Through the twisties

[Geordie_Biker6]

Hey guys. Planning a ride up to picton from christchurch but want to do something a bit different than state highway 1. Anyone got any good routes to take on the way? not after anything more than 10 hours in the seat though. was tjinking about heading through arthurs pass to greymouth then cutting back accross further up into picton.

Thanks in advance.

GB.

[hayd3n]

my answer is YES
go that way!!!

[pritch]

Arthur's Pass is a waste of time since they put that big bridge thing in, but then coming back over the Lewis Pass would make even that worthwhile. You could then take the inland road to Kaikoura.
Turn off SH7 to SH70 at Mouse Point after the Hanmer turn off. Although having been there a couple of times I have no recollection of Mouse Point. There may not be too much to see there?

[Devil]

Lewis pass through springs junction, up the buller, through murchison, nelson, and throught the rai valley etc, then queen charlotte drive into Picton.

[Maha]

Something I am looking at doing later on in the year when the warm weather rolls back in.
Headbanger had a thread up a couple of years ago about his trip in the South Island..looked a great route.

[Transalper]

I recently decided I like the lewis more than the Arthurs, hard to put a finger on a single reason why.
The following saddle time estimates are based on GPS maps and software and do not include scenec and rest stops etc. though if you are going to forget about the safe riding 'system' and not worry about crashing in to u-turning or Joe public then you could obviously arrive quicker...


I'd go Lewis, Springs Junction, Murchison, Nelson, Queen Charlott to Picton. (~519km, ~6 hours)

To extend it out more options like at Springs Junction turn left to Reefton then Inangahua to Murchison and then continue same as above (~558km, ~6hours 38minutes)
or at Reefton continue left again down to Greymouth and up the coast to the Buller Gorge then over to Inangahua and on to Murchison, Nelson etc as above. (~886km, ~10hours 30minutes a bit long me thinks)
or Do Arthurs, Greymouth, coast, Buller Gorge, Inangahua, Murchison etc (~667km, ~8hours)
or Arthurs, Greymouth, Reefton, Springs Junction, Murchison etc (~691km, ~8hours 20minutes).
Really there are many many possible combinations, it's all pretty good once you get off the Canterbury Plains flat bits.

[Big Dave]

The best bet is to check the weather forecast - then decide.

It will probably be raining on one side of the Island.

The Inland Kaikoura route is a good ride if the West Coast is inundated. Out to Port Underwood to Picton is also outstanding.

Otherwise Arthur's and Buller Gorge is one of the best rides on the planet (in anything better than rainy conditions).

[Muppet]

Arthur's Pass is a waste of time since they put that big bridge thing in, but then coming back over the Lewis Pass would make even that worthwhile. You could then take the inland road to Kaikoura.
Turn off SH7 to SH70 at Mouse Point after the Hanmer turn off. Although having been there a couple of times I have no recollection of Mouse Point. There may not be too much to see there?

You're only on the "big bridge thing" for 10 to 15 seconds, the rest of the road is fantastic.

[Big Dave]

You're only on the "big bridge thing" for 10 to 15 seconds, the rest of the road is fantastic.

Agreed. It's an impressive viaduct too.

[PrincessBandit]

Geography is not my strong point (esp for the SI) but for a couple of his 2wheeled trips down to Rangiora Balu has gone over Mt Lyford and really enjoyed that. Don't know if that works in with the route you are planning.