South Island trip advice & Nelson bike storage?

[Anvil]

Hi all, and a happy new year!

A friend and I will be spending a couple of weeks touring the South Island in Feb/March this year (2016).
Our bikes will get delivered to Nelson 1-2 weeks ahead of us with some gear and we'll then fly in from AKL on February 26th.
(Before anyone gives me grief for not riding down, time off work is hard to get so this way we can maximise our time in the South Island!)

Firstly - Are there any awesome KiwiBikers local to the Nelson area that have any advice on where we might be able to store a couple of bikes for a week or 2 (depending on the transporters timetable)?
Or, even better, anyone have a spot in their garage?! Obviously food, beer, and whiskey would be enjoyed on us! (We're good value, in our 30's)


Secondly - current itinerary is roughly 2 weeks long, key spots (not necessarily accomm stops) below. Would be great to get some advice on "must do's" and "don't bothers" of places to visit and roads to ride. (Bearing in mind the CBR and R6 aren't that keen on gravel 😋)

Nelson
Murchison
Westport
Granity
Punakaiki
Greymouth
Hokitika
Glaciers
Haast Pass
Wanaka
Glenorchy
Twizel
Mt Cook
Methven
Rangiora
Hanmer Springs
Reefton
Hokitika (wild foods festival March 12th)
Christchurch via Arthur's Pass
Fly AKL or ride depending on the boss and time available.


Thanks in advance!

Mitchballs /Anvil


Also - apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place, if so could someone advise how I move it?

[thehovel]

Two weeks? Just do the top half. Why fly down? Ride down ,it only takes a day, leave early and catch the 5:30 ferry. That puts you in South Island on day one. If its your first time don't try and do every thing or go every where. The Tataka hill is worth the ride(between Nelson and Collingwood). Westport's Coal Town and Shanty Town just south of Greymouth. Don't do Haast you haven't the time.

[Frodo]

Two weeks? Just do the top half. ... Don't do Haast you haven't the time.
Two weeks is plenty for most of the South Island - see my ride report where I rode around most of the island in 7 days. Some of the best riding is in the bottom half of the South Island.

[PistonBlown]

The amount of time it takes to tour around the South Island is purely down to how much riding you want to do each day and if you want days with no riding at all – as the TT2000 proves you can ride around most of it in 48 hours if you really want to:-)

Whatever route you choose you’ll have a great time so don’t get too worried about it. My normal advice would be to try and avoid SH1 from say Amberley to Christchurch and Christchurch to Timaru but your route already does that.

If I was doing it rather than you I may be tempted to do the following though I’m not trying to change your mind.

Head east from Nelson to Blenheim
Down SH1 to Kaikoura - mainly for the views of the sea, rocks and seals.
Then take the Inland/Kaikoura Road to Waiau. Lovely twisty road and normally pretty empty, just watch the approaches to the bridges as sometimes there’s a little gravel on the road surface just before them for some reason.
Waiau head on the 70 so you join the 7 and then head towards Hamner Springs
From Hamner Springs head over to the West Coast via the Lewis Pass and start heading down the coast.


It's probably a case of when your in Nelson check the weather forecast and then make a decision if to head west or east:-)

[awayatc]

Hi,
great trip.
am going to do couple of weeks south island as well roughly same time.

but I would rethink the flying / bike storing thing....

you lose just as much time farting about as it would take to ride to welly....
cross the puddle and ride south island starting picton....

enjoy yourself one way or other.....:shifty:

[Mr Revhead]

2 weeks is plenty of time to get around. It all depends on how many days you want to spend in each area.
What kind of bikes? Maybe they will suit my shed ;) But seriously, I can't think of anywhere local that would do that. Also the cost of getting them shipped Auckland to Nelson is rather a bit. :eek5:

As for roads, as mentioned the Takaka hill is good, but only if you can hit it with no traffic as passing is.... Well I don't there. And unless you actually want to look around Golden Bay I don't think it's worth the bother considering you will be going over plenty of other good roads. However if you're around here for a few days it's worth a day trip over to Golden bay.

The only don'ts I can think of is Timaru - Chch SH1. Avoid. Horrible on a bike. and Chch - Blenheim SH1. Too much traffic and the other routes much better. And unless you have a seal fetish kaikoura is very very over rated.
I'd head from here down the West Coast to Wanaka/Qtown, back up to chch via lakes and Mount Cook, head to chch via inland scenic route (Geraldine, mayfield, methven etc) The up the Lewis (Hanmer) cutting through St Arnaurd to Wairou valley to Picton and home. With off shoots as you see fit.
If you really want to do Arthurs pass make it a day trip from chch and back. It's not far and the actual pass isn't very long at all.

[Tazz]

Could store them in Picton for you if that's any help.

Tophouse Road from Nelson to Murch mate. The main drag isn't exactly bad, but that road is the fawkin tits.

Everywhere else looks sweet. I'm sure you'll be able to find some good back roads playing around on google maps and the like.

I'd probably hit Kaikoura on the way to Hanmer and then shoot there via the inland route. Most of the boring stuff is already over with by the Waipara turn off anyway. Yes it will be busy, but so will every other road that you are going to be on :laugh:

I'd hit Takaka hill, a few times, in the middle of the night if possible ;)


Hi all

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah Tazz has a good point about that road, turn off at Wakefield and take 88 Valley road, then turn left to the lake, easy to find and damn good road. with much less traffic than the main road.

[CB ARGH]

So what's so bad with SH1 south of Christchurch to Timaru? I'll be doing the south island next week and have this route in mind. Bad road conditions? Boring straights?

[Gremlin]

So what's so bad with SH1 south of Christchurch to Timaru? I'll be doing the south island next week and have this route in mind. Bad road conditions? Boring straights?
It has to be the MOST mind numbing straights in the entire country.

[gsxr]

So what's so bad with SH1 south of Christchurch to Timaru? I'll be doing the south island next week and have this route in mind. Bad road conditions? Boring straights?

Road condition is good. Most excellent road if you want to keep your chicken strips intact
Not just boring straights the whole stretch is boring.
Take a comfortable pillow A sleep will relieve the boredom.

[Mr Revhead]

As above. It's only 160 ks, but feels like 3 hours of boredom. Also quite heavy traffic that's usually doing 80-90.

[CB ARGH]

TYVM. Might re-route and take 72.

[PistonBlown]

TYVM. Might re-route and take 72.

72 is the way to go:-) When I go south from here (Leithfield near Amberley) I always go the inland route.

If your not planning to go to Christchurch then I'd actually suggest:

Turning off SH1 onto the 'Inland Scenic Highway' towards Rangiora etc.
At Ashley turn right Cones Road towards Loburn.
Loburn turn left Hodgsons Road towards Ashley Gorge, this will take you the back way to Oxford and is a far nicer road for bikes than that stretch of the 72.
At Oxford continue on the 72/77/72 route.


This will let you do the 'Three Gorges' - Ashley, Waimakariri and Rakaia which is popular local ride. The Waimakariri and Rakaia gorges have lovely tight corners to play with.

Only thing to watch out for is on the long straight after Mayfield towards Geraldine as its popular with the local coppers for speed checks.

[mulletman]

As above. It's only 160 ks, but feels like 3 hours of boredom. Also quite heavy traffic that's usually doing 80-90.

Pass that shit then ! We're on bikes , makes the time and distance more acceptable and fun.

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah the heavy traffic is in both directions. Not at all uncommon to have a line of 30 cars coming at you as you try and pass 20 cars all following too close

[PistonBlown]

Yeah the heavy traffic is in both directions. Not at all uncommon to have a line of 30 cars coming at you as you try and pass 20 cars all following too close

Yep and when you finally get a chance and open it up there's a cop speed trap...I've got the points to prove it.

[Anvil]

Hey thanks so much everyone for all the advice!!! I actually thought that there was no activity as I got an email notification about the first reply but then nothing after that so I hadn't bothered to look back, now I feel like an ungrateful asshat - sorry!

Found a friendly bike shop in Nelson to store the bikes for a box or 3 of Coronas - so a plug to American Bobbers! Bikes arrive on Wednesday and we land Friday afternoon.

There's a common theme about Takaka Hill, so that's definitely made the list, thanks! and yes, a midnight mission sounds like a plan :2thumbsup

Weather is looking good for west coast this weekend/early next week so I think we'll take the window and go from Nelson to Murch via St Arnuad (spelling?) and down the west from there.
On the way back up will be via Mt Cook, Methven, Rangiora, Arthurs Pass (Hokitika Wild Food Festival on the 12th!) back over Lewis pass and up via Kaikora. Though I've done the Kaikora many times as a student, different experience in a clapped out 1980something starlet, and I don't think I have a seal fetish so may look at re-thinking that one and going back via inland route if we have time.

To the chap (assuming a chap, not meaning to be sexist!) who's going to be in S.I. around the same time, flick me a text on 0221865305 if you're around.


Thanks heaps all, happy riding and if anyone wants a review of any sections post trip let me know!


-Mitchballs

[Mr Revhead]

Good plan!
Just a head sup on the Takaka hill, there's a charity ride on leaving Motueka around 11-1130 Saturday morning.
I'd advise avoiding that unless you want to be stuck amoungst a couple dozen going Harley speeds.

Otherwise enjoy! :headbang:

[Anvil]

Thanks RevHead, that is some very handy advice! think we'll ride the hill Friday evening and spend the night in a campground near Motueka then hit the road early headed south to avoid the HD lads!


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[puddytat]

Just be a tad carefull on SH 6 down the coast & on a lot of south island roads that when corners are posted at about 45kmh & under, that it means it......there are a lot of corners that pull the old double apex trick & suck you in, then surprise the hell out of you when they tighten right up.:shit:

[PistonBlown]

Did Takaka Hill last Friday at about 4pm (and back the other way a bit later) as part of the TT2000 and it was good, last time I'd been that way there had been quite a bit of road works. All the drivers I got behind moved over to let me pass at the stop zones etc which impressed me. I'm guessing at that time of day it's mainly local traffic. Was pretty clear of road works other than a small section of new tar at the steep twisty part on the Northern side which was a bit slippery.

[G4L4XY]

I'm doing the same thing with a couple of friends over the course of a week.

Question I have is, the Ferry recommends bringing our own tie-downs. Has anyone that has used the ferry before that would second this recommendation? Only reason I ask is because I don't own any and I don't want to have to carry them around during our travels for the return trip.

[Gremlin]

Question I have is, the Ferry recommends bringing our own tie-downs. Has anyone that has used the ferry before that would second this recommendation? Only reason I ask is because I don't own any and I don't want to have to carry them around during our travels for the return trip.
How about you read the entire superthread on ferries?

Alternatively, ask yourself, would you entrust your bike to the crusty worn out tie downs that may or may not lock? You might get some OK ones, you probably won't. Both companies advise you to bring tie downs...

[G4L4XY]

How about you read the entire superthread on ferries?

I searched "ferry" and didn't see any superthread

[Tazz]

I'm doing the same thing with a couple of friends over the course of a week.

Question I have is, the Ferry recommends bringing our own tie-downs. Has anyone that has used the ferry before that would second this recommendation? Only reason I ask is because I don't own any and I don't want to have to carry them around during our travels for the return trip.

Stash them in a bush near Picton and grab them on your way back. Or give them away/leave on frerry and buy some more in Blenhole on your way back, or drop them into my work in Picton and grab them on they way back, but business hours only sorry.

If you get the ones that are tension/grip held and cut off the excess cord rather than the ratchet strap ones they don't take up a hell of a lot of room.

[Gremlin]

I searched "ferry" and didn't see any superthread
Interislander or Bluebridge probably would have found it. Sticky in Touring

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/63741-Cook-Strait-Ferries-Megathread

[G4L4XY]

Thanks Gremlin, I'll take a look at that thread.

The day we get into picton is a sunday Tazz so unless you're doing overtime ;)

[Tazz]

Thanks Gremlin, I'll take a look at that thread.

The day we get into picton is a sunday Tazz so unless you're doing overtime ;)

We're 7 days mate and I have the absolute pleasure of working weekends for the last 5 years, so I'll be around ;)

[GrayWolf]

2 weeks isnt enough?? Really?? :pinch:
I've just got back {yesterday} from 3 weeks down south, {but OK I admit it, I was touring on a Spyder this time :wacko: }
We did the basic whole SI in 2 weeks last year. {It was the first time down there for my co-rider, so was a full ride the whole thing to see what was on the agenda this trip} We still managed to go the full length to Bluff via west coast and back through central/SH72. The suggested routes and stops are all very good and we did them all this trip as well. BUT please add Milford as a ride. Queenstown was shyte tbh, we went in once, traffic nose to tail from Frankton. Arrowtown, much better, and if you come down from the Haast/Wanaka {which you have PLENTY of time for} you come over the mountains into arrowtown ;)
Dont let ANYONE put you off going deep south either, if you do Milford { a MUST ride if weather is good} you are in Te Anau anyway, so go down south via Manapouri rather than the main roads, that ride and then onto the coastal road are excellent.
We were lucky as we only got real bad weather once, the heavy rain { bloody monsoon from franz to wanaka} on the day we rode from Franz Josef to Dunedin. The Wairau valley rd from Blenheim is a fantastic ride, lots of straights with plenty of twisty's as an alternative to SH6.
If you're prepared to enjoy the ride on the best roads in NZ, you can do the whole shebang in 2 weeks