side of Pureora from Kakaho? It's back in from Waimiha, turn off on Ongarue Stream Rd just before Waimiha village, then onto Kokomiko Rd & a nice ride back into the bush, the campsite is quite good with some nice shelters if it's wet.

Cheers
Clint

Good option, might do that one depend on which side of Pueroa forest I end up.



Shall follow with interest while working through.
See you at the Dusty
Anthony

Yeah, I look forward to seeing how your trip south goes, will be doing a few of the routes on my way north after the db.



Did you manage to get the go ahead for Rainbow prier to the 28th..?

Will phone up tonight and find out, will post in the thread once I have it sorted.

[Transalper]

Couple of us here know where the main Rainbow homestead is, been there several times. They sometimes will let you sign the forms, leave your money and pick up the key on the way through from the North. Still by prior arrangement of course.
It's probably getting too late to have a key posted to us, they don't have a post office near by at their end.

[Howie]

Chris if you want free camping closer to Wellington than Ocean beach you can camp at the Lake Waiarapa Domain at the end of South Soldiers settlement rd. it is only about 10 min from Featherston. No drinking water supply, and limited shelter from wind though. Another choice would be the end of Waiohine Gorge road. Turn off SH2 between Carterton, and Greytown. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/conservation-campsites-by-region/wairarapa/waiohine-gorge/

[ADVGD]

Will phone up tonight and find out, will post in the thread once I have it sorted.

How'd ya get along mate? On the off-chance we can't get access it'd be great to find out sooner rather than later so we'll have time up our sleeve to put together an alternative route/plan

Cheers

[.chris]

I clean forgot to call last night. Stupid pre-xmas/trip rushing about by myself (my todo list would scare ya).

Will call tonight (only have a full day of work then a mates birthday BBQ then watching the Hobbit).
At least I can check a few things off the list today
Fire extinguisher (TICK)
tire changed (TICK)

[jimichelle]

do the inland methen route

[.chris]

Phase one of the trip is done and dusted. Got most of what I wanted to do done, a few things I never managed to do but will try and get them on the way back north.

A few photos from the trip so far can be found in the link below.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C8q0RFJsSIM/UN5cuX7r2rI/AAAAAAAAMZ8/_lnR9bwXEuU/s640/IMG_1087.JPG (http://www.pixelle.co.nz/adv/south/)


Now it is time to start on phase two, need to spend a bit of time on the bike and do some repairs. The 2500km to date has taken its toll on the bike.

[nic]

Looks like a great trip .chris - I'm assuming you are having a ball and that the riding has been problem-free!

You take great photos:yes: - thanks for sharing.

Wishing you continued safe travels and a Happy New Year :drinknsin see you down there for the DB :woohoo:

[dino3310]

i managed to get a ride in today............. down to the shop for some more ciggy's:weep:

[.chris]

Finished my videos and the full RR for my trip (http://pics.pixelle.co.nz/Home/motoz).

[Devil]

Nice work, Beardyman! Jealous. Would like to do all those roads some time. Each time i've done a lap of the country it has invariable been with road riders so haven't had a chance to go do all those tracks.

[ADVGD]

A bombardment of great photos, bloody fantastic mate :niceone:

[pomgolian]

Some cool pics Chris thanks for sharing - i headed To Milford Sound then up the west coast to the ferry, as a newbie to the south island totally blown away by the sheer scale of everything, some unfinished riding for next year for sure.

[Night Falcon]

Great shots again Chris. Those whiskers would make "Grizzly Adams" proud! Be hard work getting south island bugs outta that lot at the end of a days riding :D