Going round the South Island

[unstuck]

Some familiar places there(having trouble with the one with the ship though) looks like it was a great trip. cheers.

[grusomhat]

Have fun, some awesome roads down South.

Excuse the quality

[DrunkenMistake]

I've always wanted to do a South Island trip. Maybe one day...

Stay in CHCH long enough and im sure you will just naturally move around the south island..

[Countyman]

I'm not sure if I should put this here or start another one. Anyway we're off to the North Island this time.
Ross from Manapouri on his 109 and trailer , Blair from Invercargill on his Buell and me on my Marauder and trailer.
We are going to leave from my place at Waitati on the morning of the 26th of April . Murray from Rangiora on his BMW will join us and we will meet another Ross ,from Brightwater, on his VRod, at Picton . We are staying there and catching the Bluebridge ferry at 8 oclock on Friday morning.
From Wellington we are off to Hawera for the night then to the Rural Riders Rally on Saturday.
We are going to have a bit of a Tiki Tour for the next week or so.
I am thinking about a look at the West Coast and then shoot across to the East Coast and go round East Cape and down that side.Planning on being back in Wellington about the following Friday.
Now the big question is what things should we do?.Any must sees?

[Countyman]

Well we made it back. Here's the story.
Anzac Day.Ross ,from Manapouri , on his 109 and trailer and Blair, from Invercargill , on his Buell arrived at Waitati so we could get an early start.
Thursday just after 8am we were on the road. It was a bit cold but warmed up the further north we went. Fuel and coffee at Timaru and through to Amberley for lunch at the Blue Dairy which I owned from '97 till 2002. Murray , from Rangiora on his BMW met us there and after lunch and fuel we were off to Picton. Fuelled at Kaikoura and Blenheim and we arrived at Picton about 6.30.
We stayed at Tourist Court Motels in High St . Ross ,from Brightwater was already there. He rides a V Rod which he bought in Indianapolis and rode across the US before shipping to NZ a few years ago. He was waiting at the Flying Haggis down the street so we went and had a few beers and a good meal and a few more beers. Then they closed so we went round the corner to an Irish bar for a few nightcaps and off to bed so we would be rearing to go nice and early.
Friday 6.30 out of bed and into the shower . FAIL. No hot water in the shower so a quick wash. You can stay at a decent motel in Picton for the same money. It was pouring down but the nice people at Bluebridge Ferries let us go to the front of the que and we were soon up the slippery slope and tied the beasts down. We had our own tiedowns but they did have a decent selection of ropes available to use. A nice breakfast, a wee snooze and we arrived in Wellington ready to face the traffic. It was a breeze. Rain had cleared and we had a good run till the rain threatened so near Sanson we put on our WWG. Rain held off and I thought I might take it off again . The others were leaving theirs on so I did too. Heading off to Hawera it PISSED DOWN. The heaviest rain I have ever ridden in. Made very interesting riding.The water was about an inch deep on the road . There was nowhere to get out of it so we just kept going. It cleared so we stopped at Patea for a beer and then carried on to Hawera. Along the way the clouds parted and we got a glimpse of Mount Egmont. At Hawera we stayed at Tudor Lodge Motel. It was nice and warm and they made us welcome. Taxi down to a bar for drinks and dinner and drinks.
Saturday. Breakfast at Barries Bar and off to Stratford. It's 150ks from Stratford to Taumaranui so we fuelled up and headed off along the “Forgotten World Highway”. What a great road . It was still a bit wet and slippery in the shaded parts but what a brilliant ride.I reckon we only met about a dozen vehicles in 150ks. A couple of passes and we arrived at Whangamomona. There were about 50 bikes parked at the pub when we arrived and even with my ear plugs in I could still hear the cheering. They obviously thought I had brought them some Speights in my trailer. A couple of beers and we headed off to Te Hora to the Annual Rural Riders ANZAC Rally. They parked a truck in a shed for the band years ago and then added on to it a few times.You can still see the truck in there and the band still plays on the deck but it 's well and truly built in. They included a massive hungi in the entry fee. It was brilliant as was the band as well as the other musicians. Lots of good old boys enjoying the atmosphere. They have music concerts there at other times of the year also. There are flush toilets and even have showers. The woolshed has a heap of matresses if you don't have yours with you. I had my 2 person tent and we stuffed 3 air beds in it and I was in the middle between the 2 Ross's. It was cosy but there was some complaining.
Sunday. Packed up and went to Taumaranui for brunch. Murray left us there and headed for Wellington. He had a booking on the Monday morning ferry. There is 16ks of gravel which was almost as smooth as the seal. A couple more passes and a tunnel and a look out , off the road a bit ,gives a good view right across to Lake Taupo. The bush along the Forgotten Highway is very thick with a few goats grazing. Real tiger country. We went around the Western Bays to Taupo, stopping at Huka Falls and then into Taupo to my sisters for afternoon tea. Leaving Taupo via the new bypass to Wairaki and then a quick whizz to Rotorua for the night. We stayed at the Boulevard Motel and Restaurant on Fenton St. They were very helpful and pleasant. We were able to park our bikes outside our unit and they had a good laundry and a great big drying room. We got a cab to the Citizens Club for an excellent meal and a few drinks .
Monday morning we had a bit of a look around Rotovagas and went up on the Skyline Gondola to do the Luge. This was the highlight of our trip ,for me anyway,. What a hoot. I had a ball. Just about laughed myself hoarse. We only bought 3 rides. Wish we'd bought more. Next time I go there I will ride the thing all day . Wear your motor bike gear but use their helmets. You don't want to damage yours.The intermediate track is about twice as long as the advanced one and you can go pretty quick on it. I would alternate between them. Back on the bikes and off to Whakatane. Nice looking town. Opotiki next.Not so nice.
We carried on towards East Cape, looking for some where to stay. We had been told about a place at Te Kaha. A resort or something. It was almost dark when we arrived and as there didn't seem to be anywhere else we thought it might be worth a look. HOLY CRAP. You've got to see this place. Te Kaha Resort was built by speculators using finance company money. When the units didn't sell it all went tits up, the Receivers moved in , the poor old investers lost their nest eggs and it was eventually sold to the people who now run it. Might be a bit of treaty settlement money involved, me thinks. Anyway it was excellent. We got a unit for $150. Our bikes were locked in the basement. They have had 70 bikes in there. Beer was cheap, food was good and the view was amazing. This place was #1 of the places we stayed.
Tuesday. Excellent breakfast in the dining room which looks out over the pool back towards Whakatane.
A nice sunny morning and we're off to East Cape. We had been told that the roads around East Cape have been wrecked by the logging trucks. Crap, they are excellent.I think it's a plan to discourage us from going there. Bays and more bays till we reached East Cape and all we had to do was climb 700 steps to the lighthouse. Eventually made it and the view was worth it. No luge here so 700 back down again. The road from Te Araroa to the Cape (20ks) starts out as gravel then seal for a while then gravel for the last few ks. It was hard going but worth the effort. Lunch at Te Araroa then to Ruatoria for fuel. A bit of a let down. No houses burning, wild rastas on horses and no vigilanties. Had a look at Tokomaru bay and Tolaga bay ,both uninspiring but the riding was great. Decided to head to Gisborne as we figured we would have a better chance of finding a decent motel. The weather was getting a bit cold and there was some hail on the road side on top of some saddles. In Gisborne we stayed at the White Heron Motel in Gladstone Rd. Wandered down to the bottle store to get a box of beer and to the Chineese takeaway and back to the motel for a warm up and more bonding.
Wednesday.Breakfast at Maccas and on the road. The weather was still cold and stormy but the riding was great. It was 210 ks from Gisborne to the first gas station outside Napier where we stopped and waited for the V Rod to show up. He got held up in a road works . We were thinking we might have to take him some fuel when he showed up. It 11.1 litres to fill the 11.5 litre tank. Lunch in Napier and off to Hastings, Waipukarau, Takapau and to Dannevirke for the night. Wandered down to the Rosie O'Gradys pub for beer ,dinner,more beer and a few more to finish. Very nice bar maid.
Thursday. Breakfast at Maccas. V Rod had to be washed and we're off to Wellington. Nice day. Great roads.
Traffic is well behaved. We went through places I'd heard of but never been to. Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Opaki, Masterton, Carterton and Featherson for lunch. The girl who served us was from Poolburn. Oh I forgot Mangatainoka.We had to call in there just for a coffee mind. I wouldn't be interested in any of those scantily clad women.Well I might have a wee look and few photos . I'm building another trailer and hoping they might supply some stickers for it. Back to the ride. Featherston to Wellington over the Rimutaka Hill . That's a cracker. I can see what the attraction is for motorbikes. Then down the Hutt Valley and into Wellington. Straight to Kent Terrace and booked into Halswell Lodge a stones throw from the Harley/Suzuki shop. We had a look at the new bikes and then walked through the city to Parliament, stopping on the way for a trip on the Cable Car. A few photos and it was time for beer , if you could afford it in Wellington. We managed a few and a meal at the bar across from the motel. A few more beers and the Southlanders retired and the bar closed, so Ross and I took a wander down the street to find another waterhole. A few more and we were ready for bed as we had to check in at the ferry at 7am .
Friday . Onto the ferry, breakfast, another wee snooze and we were back in New Zealand (Mainland). A cracker day in the Sounds and we were in Picton, off the boat ,said cheers to Ross and away again. Fuel at Blenheim and Kaikoura. Lunch at the bakery and off again to Amberley where we turned off and shot down to The Ashley for a beer with my Father in Law and then to Rolliston for the night with Neil and Diane.Lovely meal and a few beers.
Saturday morning. Fuel at BP and down to Glenavy for lunch and a warm up on front of the fire. Said cheers to Ross and Blair at Waitati and up the hill to home. I had done 3500ks and Ross did 3800.
We all agreed it was a great trip and are already planning next years trip to Cape Reinga.
I will attempt to add photos. If it doesn't work I will put them on after.
Cheers Grant

[mulletman]

Awesome

[Countyman]

Some more photos.