Best route from Picton to Christchurch

[SpankMe]

Whats the best route from Picton to Christchurch. I see lots of long straight roads, so need to know which is the least boring. Quite happy for it to take all day.

[Joni]

So you definately coming?
I will speak with Kick tonight, he can pm you a few suggestions...

[SpankMe]

Post it here for all to see for furture use. Will stay the night in Wellington, then take the ferry the next day. I've got the 14^th to 28^th March to get to Christchurch, stay a week and get back. Extra days in case it pisses down.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Picton to Nelson, down to Murchison on 65 till you hit state 7 and over the Lewis and in to Amberley then ChCh

But it it depends on how many days you have ... heck if it was me I would end up at Wanaka going through Haast saying opps I missed the turn off, down to Cromwell then shoot through over the Lindus pass state 8, up to Twizel and 79 to Fairlie, then on to 72 Geraldine, upto Methven and in ChCh

[laRIKin]

Picton to Nelson, down to Murchison on 65 till you hit state 7 and over the Lewis and in to Amberley then ChCh

That gets my vote, but if shitty I would go down the Coast, it's not that bad.

[steved]

SH1 from Picton to Kaikoura is all good. There are a couple of inland routes just south of Kaikoura (Inland Kaikoura Road or Leader Rd through Waiau) and back onto SH1 at Waipara.

[jumma]

Did Picton to Chch not too long ago and stayed on SH1 the whole way. Wasn't as boring as I expected it to be, but if you've got time to do Nighthawk's suggested route through the Lewis Pass I would (or the longer one, Lindis Pass is awesome!)

You should go the long way back up the west coast for sure.

[Macktheknife]

Picton to Nelson, down to Murchison on 65 till you hit state 7 and over the Lewis and in to Amberley then ChCh

But it it depends on how many days you have ... heck if it was me I would end up at Wanaka going through Haast saying opps I missed the turn off, down to Cromwell then shoot through over the Lindus pass state 8, up to Twizel and 79 to Fairlie, then on to 72 Geraldine, upto Methven and in ChCh

Plus a detour for Takaka hill

[**AJ**]

Whats the best route from Picton to Christchurch.

Via Queen Charlotte Drive then up & over the Whangamoas to Nelson. To Murchison over the Hope Saddle, then a gorgeous ride down to Springs Junction. Up & over the Lewis Pass & onto ChCh. This incorporates 3 great hills!!!!!


Then coming home you could do the loop & come back up via the Kaikoura Coast!! a wicked round trip circuit!!!!!

[Kickaha]

I'd go Picton to Nelson,through Queen Charlotte drive,leaving Nelson I'd go up to Motueka and over the Takaka hill (no exit) and on the way back I'd turn off at Motueka and take the road that comes out at Motupiko

Down to Murchison,Inangahua Junction and across to Westport, down the coast to Greymouth, and across to Christchurch through Arthurs pass

On the way back there's a couple of options,head North out of Christchurch past Cheviot turn off at Parnassus and go through the Leader Vally Road through to Waiau and the inland road to Kaikoura and through to Blenheim and Picton

Or the alternate route turn off at Waipara through to Culverden , carry on up through the Lewis pass to Springs Junction and Back to Murchison, instead of going back through to Nelson, turn off and take the road to St Arnaud and the Wairau valley throught to Renwick and Blenheim

[doc]

If you are going down thru Kaikoura you HAVE to turn off to the right just before the airport and go inland towards Hamner. There are some awesome twisties but make sure if you on a sportsbike thing you gas up regularly. Well that way takes the boredom out for me everytime, anyway different strokes for different folks. You have to use the chicken strip to get value for money out of those tyres. And you can do it without being stupid.

[doc]

SH1 from Picton to Kaikoura is all good. There are a couple of inland routes just south of Kaikoura (Inland Kaikoura Road or Leader Rd through Waiau) and back onto SH1 at Waipara.

Yep thats the one I mean't. Local knowledge know the best way.

[Steam]

Nighthawk's good route is only 2 hours longer than the boring way on SH1, I highly recommend it. Pity you don't have a dual purpose, otherwise you could cut cross country through the Rainbow valley to Hamner.

[Kickaha]

Route three back north

North out of Christchurch and turn off at Waipara and through the Weka pass to Waikari, turn right at Waiakari and go through to Greta Valley and take SH1 the rest of the way,the road from Parnassus up through the Hundalees are easily the equal of the inland road but with more traffic

[MD]

Yeah like it's been said- Nighthawk's suggestion is good if the inland skys looks dry. There are some great fast sweepers along the coast SH1 from Picton to kaikoura. BUT around Kaikoura there seem to be more cops watching traffic than tourists watching whales sometimes. It's the South Island - it's all good. Ok, except for SH1 from Chch to Timaru!