10 days in the South Island

[Balrog]

MagicFairy and I love the South Island and we always try to spend a couple of
weeks a year touring around it.

We think this time of year is fantastic for touring as the weather is usually starting to pick up. Its not to hot or cold and there's not many people around.
You get good deals on accommodation as all the places are empty.

Fantastic

Anyway, here's some pics of our travels.

Day one:
Arrive in Picton about lunchtime, head over to Ward to see some friends and then back down to spend the night in St Arnaud

1. The days route
2. Couldn't fit the GS in the room
3. It rained heavily on the way down, today is overcast and looks like rain as well

[Balrog]

After getting rained on all morning, the weather finally picked up as we passed through the buller gorge.
That was the last rain we got on the whole trip.

1. The Days route
2. Lots of cool tracks in the Buller gorge
3. MagicFairy tries out her replacement sun glasses
4. Nice place to stay at Punakaiki
5. The beach outside our motel

[Balrog]

Day three sees us heading down to Franz Joseph.
On the way down we make a detour to checkout Lake Kaniere

1. The days route
2. Some Lake shots, stunning scenery here
3. Nice little water fall

[Balrog]

We did the run down to Queenstown today.
Bit nippy on the way over the crown range, not raining though

1. The days route
2. Morning view from Franz Joseph
3. Top of the crown range

[Balrog]

Plan for today is to get the bike onto the Earnslaw and take it over to Walter Peak.
Then ride down to the main road and head over to our friends place in Waitahuna.

1. The days route
2. Waiting to get on the Earnslaw
3. Nice view in Queenstown, but to touristy for our liking
4. Squeezing the GS on
5. Fun doing a 180 in this tiny space
6. On the way over

[Balrog]

1. Just about to dock at Walter Peak
2. Putting the luggage back on, wouldn't fit up the gang plank
3. Few scenic shots of the way down

[dino3310]

cool mate fantastic keep em coming, hopefully one day soon i'l get down there for a tour.

[Balrog]

1. Few more scenery shots
2. Parked up at South Mavora Lake, could have spent all day here

[Balrog]

Spent a couple of days with some friends in Waitahuna.

Went for a blat down to Nugget Point with Jon on his newly reconditioned
GPZ 900.
Couldn't pass up playing around on the Farm

[Balrog]

All good things must come to an end, and its time to start the run home.

The original plan was to head back up the west coast again ( because I love it )
but the weather forecast was pretty bad so we decided to head up the middle.

Originally we were going to try and stay at Mt Cook, but that involved to much road work so we decided mid ride to head over Danseys pass instead.

1. The Days route
2. Programming in a quick route change for Danseys pass
3. hmmm beer
4. hmmmm GS
5. top of the pass

[Balrog]

A day of straight roads and tarseal.

1. The days route
2. Pit stop at Lake Tekapo

[Balrog]

As we'd made up a bit of time the previous day we had some room to head around Port Underwood on the way home.
A nice bit of off road to finish off the trip.

1. the days route
2. Notice the survival gear. Water, Shapes and Chocolate
3. View of the bay
4. View of the MagicFairy
5. And lastly getting mugged by two ducks in Picton

And after spending ten days in the South Island, I could just turn around and do the whole trip again.
I Love it

[NordieBoy]

Excellent stuff

[marks]

awesome stuff Jim

(note that I don't use a wari nana for just any RR)

makes me want to head of and follow your tracks

bout time you came for a ride with us lowlifes isn't it????

[cooneyr]

You lucky lucky bastards. We're jealous! Cool photos.

Cheers R