Advice wanted on SI roads and passes

[FJRider]

Get a hold of "Real Journeys" (previously Fiordland Travel) they own/run the TSS Earnslaw. The track into Walter peak is gravel but doable even on a GN250. They have taken bikes on the Earnslaw before ... and will save a LONG round trip. (And be in the bar/bed sooner)

[unstuck]

Yes true, you've had the odd drop, we've heard a little north of the Bombays, something about lazy workers closing roads.

Do us a favour and dry these roads out for us eh? There's a good boy.

Consider it done.

[scumdog]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.

[FJRider]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.

So it's improved then ... ??

[unstuck]

So it's improved then ... ??

Yep.

[neels]

If you're coming back via arthurs pass to chch, old christchurch road, stafford loop road, or kumara-inchbonnie road are all good detours

[rustic101]

For the state highways down there:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/curr...th-island.html

Fiordland have a special one can't remember it... Worths checking due to rock falls at the mo but should be listed. There are also message board on the roadside updated in real time.

Not sure about the local roads/tracks..

[Jantar]

..... There are also message board on the roadside updated in real time.

Not sure about the local roads/tracks..

Not too many message boards on the roads Gremlin and Toto are looking at.

[R650R]

The YHA hostel at Franz Joseph has been good for me, bit bigger and busier now though. The flash hot pools up the road are a nice end of the day soak.

At Arthurs pass there are lots of keas, don't leave anything loose that you don't want to lose!

If you end up in Hamner Springs there is a smaller backpackers in a big A frame lockwood style house just past the shops, good place to stay.

[Gremlin]

Constant heavy showers and rather cool here right now FYI.

Stop that would ya? Mud doesn't make for nearly as fun a day...

Not too many message boards on the roads Gremlin and Toto are looking at.

Too right... most try to scare you away, like this one:

At Arthurs pass there are lots of keas, don't leave anything loose that you don't want to lose!

If you end up in Hamner Springs there is a smaller backpackers in a big A frame lockwood style house just past the shops, good place to stay.

We usually stay at Hanmer Backpackers on Rutherford Cres (might be the one you're thinking of, log walls etc). Not enough time this trip unfortunately, so maybe next year we'll do Rainbow again. Toto found the limits of his road tyre equipped CB900 on Maling Pass after completing the Rainbow Rd... so unfinished business.

Don't worry, know all about those crafty buggers. Even educated some family that visited, to the point they ran to attraction and ran back to the van, in case the Keas came!

[unstuck]

Now thats the kind of road sign that I like to see. My brother has a place at Franz if you are stopping there, its pretty basic though, but he has plenty of tools and stuff.

[Skiwi]

The first part of the Old Dunstan trail should be no problem that time of year, even on road tyres if its dry. The GN will find it tough but quite doable. From the middle part of the old Dunstan trail you have the option of continuing with the northern half past Poolburn to Moa Creek, or taking the road to Serpentine then over Deep Creek Road to Onslow. All these roads are rideable, even on a GN with suitable tyres. Depending on my roster I may even join you on part of this ride.

The Serpentine Church on Rough Ridge is not rideable except on a pure dirt bike with BIG Knoblies. Even then go in a large group and take a swamp anchor and a winch.

I was going to reply as this smack bang in my playground, and im out in it nearly ever week, but Jantar is bang on the money, couldn't have written it better myself.

The only thing I have to add is the Nevis is worth the effort, there is only one ford to be wary of, unless its just been raining.
Cheers
Skiwi

[husaberg]

As we're all travellers of the roads less travelled I thought you guys may be able to help with some advice. After the TT2000, Toto and I are doing a little tiki tour of the south, as usual biting off a few more roads we've never done.

Monday is Chch to Ranfurly, via Hakataramea and Danseys Pass, I've done at night, Toto never done. Any tips on accommodation in that town? We normally go for pubs or backpackers, so anything we should avoid or aim for?

Tuesday is Ranfurly, down Hyde-Middlemarch onto Old Dunstan Rd. I hear there is a stunning church on the intersection of Serpentine and Long Valley Ridge Road? Of the three roads (Deep Creek, Serpentine and Long Valley), which is the best to use? I believe Serpentine is very rough? I'll have the GSA, Toto the GN250 probably, but loaded with luggage, so want to steer clear of very hard stuff, but still enjoy water crossings etc (just not bike swallowing rivers). I think Crawford Hills Rd looks the nicer option out, as then you do the whole of Old Dunstan, unless Lake Onslow is better (but you have to use Serpentine)? Accommodation for the night is probably Alexandra, again, anything to aim for or avoid?

Wednesday is planned for Nevis Rd and over to Te Anau, that should be fine (building in extra time in case anything happens). Info on Hawksburn Rd seems hard to come by, so is it doable, or do we need to go in via Bannockburn? I think we'll avoid Carricktown, as that's uh... very track-ish... We'll do Milford Sound this day, or the following, just depending on how time goes and weather situation, neither of us have done it for at least a couple of years, and we'll seek to include Hollyford Rd, simply because we've never been.

Thursday is Te Anau to Queenstown, again, might do Milford early, depending on what weather we get. Detour via Von Rd to see Queenstown from the other side of Lake Wakatipu, then back out and around... Should have some spare time, but if not, it's two nights anyway (Toto surprised me that he's never been to the tourist trap). Want to go north of Glenorchy and explore the roads and also do Skippers Rd. From seeing a few 4WD vids, I think the route out to Macetown is out of our league, with a lot of big water crossings?

Saturday we'll do SH6 to Franz Josef, stunning scenery and Toto (again) has never seen the glaciers... makes it a must do then.

Sunday looping back to Chch via Arthurs Pass (never realised there was a lookout over the Otira Gorge) to start the drag back to Auckland on Monday.... anything I've missed we should be including?

You must not miss the coast road to Westport if you have time go to karamea it will mean back tracking but then go down the lower Buller gorge.
if you had the time i would carry on up to Murchison then down to Springs over the Shenandoah hop back over the saddle back to Reefton then through to Greymouth (via Atarau) back to Kumara and then onto Arthurs pass.

[Gremlin]

You must not miss the coast road to Westport if you have time go to karamea it will mean back tracking but then go down the lower Buller gorge.

Yep, done that, Karamea is a great ride. Thinking we might do more of Buller Gorge if we can, still ironing out a few demands on time (may not have to go back to Chch, which would mean Buller is possible.

if you had the time i would carry on up to Murchison then down to Springs over the Shenandoah hop back over the saddle back to Reefton then through to Greymouth (via Atarau) back to Kumara and then onto Arthurs pass.

Ta, I'll look up some of those names as I'm not familiar with them.

[dmoo1790]

Hi Gremlin, we just did the Nevis Rd and a bunch of other roads/tracks down south. The water levels were pretty low so none of the fords were more than, say, 600 mm deep. Got up and over the bottom of the engine on the 690 but never as high as the exhaust. The Nevis was surprisingly rough in a few spots where it looked like the road had been washed out and diverted and repaired. Ground clearance might be a little tight on the GN in one or two spots. Give it a go anyway. You can always turn around and back track.

If you're keen on fords than have a go at the Macetown track. Only doable if the river level is low.