Quote Originally Posted by far queue
Have a look here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=24678 for a ride we did through Lees Valley last February. The road is in good condition, I think we did it in around 4 hours or so, but that was with lots of stops and diversions to have a look around. I guess you could shoot straight through in an hour and a half or so.

There's a link in that thread to check out the river level, be sure to check it out 1st as the river can rise and fall rapidly, and if it's up you won't be crossing it.
Thanks for that - looks like a good ride and normally in Feb that river will be low but if there's been some rain we should check out that link.
If the Passes trip goes something like I imagine we would probably be leaving Hamner that morning and aiming to do the Lees valley with its 2 passes on the way over the Arthurs with the next night on the coast before the big ride South and over the Haast. I haven't quite thought through what will happen if the weather at the start says we should do it the other way around, I presume we'll do it exactly in reverse.
Thanks again