Ultimate South Island adventure ride?

[Transalper]

So maybe we alter the rules a little and say all the Passes that appear in the Kiwimaps New Zeakand Travelllers Road Atlas (A bit like restricting things to one dictionary when playing scrabble - it cuts out all the shite words that some smartarse learns from looking up scrabble dictionaries or something).

Excellent, i like it. I'd say your list is pretty inclusive.
As for the Thompsons Road between Tarras and Omakau, it's not a pass on my map but still a road i'm keen to explore. (almost went that way during the Brass Monkey trip)

[Transalper]

One reason for starting in Dunedin was so we can look at the forecast and decide whether to start or finish with the West Coast run.

The down side for us from Christchurch is we will have a five hour ride to get to Dunedin before the trip starts, but then someone's always going to have a big ride to get to the start on trips like this.

[Transalper]

I would be in. Im heading down that way somewhere between the 19th Jan to4 -5th Feb

Just noticed that was robertydogs first post...so... welcome to Kiwibiker robertydog. We hope your time with us is enjoyable and you make lots a new friends.
I'm sure you will be welcome to join this ride for what ever parts your bike can handle if we are all at the right time and place to meet.
There is about eight of the passes in the list that are nice sealed roads you would be sure to enjoy.

[T.W.R]

looks if you guys are planning a good ride.

just wondering, have you or do any of you use the 4WD south island books ? there's 2 1st has 77 tracks & the 2nd has 93 tracks scattered across the island. Each track has a description, distance detail etc. Compiled by Ken Sibly & Mark Wilson

Use it a bit for 4wd trips obviously, but have found it fairly accurate

[cooneyr]

and up to Inungahua Junction and up the Buller Gorge (just 'cos its a great bike road), thru St Arnaud to Blenheim

If your going from, Murcheson through St Arnaud to Blenhiem you might as well do the Porika Track and Braeburn Track instead of the sealed road. They may not have pass but they are pases. They are gravel road power pylon roads. The fords are mostly concrete bottem and the tracks are generally in good condition. The climb up the Porika is steep and a little rocky but should be ok on big adventure bikes.

Roughly the Breaburn is from Murch to Lake Rotoroa and the Porika is from Lk Rotoroa to SH63 south of St Arnaud. Can get back to SH6 from Lk Rotoroa so if Porika is to much is easy to bail (note the Porika goes from SH6 to SH63 hence bypasses the Kawatiri Junction).

Also the Rise and Shine road between Tarras and Omaka is a gravel road that will be a piece of cake on a big adventure bike. No fords that I can think of and not steep. Good gravel road.

Done all of these tracks in a 4x4 and they are kind boaring ie not even in 4x4 let alone low ratio for Rise and Shine and Breaburn. Porika is low ratio 4x4 due to steepness and lumpness but shouldn't be a problem. Also there are the Old Dunstan trails from Omaka back to Middlemarch that would be fun on an big adventure bike.

Can send topo maps if you want.

Cheers
R

Opps - just noticed the post above. The 4x4 books are where I found out about the 3 tracks (plus many more). I recon the tracks are over rated though for the Merivale tractor drivers - there are many tracks rated as 3 or more vehicles required that I have done by myself and not got stuck in a fairly standard 4x4 (ie not a 33+ inch tyres wanker).

[Transalper]

looks if you guys are planning a good ride.

just wondering, have you or do any of you use the 4WD south island books ? there's 2 1st has 77 tracks & the 2nd has 93 tracks scattered across the island. Each track has a description, distance detail etc. Compiled by Ken Sibly & Mark Wilson

Use it a bit for 4wd trips obviously, but have found it fairly accurate

Yep, PLUG and I both have them. I think farqueue might use them too.

Good books imo. allthough i personally like following someone who already knows the way.
Thanks.

[Jantar]

Also the Rise and Shine road between Tarras and Omaka is a gravel road that will be a piece of cake on a big adventure bike. No fords that I can think of and not steep. Good gravel road.

I notice quite a few on here refering to this road as the Rise and Shine. Until this thread I've always known it as Thompsons Track. The AA signs at either end call it Thompson's Track, and the LNZ Topo maps list it as Thompson's track.

It starts at Matakanui, near Omakau, and follows Thompson's creek, through Thompson's Gorge, over Thompson's Pass then down to Ardgour Stn near Tarras. The pass is 4200' above sea level, and great views out towards Hawea or back to the Poolburn area.

It isn't too steep, and I have done this trip by dirt bike, by 4WD, and on the GS1200. There are a couple of very small fords, but the only downside to this track is the 14 gates that each have to opened and closed. My wife's stepbrother lives right at the Tarras end of the track and we occassionally go that way and back by road to make a round trip of it.

Edit: My wife has just reminded of the Rise and Shine refference in the area. There was an old gold mine at Bendigo, called The Rise and Shine, and there is a gravel road that goes from the Tarras area to it, and from there over the Dunstans to Leaning Rock stn. This is not the same road as Thompson's.

[Jantar]

The next thing is to set a date. I can get sufficient time off work anytime after 20th January and before the 19th February. What times suit the other potential riders?

[cooneyr]

I notice quite a few on here refering to this road as the Rise and Shine.

Blame that on Ken Sibly's 4x4 book. Just had a look on a Topo and it is Thompsons Gorge Road.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

Yep, PLUG and I both have them. I think farqueue might use them too.

Nope, I don't use them. I mostly use topo maps so I can measure out the distance between fuel stops and work out if I need to carry extra.

[far queue]

If your going from, Murcheson through St Arnaud to Blenhiem you might as well do the Porika Track and Braeburn Track instead of the sealed road. They may not have pass but they are pases. They are gravel road power pylon roads. The fords are mostly concrete bottem and the tracks are generally in good condition. The climb up the Porika is steep and a little rocky but should be ok on big adventure bikes.

This area is on my list of places to check out and your description makes it sound like a visit would be fun

[far queue]

... I've always known it as Thompsons Track. The AA signs at either end call it Thompson's Track, and the LNZ Topo maps list it as Thompson's track.

It starts at Matakanui, near Omakau, and follows Thompson's creek, through Thompson's Gorge, over Thompson's Pass then down to Ardgour Stn near Tarras. The pass is 4200' above sea level, and great views out towards Hawea or back to the Poolburn area.

There's plenty of exploring I'd like to do around here too

[cooneyr]

This area is on my list of places to check out and your description makes it sound like a visit would be fun

I'll be in Nelson over the Xmas/New Year with In laws, If I manage to pick up a DR650 before hand I'll be taking it up. Maybe the Chch riders (plus any others intested) who cant join Ruralman and others on the "Passes" ride could do a top of the South ride ie Rainbow, Molesworth, Keneperu Road, French Pass (with clay pylon track from Elaine Bay to Penzants for those keen), Maungatapu, Porika, Breaburn, Awatere Gold Fields Track, Anatori/West Haven etc etc.

Maybe we could travel with the "Passes" riders for a few days depending on route. I'm keen for two or three days between New Year and mid Jan if I get a 650.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

I'll be in Nelson over the Xmas/New Year with In laws, If I manage to pick up a DR650 before hand I'll be taking it up. Maybe the Chch riders (plus any others intested) who cant join Ruralman and others on the "Passes" ride could do a top of the South ride ie Rainbow, Molesworth, Keneperu Road, French Pass (with clay pylon track from Elaine Bay to Penzants for those keen), Maungatapu, Porika, Breaburn, Awatere Gold Fields Track, Anatori/West Haven etc etc.

Maybe we could travel with the "Passes" riders for a few days depending on route. I'm keen for two or three days between New Year and mid Jan if I get a 650.

Cheers
R

mmmmm this sounds like fun, lotsa exploring out the back of nowhere. I'm keen - still 6 months away though, so no commitment at this stage, but it's definitely high up the "to do" list. I get the impression you know this area fairly well.

[cooneyr]

I'm keen - still 6 months away though, so no commitment at this stage, but it's definitely high up the "to do" list. I get the impression you know this area fairly well.

Yep - lots of time to pass before then. Been over all of the tracks except the clay pylon track from Elaine Bay to Penzants in a 4x4 so know most of them pretty well. In laws up in NN and usually go up for summer hols so have had to find something to get out of the house!

Cheers
R