Queenstown and Cromwell Highlands Motorsport Park tour

[EJK]

My journey began in the morning of Tuesday of 7th. I had an impulse to have a Fergburger for lunch. Well, what an excuse to go on an escape! Regardless, I've always wanted to travel south before the big winter hits. My original plan was to go for just one night's stay while taking a look at the brand new Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. It was good to be back on the road and on a long journey. This reminded me of when I used to tour half the North Island on my old Suzuki FXR150. Different bike this time, but same spirit.


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The weather was fantastic and the scenery was simply stunning. And the beautiful twists and turns were simply cherry on top.


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By the time I reached Omarama, I noticed that my tyres needed replacing.... SOON! Before my departure I thought some rubber left would be fine but these country roads were absolutely grinding through the rear tyre. The roads are like coarse sand paper. "This ain't good" I thought. So I called my friend in Auckland Todd ("Hello" back to you DMNTD) and got me a set of tyres shipped to Qmotors. Now all I had to do was wait till those tyres arrive.


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Feeling better now that I got the tyre problem ready to be solved, I continued my way with some sence of peace of mind.

I arrived in Queenstown just before sundown. The canyon ride through the valley (in between Queenstown and Cromwell) was simply stunning. At this time of the year there were few tourists on the road so some ways it felt like my own private race track. 100% fun but still keeping it under 100kph speed limit. :msn-wink:

After checking in at a backpackers, I slept hoping the tyres to arrive soon.


1. Lake Pukaki. Stunning view and weather. Blue, blue everywhere.
2. Countryside outside of Fairlie
3. Over the Lindis Pass. With snow covering the hills it felt like I was in a different country.
4. Scenery just outside of Arrowtown.

[EJK]

I woke up thinking (or hoping) the tyres would last me for a few more kilometers. After breakfast I headed out back to Cromwell to visit the brand new Highlands Motorsport Park museum. As I entered the car park I couldn't help but to notice the design and the "newness" of the facility. Everything was new. Buildings were new, roads were new, and even some part of driveway weren’t completely sealed. Everything was tidy and clean just like fresh Lego out of the box. Out by the car park there was the Gasoline Alley for track meetings. It looked like a place you can find at Leipzig or Nurburgring. By the first garage, there were a couple of Highlands Porsche GT3 cup cars and a Suzuki Swift being prepared for track testing.


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Out by the museum there was also a “200kph taxi” Porsche Cayenne Turbo ready to take some passengers.

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Overlooking the fence I could see the entire layout of the track. With the beautiful surroundings of mountain range similar to Fuji Speedway, fresh cut green grass, track overpass/ tunnel and a small pond with a fountain in the middle, it is absolutely wondrous. It’s not a track. It’s an art.I could not help but to wonder if they'd let me have a go on the track on my bike if I'd asked them politely.... :shifty:

Next to the race track, there was also a go-kart track, mini golf, pedal cars track, speedway, and even a skid pan for some sideway action! Inside the museum facility there was a cafe, a lookout/ view point over the track and merchandise shop.


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As I entered the museum, instantly my eyes were fixed on the Orange McLaren MP4 12C GT3. The one and only in southern hemisphere, personally owned by Tony Quinn of VIP Pet Foods and the owner of Highlands Motorsport Park. The rumor is that back in 2012 Quinn came over from Australia to New Zealand with the idea of purchasing Hampton Downs. Instead, he bought the entire Highlands Motorsport park project after some "convincing" from the people down south. Just how much money does he have?



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The museum had about 30 cars and 4 bikes. The collection also included a rare Austin Healey 100S, Ferrari 288 GTO (predecessor to the super F40), Quinn's Nissan GTR, Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 and more. There are still rooms for more development and more cars so I'm definitely coming back in later times. The cost to museum entry is $20 for a single adult. $8 for a child between 5 – 15. However if you are interested, you can also take 3 fast laps taxi ride on a Porsche GT3 cup car with $295. If you want to relax with your kids, Mini golf is available too. Highlands Motorsport Park truly has something for everybody. This is a must place to visit for any motorsport enthusiast.

Some ways it reminded me of a quote John Hammond would say from Jurassic Park... "We spared no expense."


1. Imagine having a track day here.
2. A "200 kph taxi" Cayenne Turbo.
3. A couple of GT3 cup cars in prep.
4. Brand spankin new track. Just PLEASE let me have a go on my bike!
5. The one and only McLaren MP4 12C GT3 in southern hemisphere.
6. Museum view from the top.

[cfxjason]

thanks for the post i didnt even no it was there, we are going for a ride there this weekend mite have to call in...... CHEERS :niceone:

[blackdog]

Nice write up EJC. Best read this morning.

[onearmedbandit]

Awesome write up mate. I look forward to reading more.

[p.dath]

Awesome write up mate. I look forward to reading more.

+1 to that.

[FJRider]

i didnt even no it was there

A year ago ... it wasn't ... <_<

[merv]

Crikey that is impressive and I drove past there Saturday last week thinking when I saw the entrance "oh there won't be much there yet and maybe I'll drop in some other time".

[Maha]

You'll be right in your element there eh EJ?...I am thinking your grin was deafening?
I saw a TV article on this/Quinn a few weeks ago.

[EJK]

You'll be right in your element there eh EJ?...I am thinking your grin was deafening
I saw a TV article on this/Quinn a few weeks ago.

The track was most impressive. . Now if only I was a multi millionaire... :shifty:


A year ago ... it wasn't ... <_<

A month ago it wasn't.

[FJRider]

The track was most impressive. . Now if only I was a multi millionaire... :shifty:

A month ago it wasn't.

I've been watching the build from the day they started moving dirt ... I go past it to and from work in Cromwell.

Four rides to do from Queenstown.

1: The Crown range road.
2: The road up to Coronet peak skifield.
3: The road to Glenorchy.
4: The Devils Staircase to Kingston.

And go home over the Haast/Arthurs pass.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Nice work mate. Cheers for the read and pics!

[gijoe1313]

Good stuff EJ! Great to see you making up for lost time away from riding! :niceone:

[EJK]

Day 3. Today was a relatively relaxing day. Still stuck in Queenstown but finally the tyres arrived. I went up to the Crown range and back down before changing my tyres. The road was beautiful but didn't had much fun due to grit in the middle of corners and some drivers forgetting which part was their lane. Seriously...?


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Thanks to people at Queenstown Motorcycles (Jenny and Tim!) my bike was fitted with a set of brand new Dunlops shipped from Cycletreads. My first tyre preference was Bridgestone S20s but Cycletreads did not had them in stock at the time. So I had to go for something close. Dunlop Sportsmart was one of my options along with Metzelers M3, Z6 and Z8. I chose the Dunlop hypersport out of the bunch. The difference with Sportsmart was instantly felt after existing the workshop driveway. I guess I'd been riding on pretty bald tyres. These new tyres made the bike feel like it's riding on razor blades. Sensitive, responsive and very very sharp. I'll find out how they'll perform tomorrow.


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So far so good, I'm ready to go home. Tonight it's raining pretty heavily however. I hope the road don't freeze overnight.

1. Overlooking from the Crown Range road.
2. The famous hairpins of Crown Range road.
3. Final ray of sunshine before rainfall.
4. At Queenstown Motorcycles for new shoes.

[Maha]

No need to say anything but I will anyway, take it easy on those new tyres ok? :msn-wink:

[EJK]

No need to say anything but I will anyway, take it easy on those new tyres ok? :msn-wink:

Thanks. Will do :)

[merv]

Just had a look at Highlands website http://www.highlands.co.nz/ and there is some interesting stuff there.

[EJK]

Morning was better than expected. I was expecting heavy frost and ice on the road but due to decent sunlight and wind the roads were clear and safe. Thanks to overnight snow I woke up to an amazing view of snow covered mountains. After having a delicious lunch from Fergburger I headed south. I was meant to go home via North but since I've come this far, I thought I'd alter my plan just a bit. I headed far south, reminding myself of what I'd been back in 2008. Back in 2008 when I was living in Auckland I once traveled up to the top end of New Zealand, Cape Reinga. Since I've come this far I might aswell finish my "saga" and complete my journey. So I headed for Invercargill.


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I took SH6 Kingston Road down south outside of Queenstown. There I truly realised the awesomeness of the new tyres! I don't know what I was riding on before. These new tyres made the characteristic of the bike totally different. The bike was more responsive, easier to steer, and sensitive. A slight pressure on the handlebar was all it needed to tip the bike over. In this way the bike was now easier to ride fast. Being new tyres I took it easy through gentle twists and turns of SH6. It was a good piece of road to run-in a new set of tyres.


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Far down south the weather was decent with easing showers, cool breeze and sky decorated with a giant rainbow.


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After some decent 180kms or riding I arrived at the Bluff. What a feeling!

Then I started heading back home. Sunlight was dimming and "It's going to be a long ride" I said to myself but I've always wanted to ride in the dark to see how it feels. At sometime past 10pm I left from Dunedin. Due to pitch blackness of the night I had to be extra careful. Some blind corners and hills which headlights don't cover seemed to be a blind "void". Those were always scary. Suffice to say, while riding in the dark I noticed ZX10's headlight was actually pretty good. But still, for increase in visibility I used the cars in front of me to my advantage. Well, what do I know, everyday is a school day.

By the time I left Dunedin I had FORGOTTEN to fuel up. "Oh $4!T" :shit: I also had forgotten when I last topped up. "There should be a gas satation just outside of Dunedin... I'll just fuel up there". Could have I been any more wrong? All the petrol station I've come across north of Dunedin were closed! There were 24 hour stations but they did not accept my card. Feeling nervous as $4!t I crawled to Oamaru HOPING the fuel light don't come on. Eventually I reached a Z station OPEN in Oamaru (The most nervous 100 kms in my life). After filling it up I was now on the final straight home.

By the time I reached Canterbury plains SH1 was now a game of "Chasing trucks" and "Dodging rabbits and hedgehogs". Just why would rabbits run towards light? I can never understand... From Timaru to Christchurch I had not seen any police. :Police: Canterbury SH1 with no traffic and cops was an ideal heaven for a 160hp+ bike but the rabbits and hedgehogs were keeping me under speed control instead :baby: Now that's an idea for NZ Highway patrols.

Did I mention it was cold? Temperature was dropping below 7 degrees and I was wearing summer gloves and jacket with just a hoodie inside. Regardless cold roads were good to save new tyres from squaring off too fast. Another lesson learnt: Proper gear would be preferable for this kind of adventure. By the time I got home I was showing mild signs of hypothermia and dehydration. Shivering, eyes swollen, slight numbness on limbs and blurry eyes. I went to bath before bed.

After estimated 1400kms in total, 800kms+ on the final ride, I arrived home just after 2:30am (GPS estimation was past 3am :innocent:)

What a journey it had been. Kawasaki ZX-10R proves to be an awesome tourer. Now it's in need of a decent wash and a service. The bike's done so well I'm surprised. More and more I'm glad I bought this bike. I was also considering RF900 or XJR1300 for long distance trips but I'll be happy with the ten.

I'd like to thank everybody whos been part of my journey (both on and offline) giving me encouragement so I can go on. Thanks for reading and allowing me to share my experience. :)

1. Snow covered mountain range just outside of Queenstown (Frankton).
2. Somewhere over the rainbow.
3. At the world's end (Bluff). Different bike but same spirit.
4. To the ends of the Earth. Cape Reinga in 2008 and Bluff in 2013.
5. View of the snow covered mountain range.

[blackdog]

Awesome photos too dude.

[BMWST?]

1. Snow covered mountain range just outside of Queenstown (Frankton).


Remarkable! :laugh:

[FJRider]

Remarkable! :laugh:

Not at this time of year ... :innocent:

[Valkyrie]

EJK what a fantastic trip. Really enjoyed your write up and fabulous pictures. Awesome :yes:

[EJK]

EJK what a fantastic trip. Really enjoyed your write up and fabulous pictures. Awesome :yes:

Thank you! I had a such good time :)

[Kornholio]

Thank you! I had a such good time :)

We did all that last Winter in the car and it was a mission to stop thinking about if you were on the bike on these roads... Nice one man :)

[Grubber]

Heading down to Highlands next March.
Playday on the track have organised 4 tracks in a week in March.
Highlands being one of them.
So looking forward to that!;)

[unstuck]

And why may I ask are you parked outside a well know drug dealers house in post 18?:Oops:

[EJK]

Heading down to Highlands next March.
Playday on the track have organised 4 tracks in a week in March.
Highlands being one of them.
So looking forward to that!;)

No way... Where do I sign up?

[Grashopper]

Great trip and great write up. Was really interesting and fun to read. And you took some really beautiful pics. :2thumbsup

[EJK]

Great trip and great write up. Was really interesting and fun to read. And you took some really beautiful pics. :2thumbsup

Thank you! Throughout this writing I was hoping maybe I could contribute to some blogs or magazines.