BEST ROADS

[ben444]

The Catlins road between Invercargill and Balclutha is just brilliant now that it's all sealed... Had a blast on it on a borrowed ZX6RR.. Do that road before all the tourists discover it..

[Big Dave]

Any road the sports bikes are too scared to ride is a good road by me - and it has no cafe either....maybe a fish n chip shop if I'm lucky.

[oldrider]

One of my favourite rides is from Otematata (Home) to Oturehua (Brass Monkey). Via Dansey Pass. Exactly 150km x 2hrs. Might sound slow but it can be all things to motorcycling, summer or winter it's different every time, believe me. The nicest ride is visiting our son at a place called Athol. We go through the Lindis Pass, Wanaka, Crown Range, Queenstown, Kingston to Athol. 285km x 2 3/4hrs. This is a really nice ride. About 10km gravel to the homestead. Stay a night or two and then do the ride back the other way. Bloody Magic, only way to describe it. I just can't believe I'm alive on some of our roads down here. We find just doing it, is more satisfying than how fast these days. Been there done that. That goes for everything, must be an age thing.
Lots of fast bits, twisties, ups,(highest main road in NZ) downs, towns, more twisties and other options. Degree of skill depends on how you want to attack it! Down side is it's a tourist trail but you play it as you see it. Cheers John. PS: watch out for scumdog!

[Big Dave]

Ahh - puts touring writer's hat on.
My Current Top 10.

1. Te Anau to Milford Sound.
2. Queenstown to Glenorchy
3. Buller Gorge
4. Takaka Hill
5. Queen Charlotte Drive
6. Waioeka Gorge
7. The Paraparas
8. Coromandel Peninsula
9. West Coast SI
10. Waipoua Forest

This was in KR a few years ago:

[Bonez]

And dont forget this one...

n this one

[inlinefour]

hey all..

i am putting together a list of the best roads in NZ to ride and i would like your input.

what i need is :
ROAD) where at( between X and X)
DISTANCE (approx)
SKILL RATING) 1-10
SURFACE RATING) 1-10
FEATURES) cafes/ lookouts/police etc
COMMENTS) ie: twisty/mountains/mossy/trucks, etc

any help would be appreciated.. i will post the file here when complete and have printouts available at Colemans..

NZ has such great bike roads.. seems a shame to keep them to ourselves

I've got a book on good motorcycle rides in NZ. PM me if you want any details as its all in there. My favourite localish one is NP to Awakino George and back.

[PLUG]

Anything gravel. Am off to the Pissed Penguin rally at Kaka point tomorrow (on the coast out from Balclutha). Black top it it down to Albury (Sth Cant) then hang a left through the MacKenzie Pass & on to the Haldon Rd. This turns in to a Pylon track through Black Forest Station (30k) which comes out at the Benmore Dam. Down to Duntroon & hang a right through the Danseys Pass (stopping at the pub) & on into Ranfurly & camp the nite. Carry on down through Patearoa & Paerau & onto the old Dunstan rd coming out at Clarks Junction on Hiway 87. Head down 87 & hang a right heading to lake Mahinerangi & onto Lawerance, stright across Hiway 8 & back road it into Balclutha & onto Kaka Point. Black top it all the way home up the coast Sunday.

[vifferman]

Better still, Mr Mitchell has just released the Motorcycling Atlas of NZ. Hits the shelves in September and includes decent, detailed, fold out maps.

Well, it must be September then.
The vifferbabe bought it for me yesterday, and gave it to me last night for Sunday? (father's day / our wedding anniversarary).
We were going to do an overnighter on Saturday, but she was worried about #2 son.
Anyone want to borrow him for the weekend? He can fix electronics, computers and stuff (and probably drive you nuts...)

[oldrider]

Plug, we live opposite the school at Otematata (Benmore dam village) if you are going that way, coffee break? You probably go strait around and over Aviemore dam down to Kurow. Have you got access for locked gate at Benmore? (obviously I guess) Just a thought. Cheers John.

[PLUG]

Cheers John. There will be 2 of us, probably there early arvo.

[Reefer]

Great piece of road I like to "practice" on (just got back into biking after a long break) is Woodcocks Rd here in Warkworth (it was fully sealed,middle 5ks, about 8mths ago) some good corners and nice twisties through the hill section (2kms) Take the road at the corner of Mahurangi College and it will take you all the way to Highway 16. Or if your coming from Hellensville take the first turnoff on right with the large "Warkworth" sign. Watch for the new tarseal half way through. Been reading the site for over a year and 1st post!! Trying to hook up with a ride but always something on!! Hope to catch up and meet some KB's soon. (P.S. I always wave to fellow bikers, even Harley's!!)

[vifferman]

Been reading the site for over a year and 1st post!! Trying to hook up with a ride but always something on!! Hope to catch up and meet some KB's soon. (P.S. I always wave to fellow bikers, even Harley's!!)

Hi, Reefer!
Welcome to the Kiwi Biker gargre.

[oldrider]

Plug, I will stay home and wait for you to come through. Rock clad house in front of A-frame opposite the school. I will park my bike where you can see it. Cheers John.

[oldrider]

PLUG and his mate turned up right on time, had a spot to eat and a cuppa, then we all rode across the Dansey Pass. Bloody good ride. Bloody good blokes. Bloody good pub. They went on to Ranfurly and I came back home. Thanks to Kiwi Biker, two new friends. Cheers John.

[Virago]

i've driven the road between Dunedin - Wanaka through Cromwell quite a few times (last weekend the most recent)........

Yes I can vouch for the Dunedin to Central Otago road. We have a caravan in Cromwell - roll on summer..... .

From Cromwell you can do "the loop" ride, riding up to Wanaka, then across the Crown Range road to Queenstown, then back to Cromwell. Or the other way round if so inclined.

Cromwell to Wanaka has a choice of two roughly parallel routes, the east road (toward Tarras) is probably the more fun and scenic route.

"The Loop" is roughly 200km from Cromwell and return, fully sealed, and you're spoilt for choice for refreshment stops. The scenery is stunning, especially over the Crown Range. A delightful mix of straights and twisties, lots of hairpin bends as you drop down into Queenstown.

The ideal ride for me means not covering the same road on the way back. This ride is perfect!