Wanted; South Island road trip ideas [Archive]

smoky

6th January 2009, 21:04

NighthawkNZ

6th January 2009, 21:07

My self and a mate are planning a ride down the South Island around the end of March (no fixed date yet). Planning a week in the South Island.
Apart from looking at a map and following the main routes, I have no idea where the interesting roads are.
So if you have some local knowledge of some good roads to ride; let me know – hopefully we can avoid hours of straight roads.

Thanks

West coast, Crown range, lindus, the full southern scenic route through the catlins into Milford, alot of great roads up the top half of the SI as well... just the middle bit is a bit boring.... list goes on and on and on... ;)

Avoid the Canterbury plains...

reofix

6th January 2009, 21:10

if i only had a week i would just ride nelson, kaikoura . murchison ,karamea, golden bay... dont try the big loop unless you like 700k days every day!!

Jantar

6th January 2009, 21:20

Get in touch closer to the time and I'm sure we'll find plenty of South Islanders to show you the best roads.

We don't generally tell too much about them online or everyone will want to come down here. :devil2:

Gummie

6th January 2009, 21:26

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89265

Watch how these guys are getting on it may give you some ideas

gunrunner

6th January 2009, 21:30

gixxer-king

7th January 2009, 14:05

forget the south and relive carvers epic journey, see thread

popelli

7th January 2009, 19:13

west coast and central otago have the best roads - and the best pubs

forget the east coast

Wingnut

7th January 2009, 19:18

smoky

9th January 2009, 20:32

Thanks heaps everyone – I can see some plans coming together

Shadowjack

9th January 2009, 21:57

Smoky, on a less serious note, I detect a common sentiment in this thread regarding the Canterbury Plains. I regularly trundle (did I say trundle; I meant ride) the length of the Plains and never fail to find corners, sometimes less than a kilometre apart. Ride the Plains if only to say you've done it...

pritch

10th January 2009, 17:04

I see a lot of personal preferences coming through.

The West Coast road has been listed more than once as one of the worlds top 10 rides.

A week is a bit short for a full loop, but when I went around I was doing it at the same time as the Ducati owners, and we were doing similar mileage each day. No problems.

You don't want to be riding all day or it may turn into an endurance event
(unless you are into masochism but that's OK too). I broke it up into four or five hour days which gives you time to wander around the places that you stop so there is a chance you will actually remember something about where you've been.

The New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas would be a good investment.

Have fun

FJRider

10th January 2009, 17:21

Get off the ferry head around the sounds to Nelson then thru to Westport to Greymouth then thru Arthurs Pass to Oxford hit SH77 to Geraldine then off towards central , Omarama , Tarras , Alex then to Dunedin thru the Catlins , Invers to Manapouri to Milford back to Te Anau .Lumdens to Queenstown then to Wanaka . Thru the Haast Pass past Fox to greymouth then via Nelson Lakes back towards the ferry .
Take some more time off alllow 10 - 14 days to enjoy it .:first:

What he said ... Base your trip around this suggestion, and you wont go far wrong. You're on a Bandit ... not a BMW. Do a check on mileage required for each day and possible stops. Book accomidation but dont pre-pay, your plans may change. But once you start the trip, you'll just keep going... and going.....and going.... :woohoo:

Hinny

10th January 2009, 23:30

This was my Sth. Isle trip over xmas.
Akl. Wellington to Picton
Picton, Nelson,Motueka, Takaka Hill, Motueka.
Motueka,Murchison,Westport,Karamea
Karamea, Westport,Greymouth,Hokitika,Franz Joseph
Franz Joseph, Haast,Makarora,Lake Hawea,Wanaka, Arrowtown
Arrowtown, Queenstown,Te Anau,Milford Sound,TeAnau
Te Anau,Riverton,Invercargill,Bluff,Slope Point, Curio Bay, Owaka
Owaka, Dunedin Outram, Middlemarch Ranfurly, Ida Valley, Alexandra.
Alexandra,Cromwell,Tarra, Omarama,Twizel, Mt.Cook
Mt.Cook, Tasman valley, Tekapo, Geraldine, Methven, Darfield, Christchurch.
Christchurch, Broken River, Craigieburn.
Craigieburn, Arthur's Pass, Moana, Reefton,Lewis Pass, Christchurch.
Christchurch, Lewis Pass, Murchison,Motueka, Cobb River resovoir.
Cobb River, Motueka, Nelson, Picton, Wellington,Ohakune.
Ohakune, Taumaranui, Stratford, Inglewood, Auckland.
Could save days by not doing the loop to Christchurch, forget Cobb River Reservoir-21 kms of scary gravel; and miss out Forgotten World Highway and you get a very enjoyable trip.
Otago Peninsular and Banks Peninsular are top rides.
South Island roads are very good. Tough on tyres though. I cut out my rear tyre in 6000kms.

Jantar

10th January 2009, 23:44

...
South Island roads are very good. Tough on tyres though. I cut out my rear tyre in 6000kms.
This is something most North Island riders don't appreciate. The chip used in the south gives good grip, even in the winter, but tyres don't last long at all. For most bikes down here 6000 - 7000 km seems to be about average.

Winston001

10th January 2009, 23:47

Get off the ferry head around the sounds to Nelson then thru to Westport to Greymouth then thru Arthurs Pass to Oxford hit SH77 to Geraldine then off towards Central , Omarama , Tarras , Alex then to Dunedin, thru the Catlins , Invers to Manapouri to Milford back to Te Anau, Lumsden to Queenstown then to Wanaka . Thru the Haast Pass, Fox to Greymouth then via Nelson Lakes back towards the ferry .
Take some more time off allow 10 - 14 days to enjoy it .:first:

Yeah that is a fine route but you'll spend all of your time on the bikes if you only have a week. The South Island is quite a bit bigger than the NI.

A more doable option is to go to Queenstown instead of Dunedin and then Wanaka, Haast Pass etc. You miss out Alexandra, Dunedin, Balclutha (home of the mighty Scumdog) the Catlins, Southland, Milford Sound etc. That's a shame but it's all still there for another day. IMHO you are better to have comfortable days with time for stops instead of being under pressure.

LBD

11th January 2009, 00:34

if i only had a week i would just ride nelson, kaikoura . murchison ,karamea, golden bay... dont try the big loop unless you like 700k days every day!!

And miss the best?....Picton to Te Anau is only 1076 km down the Wet Coast, nice day trip.....

But you must ride Westport to Greymouth, that is nice.

FJRider

11th January 2009, 01:09

You miss out Alexandra

Wash your mouth out... no need to swear...

smoky

11th January 2009, 09:24

Take some more time off alllow 10 - 14 days to enjoy it .:first:
Unfortunately I only have a week (plus the weekends so about 9 days).
I have a wife and kids at home – this isn't a holiday, it's just getting out and doing some riding.

... dont try the big loop unless you like 700k days every day!!

A week is a bit short for a full loop, ....
You don't want to be riding all day or it may turn into an endurance event
(unless you are into masochism but that's OK too). I broke it up into four or five hour days which gives you time to wander around the places that you stop so there is a chance you will actually remember something about where you've been.

I've done the tourist thing in the South Island a number of times, in a car just doing the main routes, a proper holiday and with plenty of time to enjoy it.
So this is about finding some good riding roads and just riding – a change of scenery to the North Island roads.
A full day riding, nice cafés and then a pub or something in the evening.

When I was a teenager, my girlfriend, two mates and I scorched around the entire South Island (main roads) in 6 days, in my old XP Falcon wagon, sleeping in the back and roughing it a bit – the focus was music, smoking and driving, a real road trip. Most of the West Coast was dirt roads; the people and pubs were fantastic.

You're on a Bandit ... not a BMW.

And...??? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Winston001

11th January 2009, 11:31

Ok, Gunrunners route is a very good guide. There are probably variations here and there which people can suggest. Get the NZ Motorcycle Atlas.

Hinny

11th January 2009, 15:53

The great roads imho are:
Queen Charlotte Drive.
Takaka Hill. A good fang.
SH6 south from Motueka. Smooth and fast sweepers.
Road to Karamea. A bit rough at the start but then Woohoo!
The road into Wanaka. Need to go around 140+ to link the curves.... At a guess!:innocent:
The Crown Range. On the way up heading south there is a section of bitumen that is race track smooth. Fabulous. You will want to retrace your ride and do it again. Kinda kinky on the other side. 15 kph corner is almost right.
Milford road. The track through the bush at the start is great, the scenery is sublime.
Road through the Catlins. Another place with a good track and great scenic beauty. Take the time to do the short walks along the way. If you don't mind gravel visit Curio Bay at Low tide.
Otago peninsular. The road to the Portabello pub used to be our Sunday race track - Student days. Smooth twisties. RD350's used to be the bike to beat.
Track from Dn. to Mt. Cook. Beautiful cruising.
Akaroa and the Port Hills. Round and round we go. Great views.
Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass. Must do's.
So much to do, so little time.

FJRider

11th January 2009, 18:21

And...??? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Just the bandit is well capable of 700 km days should you want to, some BMW's (or riders) are not able...:innocent:

smoky

11th January 2009, 18:55

Just the bandit is well capable of 700 km days should you want to, some BMW's (or riders) are not able...:innocent:

They sure are, I’ve done a few 800 klm days and a couple of rides over 1000 in a day, bikes capable but the butt suffers a bit

FJRider

11th January 2009, 19:26

Time to get a sheepskin...

McJim

11th January 2009, 20:31

Time to get a sheepskin...

Is that what they're calling condoms in Central Otago these days? :rofl:

Jantar

11th January 2009, 20:35

Is that what they're calling condoms in Central Otago these days? :rofl:
I don't think FJR uses a condom. Incidentally, we had 200% lambing this season. :done:

FJRider

11th January 2009, 21:23

Is that what they're calling condoms in Central Otago these days? :rofl:

Whatever you want to call them.. you can. (I Don't need one :crybaby:) Its a free country. What do you call them in southland... Mooooooo-reen... :bash:

smoky

13th January 2009, 08:36

How'd this thread turn into a thread on beastilaity ???

It's suppose to be about riding the South Island, or is that all part of the 'mainland experience'??
:shit:

mikeey01

13th January 2009, 14:11

How'd this thread turn into a thread on beastilaity ??? :shit:

Blame the scotsman I say! :rofl:

Unfortunately I only have a week (plus the weekends so about 9 days).
I have a wife and kids at home – this isn't a holiday, it's just getting out and doing some riding..

So many roads..... Soo many choices with toooo many options and sooooo little time............
it's a bitch living in Ducati country sometimes :lol:

Should re-name it....... "Welcome to the South Island Ducati Country "

MTW

13th January 2009, 18:24

I think Hinny has commented on some excellent roads, IMO my fav's would be the road from Nelson to Lewis Pass (through Murchison) just about the whole thing is excellent and the road's in great cond. And the road from Wanaka to Haast, road that over xmas and loved it. Crown range also good but was raining the day we went through.

Was chatting to my mate who also had his bike down in Wanaka, he did Queenstown to Kingston and recomended avoiding that stretch if poss. He said the road had been ripped up and re-sealed and was pretty bad. That's the same stretch that guy left the road on New Years Day...although to be fair I don't know the complete circumstances on this...it may have had nothing to do with the road. But thought it was worth a mention.

As per another thread on here, be weary of SH75 from Chch to Akaroa, the Police are targeting this stretch.

Have fun.

LBD

14th January 2009, 02:39

, he did Queenstown to Kingston and recomended avoiding that stretch if poss. He said the road had been ripped up and re-sealed and was pretty bad.

There was a fibre optic laid in the road a few years back, it is all on the hill side of the road, right in my riding line, I find it a nuisance when heading south. Riding the other direction is fantastic, real tight, 6 minutes 11 seconds past Kingston then starts opening up more and more, good views of the road ahead and the lake and mountains ....Majik.

Elysium

15th January 2009, 21:30

Question for the natives. What's the weather in terms of rain like on the west coast during this time of the year?

smoky

15th January 2009, 22:42

Question for the natives. What's the weather in terms of rain like on the west coast during this time of the year?

wet ...... just like rain everywhere else, I guess:lol:

FJRider

15th January 2009, 22:52

wet ...... just like rain everywhere else, I guess:lol:

It varies between ... Fuckin' pissing down, to clear blue sky. Some days you get lucky ... some days you stay in bed.

karla

15th January 2009, 23:03

Most of the West Coast was dirt roads; the people and pubs were fantastic.

Roads down the West Coast are all tarsealed now, and there are wire barriers along parts of Lake Wanaka/Lake Hawea road (shame). It's beauty hasn't changed one little bit.

The best people from those days have moved to the cities and are recovering from terminal cabin fever. The pubs are all still there, though not as fantastic as they used to be (cos I'm here now)

West Coast rain still brings out beautiful, spontaneous waterfalls that you don't normally see. These have been known to knock out some 22 odd bridges between Wanaka and Haast in a single 24 hour day leaving people stranded for weeks while the army installs temporary bailey bridges ... but you can avoid that by travelling on the East Coast on those days.

Enjoy your travels!

LBD

18th January 2009, 01:58

question for the natives. What's the weather in terms of rain like on the west coast during this time of the year?

below is 30 year averages, The coast tends to be drier in the winter, and evenly wet all summer, with feb being the exception.

I like using www.metvuw.co.nz forcast charts, for up to week in advance.

location jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec
westport 189 133 171 192 209 199 187 187 201 198 183 215
hokitika 250 172 217 249 245 233 232 224 250 286 240 278
milford sound 717 499 640 585 641 440 418 427 523 688 522 648

Jantar

18th January 2009, 08:00

Question for the natives. What's the weather in terms of rain like on the west coast during this time of the year?

below is 30 year averages, The coast tends to be drier in the winter, and evenly wet all summer, with feb being the exception.

I like using www.metvuw.co.nz forcast charts, for up to week in advance.

location jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec
westport 189 133 171 192 209 199 187 187 201 198 183 215
hokitika 250 172 217 249 245 233 232 224 250 286 240 278
milford sound 717 499 640 585 641 440 418 427 523 688 522 648

The raw rainfall numbers don't tell the full story though. West coast rain is in two forms: orographic rain which falls as a consistant drizzle, or frontal rain which is a torential downpour.

As motorcyclists we are more interested in the chance of rain on any given day, and how heavy will it be. In those terms, the times of year with the greatest chance of getting wet are the 6 - 10 weeks following each equinox, and the most settled weather is the 6 - 10 weeks before each equinox. :sunny:

So the best times to ride the West coast will be mid - late Janurary to mid March, and the worst time (getting wet wise) is September - mid November. Scenery wise, the wettest periods are the best. :ride: :ride:

LBD

19th January 2009, 02:15

The raw rainfall numbers don't tell the full story though. West coast rain is in two forms: orographic rain which falls as a consistant drizzle, or frontal rain which is a torential downpour.

As motorcyclists we are more interested in the chance of rain on any given day, and how heavy will it be. In those terms, the times of year with the greatest chance of getting wet are the 6 - 10 weeks following each equinox, and the most settled weather is the 6 - 10 weeks before each equinox. :sunny:

So the best times to ride the West coast will be mid - late Janurary to mid March, and the worst time (getting wet wise) is September - mid November. Scenery wise, the wettest periods are the best. :ride: :ride:

So we agree about Feb....

smoky

19th January 2009, 09:03

So we agree about Feb....

Good job I'm planning on late March or April some time :niceone:

smoky

11th March 2009, 20:14

Got new Conti Road attacks front and back, gave the bike an oil change, gave the bike a once over, looking all good for the 25th and the South Island

smoky

22nd March 2009, 21:09

First night / day
Left Hamilton 5:56pm after work
Return to home 5:57pm to adjust gear lever to fit my new boots

Wellington ferry terminal 10:45pm
Slept on the tarmack, then a couple hours shut eye on the ferry
arrive 5:30am in Picton
breakfast in Motueka
Then Takaka and back - then Takaka and back cause it was such a wicked road, then down to Reefton - stayed the night there
Up this morning 8am - Westport for breakfast
Hast for lunch, over the Crown Range (fanbloodytastic road), Queenstown for dinner, just been to the pub - life is good
Not sure where we're heading tomorrow?