Help with Travel Plans - Warbirds

[Qman]

Hi all,after some help. Im planing on heading down from Hamilton to the warbirds at easter, have a mate in Christchurch who wants to met up and ride down. Question is what the usual travlling time from Picton to Christchurch and then on to Wanaka. Also whats the weather like down that way at Easter.

Thanks

[Jantar]

Travel times in the South Island depend a lot on your riding style for the trip. Like, whether you are just touring and enjoying the sights, making the most of the roads, but with plenty of stops, or just get from A to B as quickly as possible. As it sounds like your first time this way, I would suggest that you allow plenty of time for stops along the way.

On a Hyosung 250 you should be able to manage Picton to Christchurch in 4 hours, But I would suggest that you allow an hour in Kaikoura, and at least a couple of 5 - 10 minute stops along the coastroad.

Christchurch to Wanaka would be 5 hours non stop on your bike, but again you should allow for scenic stops at Tekapo, Pukaki, Omarama, Lindis Pass and possibly one through the Lindas valley towards Tarras.

The weather at Easter is extremely variable. The days can be very hot and the evenings quite cool. If there is any wind from the northern quarter then it is likely to be hot and dry, as the weather swings around to west then there is a chance of rain. A southerly will bring cold weather but with little chance of rain. Easter in Central Otago is the swing period of autumn with lots of hot fine weather, but the occassional cold spell can still hit. There are usually one or two periods of very heavy rain lasting for around 3 days between mid March and mid May, but our long range weather forecasts can't predict that far out just when they are likely to hit. Easter is right in that period.

Enjoy your ride, and remember that our times of bad weather are still better than the Waikato's good weather, and our good weather is just perfect.

[Highlander]

remember that our times of bad weather are still better than the Waikato's good weather, and our good weather is just perfect.

Well said.

[idb]

I rode from Picton to home in about 9 hours a year ago travelling at 110km all the way. Mind you I couldn't walk or scratch myself at the end of it.
You'll lose some time going through Chch. Why not get your mate to meet you on the back road (Thompsons Track) so that you can go around the city?