Advice wanted on SI roads and passes

**Gremlin** · 17th January 2013, 14:07

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?

**Rosie** · 17th January 2013, 14:34

Originally Posted by Gremlin

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?

Things to avoid, and things to aim for? You should avoid Ranfurly and aim for Naseby

Or, Dansey's Pass has a cool pub.

**mattsdakar** · 17th January 2013, 14:38

Doing this on GN250..you can't be serious??
You don't want to take a GN250 anywhere near the Dunstan trail with road tyres, it will be very muddy and the sepentine church you are referring to is beautiful for it's remoteness..that is a trailbikes only trail...you'll be fine going down the Haka and over Danseys...stay at Danseys Hotel on the south side it's a magic spot.
I've been thru the Nevis in February and one of the fords was waist deep, wouldn't go thru there unless it hasn't rained for sometime.
Mavora Lakes to Wakatipu is doable but book the Earnslaw ahead and take the old steamer across the lake to Queenstown, it's along way to double back and taking the bikes on the boat is a novity and makes great photo's.
Good luck

**dmoo1790** · 17th January 2013, 14:57

Agree that you probably won't make it to the Serpentine church. Too deep ruts and rough even if it's bone dry.

Confirm Macetown is no go. Needs to be very dry to get across the river and still probably too rough for the GN.

Also agree that Nevis is no go. Lots of muddy water crossings which would probably bog both bikes.

**Gremlin** · 17th January 2013, 14:58

Originally Posted by mattsdakar

Doing this on GN250..you can't be serious??
You don't want to take a GN250 anywhere near the Dunstan trail with road tyres, it will be very muddy and the sepentine church you are referring to is beautiful for it's remoteness..that is a trailbikes only trail...you'll be fine going down the Haka and over Danseys...stay at Danseys Hotel on the south side it's a magic spot.

Toto and his GN250? Oh yes, he's quite serious (seriously mad that is). He'll get knobblies for it (has one, ordering the another), and he's done part of a TT2000 already. This time he wants to complete, and probably set a record for smallest bike. Last year we did the Rainbow Rd, he was on his Hornet CB900, 4 guys on 1200 GS's were quite amazed

Pity about the church... was hoping Long Valley would be easier, but guess not. Also looking up Earnslaw, as that would be pretty cool and unique.

edit: Pity about Nevis too... adventureguide grades it a 2, along with Rainbow and Lees Valley (done them both)...

**dmoo1790** · 17th January 2013, 16:00

I got Nevis mixed up with Carricktown I think. Apart from ford depths (dependent on rain) you should get through the Nevis OK. Sorry for the confusion.

**Bass** · 17th January 2013, 16:56

Ducatijim and I are doing most of the unsealed stuff you mentioned during the fortnight starting Jan 26th. So if you can wait a couple of weeks, we can tell you how it pans out.

**Jantar** · 17th January 2013, 16:57

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.

**Gremlin** · 17th January 2013, 17:14

Originally Posted by Bass

Ducatijim and I are doing most of the unsealed stuff you mentioned during the fortnight starting Jan 26th. So if you can wait a couple of weeks, we can tell you how it pans out.

Yep, no problem. We only leave Auckland morning of 20th Feb, so take lots of piccies! Will look forward to it (especially if your bike is upside down in said pic

)

Originally Posted by Jantar

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.

You're more than welcome to join in the fun Malcolm! We'll definitely be in cruise mode, enjoying the scenery and taking pictures. Any preference over the rest of Dunstan or Onslow? I'm thinking the Poolburn Reservoir would be nice to see...

I think Toto does this deliberately. Every time I'm relishing my massive adventure bike tackling an obstacle he's right there with a freaken GN destroying my moment

**Jantar** · 17th January 2013, 17:24

Originally Posted by Gremlin

... Any preference over the rest of Dunstan or Onslow? I'm thinking the Poolburn Reservoir would be nice to see...

I think Toto does this deliberately. Every time I'm relishing my massive adventure bike tackling an obstacle he's right there with a freaken GN destroying my moment

Preference depends on weather and time. Paerau to Alex via Poolburn is around 2 hours riding rime, Paerau to Alex via Onslow is over 4 hours riding time. If there has been rain prior to the ride then the Onslow route is more difficult with the road turning to wet clay.

**unstuck** · 17th January 2013, 17:25

The Church is ok, not the best old building In central. Awesome skys out there though. The track out there can get really knarly. You can still get to onslow or poolburn piece of piss though by sticking to the dunstan trail.

Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.

**Jantar** · 17th January 2013, 17:27

Originally Posted by unstuck

The Church is ok, not the best old building In central. Awesome skys out there though. The track out there can get really knarly. You can still get to onslow or poolburn piece of piss though by sticking to the dunstan trail.

Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.

I recognise that bog in pic 2. I got through OK, but I still don't know how.

**unstuck** · 17th January 2013, 18:13

Deep creek hut is a great place to stop for a cuppa if you choose the onslow route. Or the old styx jail is a good place too, good camping spot too.

**unstuck** · 17th January 2013, 18:16

This is the old styx jail, the other pic next to the deep creeck hut is in the danseys pass.

**Gremlin** · 17th January 2013, 18:21

Originally Posted by unstuck

Never had a problem in the nevis, but we have been getting quite a lot of rain lately.

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.