Hokitika! What is there?

**98tls** · 15th July 2007, 20:14

Originally Posted by Jantar

Woodstock? The best rally in the country.

and the best ride to get there.

**NhuanH** · 15th July 2007, 20:17

Hokitika: what is it good for?

40 demerit points
A 2 po-po car chase, plus GDB on standby.

That's what!

**scumdog** · 16th July 2007, 02:43

Originally Posted by Jantar

Woodstock? The best rally in the country.

Does my head in though - the sun comes up over the mountains instead from over the sea..

I guess that's what happens when you live on the East coast and then ride over to the West coast.

But great rally on a great site with great entertainment, only 740km from home and a totally different world and scenery. (watch the dragonflies though - big as buzzards they are and fair whack into you leg when you hit one.

**Devil** · 16th July 2007, 09:35

I think i had a panic attack there once. I was in this cafe... after a few hours on the bike and I was starving. I was frantically looking around the menu for something filling. Searching... searching...

...then it hit me...

WHERE'S THE MEAT?????

bloody vego's.

**vifferman** · 16th July 2007, 09:56

Originally Posted by NhuanH

Hokitika: what is it good for?

Hokitika's great!

When we lived in Chch, we had a wee TikiTour of the Southern Isle and spent the night there. There's heaps of stuff to do: we went to the aquarium (where you can catch a salmon!) and watched the eels being fed (apparently more dangerous than the sharks at Kelly Tarltons!); went to the glassblowers; there's a kewl wood-turning place there, where we bought a VERY nice turned kauri bowl; there's a place that makes jewellery, and (surprisingly) the museum there was really fascinating, especially the AV display comprising old photos and a narration taken from old diaries and letters.

**canarlee** · 17th July 2007, 14:27

ok, the reason i asked about hokitiki (well ross actually) is this, there is a cafe for sale there and it might look interesting!

my question is, would it be an ideal investment? would you use it? would it be busy enough to make a reasonable living from it?

from what i can see it (without actually going there) it looks like it has lots of off street parking, and is allready established.

if anyone would like to help me out by taking a look, or letting me know what they think if you allready know the place then please could you pm me.

ta muchly

**Hitcher** · 17th July 2007, 15:16

Ross is on a major tourist route, and every vehicle that goes to or from the Glaciers, or vehicles traversing the West Coast, have to drive past. Back packers, campervans, the whole nine yards. A couple of right-angle turns make it hard to miss and it is a town with some charm, a colourful history, and a big mine at the back door that's owned by a guy who owns (and drives) a Centurian tank (in working order) and who is also a part-owner of the Good Bastards Brewery.

**canarlee** · 17th July 2007, 15:19

but is it an all year round destination?

its all very well having what you mentioned above but if they are only passing in the summer months.........

**Smokin** · 17th July 2007, 15:34

I think it is fairly busy during the winter, heaps of traffic on that road mate.

My only worry would be that it's fairly close to hoki and a lot of people won't want another break so soon after their last stop.

Would be fairly popular with people heading north tho and the local's would be a fair bit of trade as well I would think.

**canarlee** · 17th July 2007, 15:38

it maybe fairly close to hoki (i wouldnt know), you say that people might not want to stop and have another break? well why wont they carry on a bit further and use ross, once they know about the place?

just musing........at the moment

**Joni** · 17th July 2007, 15:39

Putting the business part aside... scenery wise: - its a stunning little part of the world!

**imdying** · 17th July 2007, 15:44

I can't think of anything worse than having you in the South Island, best look for a nice warm place up north

**Jantar** · 17th July 2007, 15:45

Ross is hardly a destination in its own right, but it is a popular rest stop for through traffic. When touring with Stromfrau, we always stop in Ross. When riding solo I almost never stop there.

It is an ideal rest stop for travellers heading north, but south bound ones who have already stopped in Hokitika will probably pass straight through. Those who didn't stop in Hoki will often stop in Ross.

There may be slightly less tourist activity in winter, but as Queenstown/Wanaka are popular winter destinations, and Ross is on one of two routes to get there, there is still a lot of winter traffic.

**canarlee** · 17th July 2007, 15:50

Originally Posted by Jantar

When riding solo I almost never stop there.

would you if you knew of a very biker friendly pub there with possible accomodation?

would anyone else? or would you stop in tokititi anyway, as per "normal"?

**Jantar** · 17th July 2007, 15:57

Originally Posted by canarlee

would you if you knew of a very biker friendly pub there with possible accomodation?

would anyone else? or would you stop in tokititi anyway, as per "normal"?

I might decide to continue on to Ross, if I knew I could get a feed of whitebait as good as I can get in Hoki.

Otherwise, Hokitika to home is a pleasant 6 hour ride on one of the best biking roads in the country.