South Island route advice

[chrisktm]

Hey guys

I'm after some advice, I want to get from Franz Joseph to Christchurch via Tekapo in the most interesting way. Will be on a big bike but up for anything off road. So yeah, any advice?

[Padmei]

Some say if you are cutting your toenails, not to cut too far back or you can get hangnail.

Oh the other kind of advice...

[Jantar]

From FJ head south to haast, over the Haast Pass and on to Hawea. At Hawea turn left and head to Hawea Flat. Head to Tarras, but detour along McKay Rd, then Jollies Rd.

From Tarras take Ardgour Rd then left onto Thompson's Gorge Rd (19 gates to be opened and closed). From Omakau head east and just short of Ranfurly (you may want fuel here) turn left to Naseby and over the Danseys Pass. West to Kurow then north to hakataramea and over the Haka pass. Follow the road to Tekapo.

[.chris]

Head south, over Haast Pass.
Hawea > Wanaka > Queenstown > Kingston > Over the Nevis Track
Cromwell > Nasby > Over Danseys Pass > Kurow > Over Hakataramera Pass > Tekapo
Fairlie > Geraldine > Ashburton > Christchurch

Will run you to about 1000km. covers a few parts of the Dusty Butt Route, which is a beautie.

Great to hear you got a big bike to do it on.

[rogerh]

You in a hurry, or OK for scenic detours?

Don't know the area really well, but try
1. Thompsons track, over the hill from just south of Tarras over the hill to the Lauder rd
2. Then via St Bathans, and back over the Omarama Saddle to the main rd again
3. Down to Benmore, then over the black forest stn rd to the main rd just East of Tekapo
4. I also like up the side of Lake Tekapo into the Lillybank area
5. Go up Mt John, the other side of Tekapo. Cool view, and interesting place

Let me know if you want more specific directions.
All pretty easy on a big bike. All formed roads. Don't know the area well enough to suggest more off road oriented.

[cooneyr]

Thompsons track, Omarama saddle (big or little), Black Forest or Haka, Makenzies pass, Brothers Rd. All do able two up for a man of your skills. If you find anything interesting between Geraldine and Chch let me know.

Couple of other bits end of Ida valley to Kurow (red line on this years Dusty Butt route - here if your keen. I've taken a 950 over it but with a pillion it would be a touch difficult for us mere mortals. PM me for contact details (only the very northern end through private property). Also Orari Gorge. PM Mattsdakar for contact details.

Cheers R

[clint640]

Good advice above, heaps of neat stuff in that area. If you can stretch it a bit further south you can tie in a couple of my favourite routes down there: across Wakatipu on the Earnslaw then out the Von & past Mavora, then loop back on the highway to do the Nevis.

Both the Nevis & the Big Omarama Saddle have lots of little stream crossings so are good fun to splash around in on a warm day

Cheers
Clint

[Taz]

I so wanted to do the Earnslaw route when I was down there but the lake wasn't playing ball.....

[LBD]

You want interesting?...Scenic? $1500 should get your bike slung under a helicopter from Franz to Mt Cook....

For those on the TT2000 I am taking names of those interested in the same from the Divide near Milford to the Dart Bridge.....$1000......

[NordieBoy]

Use a non-autorouting gps.
Put in Franz, ChCh and Tekapo as waypoints.

Don't deviate from the track line.

Take lots of photos