Gore to Picton.

[midnight rambler]

Okay, hello to everyone on KB.First post...been lurking on here for a few years.
Just bought a bike in Gore, Guzzi Jackal,and will be picking it up in about 3-4 weeks and heading up to the Picton ferry.Looking at heading up the West coast,but nothing set in concrete so any local advice or info on the best roads heading in a Northerly direction would be appreciated.
Cheers.

[tigertim20]

If it were me, Id go gore - lumsden - queenstown - wanaka (via crown range if it isnt snowy yet) - Haast - westport - murchison - nelson, havelock, queen charlotte drive to picton.

[ellipsis]

...your options get skinnier the further North you ride until you run out of options...just keep heading North...

[flashg]

If it were me, Id go gore - lumsden - queenstown - wanaka (via crown range if it isnt snowy yet) - Haast - westport - murchison - nelson, havelock, queen charlotte drive to picton.

+1, A great choice

[pete376403]

If it were me, Id go gore - lumsden - queenstown - wanaka (via crown range if it isnt snowy yet) - Haast - westport - murchison - nelson, havelock, queen charlotte drive to picton.

Did all of this except Lumsden - Gore going the other way to the brass a few weeks ago - best ride ever

[russd7]

west coast best option unless it is raining, those roads no fun in rain, avoid SH1 as much as possible so if pissing down over the coast then head up the centre, gore, maitland, moa flat, roxburgh for a jimmies pie at the factory, then through to alexandra through clyde and on through tarras then over lindis, through omarama and on to fairlie for another pie then through to geraldine and through the rakaia gorge to colgate then turn off to springfield and over arthurs turn off at jacksons and head on through to the grey vally, make a choice whether to take the long way and drop down to greymouth and head up to the pancake rocks and on to westport then ride the full length of the buller gorge, or take the slightly shorter route and head up to reefton for another pie at the broadway tearooms (recommend the peppersteak) then on up to murchison and through to picton either via nelson or straight up wairau valley (boring). either way ya gonna enjoy it as long as you stay off SH1 as much as possible

[FJRider]

If it were me, Id go gore - lumsden - queenstown - wanaka (via crown range if it isn't snowy yet) - Haast - westport - murchison - nelson, havelock, queen charlotte drive to picton.

If there is a better way/route to travel ... I am not aware of it ...

[granstar]

If there is a better way/route to travel ... I am not aware of it ...

Russd7 way, there are more pie shops open.

[FJRider]

Russd7 way, there are more pie shops open.

BULLSHIT ... there ARE other pie shops. You are just not aware of them. You need to travel more ...

[Honest Andy]

There's an awesome food caravan in a paddock 10km north of St Arnaud, fantastic bacon butties...

[midnight rambler]

west coast best option unless it is raining, those roads no fun in rain, avoid SH1 as much as possible so if pissing down over the coast then head up the centre, gore, maitland, moa flat, roxburgh for a jimmies pie at the factory, then through to alexandra through clyde and on through tarras then over lindis, through omarama and on to fairlie for another pie then through to geraldine and through the rakaia gorge to colgate then turn off to springfield and over arthurs turn off at jacksons and head on through to the grey vally, make a choice whether to take the long way and drop down to greymouth and head up to the pancake rocks and on to westport then ride the full length of the buller gorge, or take the slightly shorter route and head up to reefton for another pie at the broadway tearooms (recommend the peppersteak) then on up to murchison and through to picton either via nelson or straight up wairau valley (boring). either way ya gonna enjoy it as long as you stay off SH1 as much as possible

Thanks pieman, appreciate it. Good to have an alternative route.

[midnight rambler]

There's an awesome food caravan in a paddock 10km north of St Arnaud, fantastic bacon butties...

Mmmmmmm....yum. Cheers, currently working in a land where they know not of Thee "bacon buttie". Oh what a cruel god they have.

[Honest Andy]

... through omarama and ...

Don't forget to wave to Richie

[pritch]

west coast best option unless it is raining, those roads no fun in rain, avoid SH1 as much as possible so if pissing down over the coast then head up the centre, gore, maitland, moa flat, roxburgh for a jimmies pie at the factory, then through to alexandra through clyde and on through tarras then over lindis, through omarama and on to fairlie for another pie then through to geraldine and through the rakaia gorge to colgate then turn off to springfield and over arthurs turn off at jacksons and head on through to the grey vally, make a choice whether to take the long way and drop down to greymouth and head up to the pancake rocks and on to westport then ride the full length of the buller gorge, or take the slightly shorter route and head up to reefton for another pie at the broadway tearooms (recommend the peppersteak) then on up to murchison and through to picton either via nelson or straight up wairau valley (boring). either way ya gonna enjoy it as long as you stay off SH1 as much as possible

That's a good alternative except that Arthurs Pass is a complete waste of time snce they built that abomination of a bridge thing. The Lewis pass though is God's motorcycling country.

[Bass]

The Lewis pass though is God's motorcycling country.

Not while the Kaikoura Road is closed it isn't. I presume SH 1 and Molesworth are still closed?