Advice wanted on SI roads and passes

[Gremlin]

As we're all travellers of the roads less travelled I thought you guys may be able to help with some advice. After the TT2000, Toto and I are doing a little tiki tour of the south, as usual biting off a few more roads we've never done.

Monday is Chch to Ranfurly, via Hakataramea and Danseys Pass, I've done at night, Toto never done. Any tips on accommodation in that town? We normally go for pubs or backpackers, so anything we should avoid or aim for?

Tuesday is Ranfurly, down Hyde-Middlemarch onto Old Dunstan Rd. I hear there is a stunning church on the intersection of Serpentine and Long Valley Ridge Road? Of the three roads (Deep Creek, Serpentine and Long Valley), which is the best to use? I believe Serpentine is very rough? I'll have the GSA, Toto the GN250 probably, but loaded with luggage, so want to steer clear of very hard stuff, but still enjoy water crossings etc (just not bike swallowing rivers). I think Crawford Hills Rd looks the nicer option out, as then you do the whole of Old Dunstan, unless Lake Onslow is better (but you have to use Serpentine)? Accommodation for the night is probably Alexandra, again, anything to aim for or avoid?

Wednesday is planned for Nevis Rd and over to Te Anau, that should be fine (building in extra time in case anything happens). Info on Hawksburn Rd seems hard to come by, so is it doable, or do we need to go in via Bannockburn? I think we'll avoid Carricktown, as that's uh... very track-ish... We'll do Milford Sound this day, or the following, just depending on how time goes and weather situation, neither of us have done it for at least a couple of years, and we'll seek to include Hollyford Rd, simply because we've never been.

Thursday is Te Anau to Queenstown, again, might do Milford early, depending on what weather we get. Detour via Von Rd to see Queenstown from the other side of Lake Wakatipu, then back out and around... Should have some spare time, but if not, it's two nights anyway (Toto surprised me that he's never been to the tourist trap). Want to go north of Glenorchy and explore the roads and also do Skippers Rd. From seeing a few 4WD vids, I think the route out to Macetown is out of our league, with a lot of big water crossings?

Saturday we'll do SH6 to Franz Josef, stunning scenery and Toto (again) has never seen the glaciers... makes it a must do then.

Sunday looping back to Chch via Arthurs Pass (never realised there was a lookout over the Otira Gorge) to start the drag back to Auckland on Monday.... anything I've missed we should be including?

[Rosie]

Monday is Chch to Ranfurly, via Hakataramea and Danseys Pass, I've done at night, Toto never done. Any tips on accommodation in that town? We normally go for pubs or backpackers, so anything we should avoid or aim for?

Things to avoid, and things to aim for? You should avoid Ranfurly and aim for Naseby :yes: Or, Dansey's Pass has a cool pub.

[mattsdakar]

Doing this on GN250..you can't be serious??
You don't want to take a GN250 anywhere near the Dunstan trail with road tyres, it will be very muddy and the sepentine church you are referring to is beautiful for it's remoteness..that is a trailbikes only trail...you'll be fine going down the Haka and over Danseys...stay at Danseys Hotel on the south side it's a magic spot.
I've been thru the Nevis in February and one of the fords was waist deep, wouldn't go thru there unless it hasn't rained for sometime.
Mavora Lakes to Wakatipu is doable but book the Earnslaw ahead and take the old steamer across the lake to Queenstown, it's along way to double back and taking the bikes on the boat is a novity and makes great photo's.
Good luck

[dmoo1790]

Agree that you probably won't make it to the Serpentine church. Too deep ruts and rough even if it's bone dry.

Confirm Macetown is no go. Needs to be very dry to get across the river and still probably too rough for the GN.

Also agree that Nevis is no go. Lots of muddy water crossings which would probably bog both bikes.

[Gremlin]

Doing this on GN250..you can't be serious??
You don't want to take a GN250 anywhere near the Dunstan trail with road tyres, it will be very muddy and the sepentine church you are referring to is beautiful for it's remoteness..that is a trailbikes only trail...you'll be fine going down the Haka and over Danseys...stay at Danseys Hotel on the south side it's a magic spot.
Toto and his GN250? Oh yes, he's quite serious (seriously mad that is). He'll get knobblies for it (has one, ordering the another), and he's done part of a TT2000 already. This time he wants to complete, and probably set a record for smallest bike. Last year we did the Rainbow Rd, he was on his Hornet CB900, 4 guys on 1200 GS's were quite amazed :laugh:

Pity about the church... was hoping Long Valley would be easier, but guess not. Also looking up Earnslaw, as that would be pretty cool and unique.

edit: Pity about Nevis too... adventureguide grades it a 2, along with Rainbow and Lees Valley (done them both)...

[dmoo1790]

I got Nevis mixed up with Carricktown I think. Apart from ford depths (dependent on rain) you should get through the Nevis OK. Sorry for the confusion.

[Bass]

Ducatijim and I are doing most of the unsealed stuff you mentioned during the fortnight starting Jan 26th. So if you can wait a couple of weeks, we can tell you how it pans out.

[Jantar]

The first part of the Old Dunstan trail should be no problem that time of year, even on road tyres if its dry. The GN will find it tough but quite doable. From the middle part of the old Dunstan trail you have the option of continuing with the northern half past Poolburn to Moa Creek, or taking the road to Serpentine then over Deep Creek Road to Onslow. All these roads are rideable, even on a GN with suitable tyres. Depending on my roster I may even join you on part of this ride.

The Serpentine Church on Rough Ridge is not rideable except on a pure dirt bike with BIG Knoblies. Even then go in a large group and take a swamp anchor and a winch.

[Gremlin]

Ducatijim and I are doing most of the unsealed stuff you mentioned during the fortnight starting Jan 26th. So if you can wait a couple of weeks, we can tell you how it pans out.
Yep, no problem. We only leave Auckland morning of 20th Feb, so take lots of piccies! Will look forward to it (especially if your bike is upside down in said pic :eek:)

The first part of the Old Dunstan trail should be no problem that time of year, even on road tyres if its dry. The GN will find it tough but quite doable. From the middle part of the old Dunstan trail you have the option of continuing with the northern half past Poolburn to Moa Creek, or taking the road to Serpentine then over Deep Creek Road to Onslow. All these roads are rideable, even on a GN with suitable tyres. Depending on my roster I may even join you on part of this ride.
You're more than welcome to join in the fun Malcolm! We'll definitely be in cruise mode, enjoying the scenery and taking pictures. Any preference over the rest of Dunstan or Onslow? I'm thinking the Poolburn Reservoir would be nice to see...

I think Toto does this deliberately. Every time I'm relishing my massive adventure bike tackling an obstacle he's right there with a freaken GN destroying my moment :laugh:

[Jantar]

... Any preference over the rest of Dunstan or Onslow? I'm thinking the Poolburn Reservoir would be nice to see...

I think Toto does this deliberately. Every time I'm relishing my massive adventure bike tackling an obstacle he's right there with a freaken GN destroying my moment :laugh:

Preference depends on weather and time. Paerau to Alex via Poolburn is around 2 hours riding rime, Paerau to Alex via Onslow is over 4 hours riding time. If there has been rain prior to the ride then the Onslow route is more difficult with the road turning to wet clay.

[unstuck]

The Church is ok, not the best old building In central. Awesome skys out there though. The track out there can get really knarly. You can still get to onslow or poolburn piece of piss though by sticking to the dunstan trail.:niceone: Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.:msn-wink:

[Jantar]

The Church is ok, not the best old building In central. Awesome skys out there though. The track out there can get really knarly. You can still get to onslow or poolburn piece of piss though by sticking to the dunstan trail.:niceone: Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.:msn-wink:

I recognise that bog in pic 2. I got through OK, but I still don't know how.:laugh:

[unstuck]

Deep creek hut is a great place to stop for a cuppa if you choose the onslow route. Or the old styx jail is a good place too, good camping spot too.:niceone:

[unstuck]

This is the old styx jail, the other pic next to the deep creeck hut is in the danseys pass.:facepalm:

[Gremlin]

Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.:msn-wink:
Yes true, you've had the odd drop, we've heard a little north of the Bombays, something about lazy workers closing roads.

Do us a favour and dry these roads out for us eh? There's a good boy.

[FJRider]

Get a hold of "Real Journeys" (previously Fiordland Travel) they own/run the TSS Earnslaw. The track into Walter peak is gravel but doable even on a GN250. They have taken bikes on the Earnslaw before ... and will save a LONG round trip. (And be in the bar/bed sooner)

[unstuck]

Yes true, you've had the odd drop, we've heard a little north of the Bombays, something about lazy workers closing roads.

Do us a favour and dry these roads out for us eh? There's a good boy.

Consider it done.:niceone:

[scumdog]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.

[FJRider]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.

So it's improved then ... ?? <_<

[unstuck]

So it's improved then ... ?? <_<

Yep.:bleh::niceone:

[neels]

If you're coming back via arthurs pass to chch, old christchurch road, stafford loop road, or kumara-inchbonnie road are all good detours

[rustic101]

For the state highways down there:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/8373/south-island.html

Fiordland have a special one can't remember it... Worths checking due to rock falls at the mo but should be listed. There are also message board on the roadside updated in real time.

Not sure about the local roads/tracks..

[Jantar]

..... There are also message board on the roadside updated in real time.

Not sure about the local roads/tracks..

Not too many message boards on the roads Gremlin and Toto are looking at. :D

[R650R]

The YHA hostel at Franz Joseph has been good for me, bit bigger and busier now though. The flash hot pools up the road are a nice end of the day soak.

At Arthurs pass there are lots of keas, don't leave anything loose that you don't want to lose!

If you end up in Hamner Springs there is a smaller backpackers in a big A frame lockwood style house just past the shops, good place to stay.

[Gremlin]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.
Stop that would ya? Mud doesn't make for nearly as fun a day... :no:


Not too many message boards on the roads Gremlin and Toto are looking at. :D
Too right... most try to scare you away, like this one:

http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/165/images/nevis-road-1.jpg


At Arthurs pass there are lots of keas, don't leave anything loose that you don't want to lose!

If you end up in Hamner Springs there is a smaller backpackers in a big A frame lockwood style house just past the shops, good place to stay.
We usually stay at Hanmer Backpackers on Rutherford Cres (might be the one you're thinking of, log walls etc). Not enough time this trip unfortunately, so maybe next year we'll do Rainbow again. Toto found the limits of his road tyre equipped CB900 on Maling Pass after completing the Rainbow Rd... so unfinished business.

Don't worry, know all about those crafty buggers. Even educated some family that visited, to the point they ran to attraction and ran back to the van, in case the Keas came!

[unstuck]

Now thats the kind of road sign that I like to see.:niceone: My brother has a place at Franz if you are stopping there, its pretty basic though, but he has plenty of tools and stuff.:msn-wink:

[Skiwi]

The first part of the Old Dunstan trail should be no problem that time of year, even on road tyres if its dry. The GN will find it tough but quite doable. From the middle part of the old Dunstan trail you have the option of continuing with the northern half past Poolburn to Moa Creek, or taking the road to Serpentine then over Deep Creek Road to Onslow. All these roads are rideable, even on a GN with suitable tyres. Depending on my roster I may even join you on part of this ride.

The Serpentine Church on Rough Ridge is not rideable except on a pure dirt bike with BIG Knoblies. Even then go in a large group and take a swamp anchor and a winch.

I was going to reply as this smack bang in my playground, and im out in it nearly ever week, but Jantar is bang on the money, couldn't have written it better myself.

The only thing I have to add is the Nevis is worth the effort, there is only one ford to be wary of, unless its just been raining.
Cheers
Skiwi

[husaberg]

As we're all travellers of the roads less travelled I thought you guys may be able to help with some advice. After the TT2000, Toto and I are doing a little tiki tour of the south, as usual biting off a few more roads we've never done.

Monday is Chch to Ranfurly, via Hakataramea and Danseys Pass, I've done at night, Toto never done. Any tips on accommodation in that town? We normally go for pubs or backpackers, so anything we should avoid or aim for?

Tuesday is Ranfurly, down Hyde-Middlemarch onto Old Dunstan Rd. I hear there is a stunning church on the intersection of Serpentine and Long Valley Ridge Road? Of the three roads (Deep Creek, Serpentine and Long Valley), which is the best to use? I believe Serpentine is very rough? I'll have the GSA, Toto the GN250 probably, but loaded with luggage, so want to steer clear of very hard stuff, but still enjoy water crossings etc (just not bike swallowing rivers). I think Crawford Hills Rd looks the nicer option out, as then you do the whole of Old Dunstan, unless Lake Onslow is better (but you have to use Serpentine)? Accommodation for the night is probably Alexandra, again, anything to aim for or avoid?

Wednesday is planned for Nevis Rd and over to Te Anau, that should be fine (building in extra time in case anything happens). Info on Hawksburn Rd seems hard to come by, so is it doable, or do we need to go in via Bannockburn? I think we'll avoid Carricktown, as that's uh... very track-ish... We'll do Milford Sound this day, or the following, just depending on how time goes and weather situation, neither of us have done it for at least a couple of years, and we'll seek to include Hollyford Rd, simply because we've never been.

Thursday is Te Anau to Queenstown, again, might do Milford early, depending on what weather we get. Detour via Von Rd to see Queenstown from the other side of Lake Wakatipu, then back out and around... Should have some spare time, but if not, it's two nights anyway (Toto surprised me that he's never been to the tourist trap). Want to go north of Glenorchy and explore the roads and also do Skippers Rd. From seeing a few 4WD vids, I think the route out to Macetown is out of our league, with a lot of big water crossings?

Saturday we'll do SH6 to Franz Josef, stunning scenery and Toto (again) has never seen the glaciers... makes it a must do then.

Sunday looping back to Chch via Arthurs Pass (never realised there was a lookout over the Otira Gorge) to start the drag back to Auckland on Monday.... anything I've missed we should be including?


You must not miss the coast road to Westport if you have time go to karamea it will mean back tracking but then go down the lower Buller gorge.
if you had the time i would carry on up to Murchison then down to Springs over the Shenandoah hop back over the saddle back to Reefton then through to Greymouth (via Atarau) back to Kumara and then onto Arthurs pass.

[Gremlin]

You must not miss the coast road to Westport if you have time go to karamea it will mean back tracking but then go down the lower Buller gorge.
Yep, done that, Karamea is a great ride. Thinking we might do more of Buller Gorge if we can, still ironing out a few demands on time (may not have to go back to Chch, which would mean Buller is possible.

if you had the time i would carry on up to Murchison then down to Springs over the Shenandoah hop back over the saddle back to Reefton then through to Greymouth (via Atarau) back to Kumara and then onto Arthurs pass.
Ta, I'll look up some of those names as I'm not familiar with them.

[dmoo1790]

Hi Gremlin, we just did the Nevis Rd and a bunch of other roads/tracks down south. The water levels were pretty low so none of the fords were more than, say, 600 mm deep. Got up and over the bottom of the engine on the 690 but never as high as the exhaust. The Nevis was surprisingly rough in a few spots where it looked like the road had been washed out and diverted and repaired. Ground clearance might be a little tight on the GN in one or two spots. Give it a go anyway. You can always turn around and back track.

If you're keen on fords than have a go at the Macetown track. :) Only doable if the river level is low.

[unstuck]

I have heard storys about a D6 dozer being used to tow one of the nokomai station landrovers across some of the fords in the nevis after a night of hearty rain. Apparently the guy on the dozer had to stand up to keep his arse dry.:blink:

[chc4me]

Sounds like you will have a great time! The dusty butt was held last weekend over many of these roads you mentioned. An extra road to check out is the Thompson Gorge Road after Danseys Pass. If you are staying in Alexandra, look up Marjis backpackers in Alex ... $35 p/p p/n including all bedding and towels and she even washed and dried a few essentials for us! Oh and let us park the Bikes in the garage.

[Gremlin]

If you're keen on fords than have a go at the Macetown track. :) Only doable if the river level is low.
When I said keen, it was meant, I enjoy them. It doesn't make me any better at them, and I've washed the bike in some very shallow water :confused:


If you are staying in Alexandra, look up Marjis backpackers in Alex ... $35 p/p p/n including all bedding and towels and she even washed and dried a few essentials for us! Oh and let us park the Bikes in the garage.
Thanks, will bear it in mind, Cromwell or Alex are options prior to Nevis.

[Jantar]

... An extra road to check out is the Thompson Gorge Road after Danseys Pass. ......

You mean this one?

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/jantarml/DB1K-2013/SR2013-57.jpg

[TOTO]

You mean this one?



Yep, thats what the GN will look like river crossing...

[gijoe1313]

This thread is full of win, I'm liking the cut of many a jib here! Ah, jealousy pours from my veins at the adventure of it all! :woohoo:

[Skiwi]

This thread is full of win, I'm liking the cut of many a jib here! Ah, jealousy pours from my veins at the adventure of it all! :woohoo:

Pirate pills kicking in I see :msn-wink:

[husaberg]

Pirate pills kicking in I see :msn-wink:

Could be the rum, or maybe he has a chick on his shoulder.

[Gremlin]

So, the mighty GN will not make an appearance. It seems unable to travel across Auckland without breaking down, so Toto has thought twice, and instead, will embarrass me with his CB900 instead... Always annoying if he makes it across a river fine, then videos me making a splash... :facepalm:

Interested in people's thoughts on tyre choice. I can run my Heidenau K60s for the entire trip, or fit TKCs in Christchurch after the TT2000 (and the chunk of sealed road work). Is stuff like Nevis, Dunstan, Skippers needing TKC? I suppose I wouldn't want to be hamstrung by poor tyre choice, just the extra hassle of sorting it Monday morning before heading to Danseys... the TKCs couldn't make the entire trip.

[Jantar]

So, the mighty GN will not make an appearance. It seems unable to travel across Auckland without breaking down, so Toto has thought twice, and instead, will embarrass me with his CB900 instead... Always annoying if he makes it across a river fine, then videos me making a splash... :facepalm:

Interested in people's thoughts on tyre choice. I can run my Heidenau K60s for the entire trip, or fit TKCs in Christchurch after the TT2000 (and the chuck of sealed road work). Is stuff like Nevis, Dunstan, Skippers needing TKC? I suppose I wouldn't want to be hamstrung by poor tyre choice, just the extra hassle of sorting it Monday morning before heading to Danseys... the TKCs couldn't make the entire trip.

Heidenau K60s will be fine for all the roads you have mentioned. You just need to be cautious if it has been raining.