“Mild Hog” South Island Adventure.

[Tank]

OK – the name 'Mild Hogs' was given by my wife to me and my mates after watching “Wild Hogs” – given that we are all professionals (a CIO, a scientist and logistics consultant for aircrafts), ride bikes when we can – but we just aren’t as tough as the guys in the movie. (and none of us ride HD's)

I’m a kiwi and disgusted to say have never been to the South Island (despite huge amounts of international travel). One mate is a Pom (we take pity on him), and the other is a Welshman who honestly believes that Wales will beat the All Blacks each and every time they play. They have not been to the South Island either. Welshman’s not coming – but he’s no bloody help with ideas either.

So we are a little lost as to what to do.

Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 – Auckland to Ohakune
Day 2 – Ohakune to Wellington
Day 3 – Wellington (first ferry) to Westport via Picton (obv.) and Nelson
Day 4 – Westport to Christchurch via Arthurs pass
Day 5 – Christchurch to Cromwell
Day 6 – Cromwell to Invercargill via Bluff
Day 7 - Invercargill to Te Anau
Day 8 – Milford Sound
Day 9 – Te Anau to Wanaka
Day 10 – Wanaka to Franz Joseph
Day 11 – Franz Joseph to Blackball
Day 12 – Blackball to Picton
Day 13 – Picton to Ohakune via the Tui Brewary
Day 14 – Ohakune – Auckland

I’m looking for help with ‘must see’ items. We have set aside plenty of time to see the sights – obv we are not trying to get around in record time.

We are doing:
- Oysters in Bluff
- Apparently there is a awesome whitebait caravan / hut near Hasst (anyone know where?)
- The Monteith’s Brewery tour
- The Cardrona pub

(that gives you an idea – we love beer and food)

All recommendations greatly appreciated. In return I promise to post pics (when my infractions expire) from the locations and hopefully make a really useful thread for people looking to make the trip.


Cheers - Tank

[Shadowjack]

Hi Tank: On the Chch-Cromwell day, a run up to the Mt John Observatory (just out of Lake Tekapo Village) will give you 360 degrees of the best view of the MacKenzie Basin that you can get short of a plane flight (and they do those close by as well). Outstanding. Having walked up the mountain as a youngster some 40-ish years ago, I can assure you its better by bike. The (sealed) road up is steep, tight, exposed and sooo worth it. As a bonus, there is a place at the top reputed to do very good coffee. Might I also suggest a quick 55km run up the side of Lake Pukaki to bask in the mountainous goodness of Aoraki/Mt Cook. There could be the occasional other person around, mind...

[NighthawkNZ]

So we are a little lost as to what to do.

Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 – Auckland to Ohakune
Day 2 – Ohakune to Wellington
Day 3 – Wellington (first ferry) to Westport via Picton (obv.) and Nelson
Day 4 – Westport to Christchurch via Arthurs pass
Day 5 – Christchurch to Cromwell
Day 6 – Cromwell to Invercargill via Bluff
Day 7 - Invercargill to Te Anau
Day 8 – Milford Sound
Day 9 – Te Anau to Wanaka
Day 10 – Wanaka to Franz Joseph
Day 11 – Franz Joseph to Blackball
Day 12 – Blackball to Picton
Day 13 – Picton to Ohakune via the Tui Brewary
Day 14 – Ohakune – Auckland

I’m looking for help with ‘must see’ items. We have set aside plenty of time to see the sights – obv we are not trying to get around in record time.



You not going into the Catlins...? shame... Catlins is probably the best part of the Southern Scenic Route... but suppose you are doing the other end into Milford... Just don't tell any one I said that... I'll get into trouble for telling our secret rides...

[Jantar]

Catlins can easily be squeezed in between Cromwell and Bluff.

Cromwell - Alexandra - Beaumont - Clydevale - Riviera - Catlins - Bluff - Invergumboot.

What dates are you guys coming through?

[Tank]

Catlins can easily be squeezed in between Cromwell and Bluff.

Cromwell - Alexandra - Beaumont - Clydevale - Riviera - Catlins - Bluff - Invergumboot.

What dates are you guys coming through?

I was just looking at that on google maps.

Going directly its 295km / 4 hours - going via the Riviera and the Catlins 391km / 5.34 hours.

So via the Catlins it is - cheers for that. :niceone:

Now - do you 'locals' know of this whitebait place near Hasst?

edit: Coming thru on the 11th March - more than happy to grab a beer if you are around.

[mikeey01]

Tank,

Hell not more god dam hardleys in the south island, I think we should start issuing passports and charging em!

On a serious note and to be honest I'd change the way your doing it.....
Reason I say this is the coast road from picton to chch should not be missed...
Aussie “Two Wheels” mag ravs about it! Between the two, your option and the kaikoura coast, most prefer the east coast via Kaikoura!

I'd recommend the following....

Day 3- Wellington ferry, Picton, Kaikoura and at Waipara, Turn off the No.1 onto H,way 7 (lewis pass) over the Lewis pass to Spring Junction and then onto Reefton, take your pick either Westport or Greymouth (the pub by now I'd say)

Day 4- Arthurs pass, Greymouth to Christchurch

Day 5 – Christchurch to Cromwell. At Rangtata turn off main road and onto H,way 79 this will take you through beautiful valley and brings you out at fairlie to pick up H,way 8 burkes pass and onto cromwell.

This way you go over some (not all) of the best roads for bikes there is in the south island. Keeps you in real country as much as possible, more quaint towns than you can poke a stick at. Keeps those on the back interested.

Watch the milford sound trip for tourists in their campers and buses and the entrances at one end of the tunnel (just inside) the road surface is buggered!

[Tank]

Tank,

Hell not more god dam hardleys in the south island, I think we should start issuing passports and charging em!




OK – the name 'Mild Hogs' was given by my wife to me and my mates after watching “Wild Hogs” – ....... (and none of us ride HD's)


Thanks for the recommendations (and warning for Milford).

Ill start looking now - (god bless google maps / google earth)

[mikeey01]

not hardleys, my bad.
so no charge for you then :cool:

[Jantar]

Now - do you 'locals' know of this whitebait place near Hasst?

edit: Coming thru on the 11th March - more than happy to grab a beer if you are around.

I don't know of any whitebait caravan near Haast, but the season is already over. The best place for whitebait any time of year is Prestons Diner in Hokitika. Their whitebait lunch is two large patties, each is almost the size of the plate, a generous salad and chips. I have not yet managed to eat an entire meal.

I finish work at 8:00 pm when you're through this way, so could fit in a beer at the Cromwell pub straight after work, then I'm heading north for the Southern Cross only a couple of days after you're going home.

[NighthawkNZ]

Thanks for the recommendations (and warning for Milford).

Ill start looking now - (god bless google maps / google earth)

will you be doing the March Hare Rally??? March 6th -7th - 8th at the Waimate Showgrounds

http://www.marchhare.co.nz/

[Tank]

will you be doing the March Hare Rally??? March 6th -7th - 8th at the Waimate Showgrounds

http://www.marchhare.co.nz/

Arriving too late for that (sadly) We only leave Auckland on the 6th

[NighthawkNZ]

Arriving too late for that (sadly) We only leave Auckland on the 6th

ok... worth a shot... have a good trip... take time just to see what is down a road. there are many hidden gems in the SI

ie between Roxbourgh and Beaumont , turn off at Ettrick and go up and over Moa Flat then back into Beamont... hidden Gem No.1

[Muppet]

Go to Queenstown and up the Gondola. Million dollar world class views.

[Big Dave]

Tear up the itinerary for starters.

Head down there and go to the side of the island it is not raining on. When it starts to rain on that side of the alps - go to the other.

[scumdog]

Piss off ya SOAPs, you'll hate it down here..:whistle:

[reofix]

that little whitebait caravan near haast is at jacksons bay.... turn south at the visitors centre... worth the ride to the end of the road ... dont miss air museum in blenheim (peter jacksons ww1 collection in full size dioramas) ... stunning

[gunrunner]

You not going into the Catlins...? shame... Catlins is probably the best part of the Southern Scenic Route... but suppose you are doing the other end into Milford... Just don't tell any one I said that... I'll get into trouble for telling our secret rides...

I second that . You have to do the Catlins as you will kick yourself if you dont .
A very nice scenic ride :niceone:

[FJRider]

Piss off ya SOAPs, you'll hate it down here..:whistle:

Yeh... we've been hating it for years now... :shifty:

[mikeey01]

Tear up the itinerary for starters.

Head down there and go to the side of the island it is not raining on. When it starts to rain on that side of the alps - go to the other.

O how so true, good reply :2thumbsup:clap:

[oldrider]

Will you be wanting to grovel in the gravel, or are you sticking to the tar?

You ride a V-Strom don't you?

Just curious. :confused: John.

[The Lone Rider]

Um.. why not time it so you can stop off at one of the south island rallies? Wouldn't that be a bit of a bonus?

4 days to get to CHCH?

MarkH did it in 1 day on a burgman scooter :P

[Tank]

Will you be wanting to grovel in the gravel, or are you sticking to the tar?

You ride a V-Strom don't you?

Just curious. :confused: John.

Yep we will be bringing a V-Strom and a GS650. We are happy with 'reasonable' gravel roads but not much more than that as haven't had much (any) experience on it yet. I'm sure it will handle it better than my old Boulevard M50 tho.


Um.. why not time it so you can stop off at one of the south island rallies? Wouldn't that be a bit of a bonus?

4 days to get to CHCH?

MarkH did it in 1 day on a burgman scooter :P


Dates are set by our respective jobs - I'm sure we could make Chch in a day - but the objective it to see some of the country, not just to bash out the miles.

We could go to a rally - but they're full of them bloody bikers. :rolleyes:

[Solly]

Sounds like you're into beer & food, so if you're anywhere near Dunners, the Speights Alehouse serves good tucker and you've got the brewery right next door to tour.

Whatever you route though, I'm sure you'll enjoy the South Island.

[s8306]

Stop at Jacksons pub if your heading through Arthurs Pass,neat pub.

[Daffyd]

The jug will be on at Papatowai when you come through the Catlins.
I might even come through to The Riviera to meet you.

[Mikkel]

All recommendations greatly appreciated. In return I promise to post pics (when my infractions expire) from the locations and hopefully make a really useful thread for people looking to make the trip.

Looking forward to seeing you in Chch. However, that iteniary sucks - I've taken the liberty to design a much better one. Albeit, it's a man's iteniary and you will be riding decent distances - Invercargill to Te Anau is not a day's worth of riding I'm sorry.

Google Maps Iteniary (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=North+Western+Mwy&daddr=Bridge+St+to:Wharf+Rd+to:Chorlton+Rd+to:Lave ricks+Rd+to:Bossu+Rd+to:-43.672342,172.800865+to:Dyers+Rd+to:Tarras+Cromwel l+Rd+to:Papatowai+Hwy+to:Dee+St+to:Milford+Sound+H wy+to:Ardmore+St+to:SH+6+to:Cape+Foulwind+Rd+to:Wi llow+St+to:Dublin+St&hl=en&geocode=FbyOzf0dEqZqCg%3BFUTeZ_0dbJpLCg%3BFW_FZf0d HetMCg%3BFfyHZf0dXkxQCg%3BFUqOZP0deShRCg%3BFWLPYv0 dMiBOCg%3B%3BFRKdZ_0dujZLCg%3BFZLNUP0d2SQWCg%3BFdr VOf0dTvcZCg%3BFYLRO_0drsYICg%3BFfVcVv0d4lQCCg%3BFV gEVv0dVOIUCg%3BFSHHff0dNJE2Cg%3BFfrzgv0dKp04Cg%3BF a6CkP0dxs5MCg%3BFY70if0drA1fCg&mra=dpe&mrcr=1&mrsp=6&sz=12&via=2,3,4,5,6,9,14&sll=-43.731414,172.784386&sspn=0.180355,0.307617&ie=UTF8&ll=-44.347422,170.046387&spn=5.711936,9.84375&z=7)


Day 1: Auckland to at least south of Wanganui - preferably Wellington.
Day 2: Wellington to Christchurch via the Costal road.
Day 3: Banks Peninsula - if you aren't afraid of gravel roads you really shouldn't pass this. (A guide will be provided for the price of a cold beer. ;)
Day 4: Chch to Cromwell. (Do NOT have lunch at lake Tekapo.)
Day 5: Cromwell to Invercargill via the Catlins.
Day 6: Invercargill to Milford Sound.
Day 7: Milford Sound to Wanaka. (Start early and grab a Ferg Burger in Queestown for lunch.)
Day 8: Wanaka to Fox/Franz Josef.
Day 9: To Punakaiki - stay at Te Nikau Retreat, you will not regret it!
Day 10: Punakaiki to Takaka/Golden Bay via Foulwind Point and the Beachhouse restaurant.
Day 11: Takaka to somewhere between Wellington and Wanganui.
Day 12: Back home to Auckland.

That's less than 4000 kms in 12 days, easy peasy.
That gives you 2 days to either rest your arses or muck around or follow the odd lead to Biker Shangri-la you got at the pub the night before, etc...
Arthur's Pass is awesome, and you could use one of the spare days to make a trip up there or squeeze in a quick sidetrip to the village in as you're going north, that way you get to do Otira gorge and see the most dramatic part of the pass.

In the end, Big Dave's suggestion is the sensible plan. You never know where the rain is going to be - but the sun will usually not be further than a pass away. As such take the provided iteniary as a suggestion as to what is worth doing... and harden fuck up and get some miles under those steeds. :D

You guys can do it!