Looking for comments on this route

[cromagnon]

Day 4. You can include a run up to Glenorchy ... you WONT regret it ...

Is that near paradise?

[FJRider]

is that near paradise?

yes ..........

[MD]

Maddad, I believe you are hiring BMW GS650s. I don't know what their tank range is so I can't comment on the risk of running out of gas. I ride around the Sth Island at least once or twice a year, usually in a large group of 8 to 14. We have some 1098s in our group with 15L tanks and they cope..but only just. Ideally any bike that can manage 250km on a tank and you will be fine.

We don't bother booking motel rooms in advance. That way we can change the route anytime to follow the fine weather. As a rule if the West Coast is wet the east will be dry. We just avoid HW1 at all costs apart from Picton to Christchurch which is OK. Then we often detour inland from Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs. Hanmer Springs is a worthwhile stopover as well.

From Fox Glacier through Haast to Lake Hawea can test some bikes range. There is gas at Haast Junction, get a top up there. While there take the time to ride the 55kms along the coast to Jackson Bay. Absolutely beautiful spot and it is the most southern destination you can reach on the West Coast. Nice to cover the most southern and northern (Karamea) if you have time.

Some of best dead ends to do are; Milford Sounds, Jackson Bay, Karamea, Akaroa, Mt Cook (The Hermitage) and Farewell Spit.

Let us all know how your trip went afterwards.
Mark
Edit_ Did you mean you were using the F650 twin, not GS650 single. The F series twins have a big tank range. I owned a BMW F800S

[maddad]

Its the F650GS Twin that we've rented.

Keep getting those letters backwards. And that's not promising for me trying to remember to drive on the other side of the road.

Thanks for the continued information. I'll keep adjusting my route for some of these side trips.

As for coming back. I passed through NZ on my way back from Australia about 8 years ago. Only had 24 hours in Auckland, but got to Pia Beach, One Tree Hill and thought this is the one place in the world where I had to come back to. I can still picture those site sin my mind.

8 years later, one of the older guys (70 going on 30) that we've done trips with mentioned that it was on his bucket list to bike around NZ. We were surprised as he grew up in AU. But regardless, what's a guy to do but to help a friend ensure his bucket list gets completed.

[ellipsis]

...a lot of visitors coming down here to do what you are doing are under the impression that it will take a long while to see the whole of the Sth Island, and it could if you stopped everywhere...fuel on the east coast will not be a problem...on your way to Haast its fairly important to refuel at Makarora as its a wild bit of country and probably the longest stretch without fuel...the more tourist oriented the place, eg Franz Josef are fairly difficult at times to find a bed but the pubs you pass on the way are cool places to stay and usually very reasonably priced...you get what you pay for tho...Whataroa pub before you get to Franz is a good example...the last time my wife and I did a sth island loop, we decided that we didnt know where we were going and the only stipulation we made was that we had to stay in a pub that had certain brand of beer advertised on its sign...made it real easy on the decisions...

[FJRider]

fuel on the east coast will not be a problem...on your way to Haast its fairly important to refuel at Makarora as its a wild bit of country and probably the longest stretch without fuel...

Daylight fuel is really no longer an issue on the west coast ... Haast is easily reached from Wanaka, (Makarora charge an arm and a leg. a nice place to stop though.) Fox has a gas station ... 110 km's north of Haast. Whataroa has gas, as has Hari hari, Ross, Hokitika ... Punakaiki ... Westport ... Karamea.

Prices do vary ... but if you need it ...

[yod]

Makarora charge an arm and a leg..

so does Inangahua...

[jimichelle]

Another question for you...

Have heard we don't want to be on bikes at night due to animals. But then again, you haven't seen one of our moose.

the only problems from akaroa to chch from dusk is the sun strike and the squadrons of little bugs which fly formation at bike height which will hit you around lake forsth full face down or keep your mouth shut your choice but in saying that dont do the trip just because its dark

[Ocean1]

Have heard we don't want to be on bikes at night due to animals.

Someone's taking the piss mate.

The only native animal here is a wee small bat. Never seen one.

The only imports are farm stock and bloody australians. You're free to hit the possums.

If you find yourself in Wellington with an hour to spare let me know and I'll buy you a bear. Beer, damit, beer.

[Gremlin]

Have heard we don't want to be on bikes at night due to animals. But then again, you haven't seen one of our moose.

This is more pertinent to Australia, and all the locals will tell you. Kangaroos are real good at jumping out and either doing serious damage or killing you.

In NZ, we mainly have rabbits, possums and the odd hedgehogs. The wabbits are really wascully and will either race you, race at you, or race away, sometimes all of the above. Go ahead and run the bastards over. Just try not to kick them, as that hurts at speed.

Possums are the most common form of road kill, and have a penchant for staring at bright lights, absolutely frozen. This works out really bad for them during the night (also really easy for hunters, who carry torches). Go ahead and run the vermin over.

Hedgehogs are slow moving, normally after the nice warm road surface. They usually don't notice vehicles until you've already passed. Try not to run them over, as they are kinda cute, and could shorten the life of your tyre.

If in isolated areas, you could have cows, sheep, dogs, and just about anything else you could imagine, but they are far less common.

[wild rose]

Not sure if it has been mentioned already but when you are anywhere close to Naseby, I would recommend to divert to Naseby and visit the Dansey Pass Coach Inn. Incredible place, fire cracking, good beer and food is served, a piece of heaven. I found it by taking a "shortcut" from SH83 to Ranfurly (through Dansey Pass - not sure if its possible in April, gotta check the conditions) but from Naseby it's not bad road at all.

here's link to the inn: http://www.danseyspass.co.nz/

[junkmanjoe]

Yep Dansey pass is a great trip...this is the dansey pass hotel...Arthur's pass is worth doing...Benmore dam is worth a visit...the Kaikoura coast road is a stunning ride on a sunny day...

i enjoy riding the south island and i have unfinished trip to do there some time soon..
enjoy your time in the south.

JMJ

[lockhead83]

G'day!!!
you have probably got all the information that you need. I did this last dec,10. I rented a bike (yamaha FZR6) from christchurch.Started on 26th even and was back on 30th arvo.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
205549585616509776656.00049b984252fc5d0d42a

Only one suggestion/recommendation. Carry some spare socks and an extra pair of gloves. keep an eye on the weather and have a contingency plan . I literally got screwed riding as I was completely unprepared. All my gear was rented and boy o boy, how it started acting up after the first heavy downpour.

I haven't really gone through what others have recommended you but still thought it's worth letting you know. Also, keep that temptation in control . I have earned myself 40 demerit points

Have fun, ride safe....... N don't think too much... you'll be fine

[MikeNash]

hiya, check out the story Mike Nash wrote on a ride down in the South Island, lots of photos which may make you wanna check this route around lake Tekapo, Mount John Observatory and Mckenzie Basin which is a World Heritage Park http://bottomoftheworld.net/motorcyc...enture-tourism

[maddad]

Sorry to pull up an old thread, really happy to be finally getting to New Zealand.

Had to cancel our trip to NZ twice now due to one of the wives having surgery, but are on schedule to arrive on Mar 6 and take 12 days to see the South Island. Had to increase our riding time by 3 days in NZ plus 2 days in Sydney on the way back home due to flight availability. Damn shame that is.

Route looks like the following... Hoping to meet up with some of you, meet, greet and get a local tour. Still have to go back through this thread and pick out all those places people mentioned.

Mar 7 - Pick up bikes in Christ Church at noon and day trip out to Akora
Mar 8 - Christchurch to Dunedin
Mar 9 - Dunedin to Invercargill
Mar 10 - Irvercargill to Te Anau (maybe Milford Sound or Milford Sound on 11th)
Mar 11 - Te Anau to Wanaka
Mar 12 - Day trip from Wanaka
Mar 13 - Wanaka to Fox Glacier
Mar 14 - Fox Glacier to Westport
Mar 15 - Wesport to Karamea to Nelson
Mar 16 - Day Trip from Nelson
Mar 17 - Nelson to Christ Church
Mar 18 - Return Bikes by noon and head to Australia

We are pretty used to doing 600 to 1000 kilometer days in Canada/US so we are expecting to be able to pick up a lot of the side trips that have been mentioned.

What I'm not sure about at this point, are those places that may not be bike related that we shoudl see along the way. I want to avoid getting to the hotel that night and being told we should have stopped by to see something that was 100 meters off the side of the road.

Starting to get excited about this. It's been about 10 years since I was in NZ and at that time for just 36 hours. Into our winter here now, so haven't been on a bike in 2 months and my next ride is going to be in your country.

The throttle is still on the right side isn't it? Darn Australian that's coming with us keeps telling us driving on the left isn't bad butthe throttle on the left is a bugger to get used to.