Over the Crown Range - twice

**crash99** · 4th November 2007, 20:52

I mentioned my first 2 days of my round SI trip in blackbirds SI report post recently. Yesterday I went from Wanaka to Bluff to Milton (just south of Dunedin). Going from Wanaka towards Queenstown you have a choice of over the top - "Crown Range" - or the easy route through the gorge. I chose the Crown Range, not having driven it for about 20 years - it was unsealed then and a real nightmare. What a buzz now!! Anyone who hasn't driven this magic piece of road just has to do it. It starts out real easy and fast, then gradually tightens. There are 12 small bridges over the Cardrona River (imaginatively called Cardrona River Bridge 1, Cardrona River Bridge 2 etc!) and then you reach the summit with awesome views from here on - and its all down hill, again with great corners gradually getting tighter and tighter till you end up with real 15km/hr hairpins.
On to Bluff - no real dramas. The obligatory photo under the signpost pointing to the South Pole, London etc.
Back thru Invercargill and east towards the Catlins. Again, magic roads, awesome fast corners.
Today I headed towards Alexandra, with a bit of rain keeping the corners greasy. Rain cleared before Clyde and Cromwell. A few more muftis and marked plods on the road too

, but nice drive. Had made great time so decided to go back over the Crown Range the other way - just as awesome!

On through Lindis Pass to Omarama - big long straights - very tempting . . .
2 more days to go. Only got little tiny chicken strips on the Metzler Roadtecs now, but theres still the Kaikoura roads to go - an old hunting ground of mine.
Only a few bikes on the road today - c'mon you SI Kiwibikers, you've got fantastic roads down here, get out into them!!

(Sorry, can't get any pics loaded tonight over this crappy vodem connection)

**Virago** · 4th November 2007, 21:01

Ha!

Did you do the Crown Range this arvo? So did I - in the bloody work cage...

If you passed a white Mazda S/W with a ladder on the roof...

Fantastic road, eh? I prefer it from the Q'town end, those hairpins are more fun going up...

**Delphinus** · 4th November 2007, 21:05

Originally Posted by crash99

Only got little tiny chicken strips on the Metzler Roadtecs now, but theres still the Kaikoura roads to go - an old hunting ground of mine.

Should have told us you were down this way, could have escorted you round a bit

(or you did and I missed it)

How do you find the roadtec's? I've just put a sportec on the rear and will follow suit on the front shortly. I assume the roadtec's are harder and less sticky, but do you know by how much?

**scumdog** · 4th November 2007, 21:45

Originally Posted by crash99;1278491 What a buzz now!! Anyone who hasn't driven this magic piece of road just has to do it. It starts out real easy and fast, then gradually tightens. There are 12 small bridges over the Cardrona River (imaginatively called Cardrona River Bridge 1, Cardrona River Bridge 2 etc!) and then you reach the summit with awesome views from here on - and its all down hill, again with great corners gradually getting tighter and tighter till you end up with [U

real[/U] 15km/hr hairpins.
)

Best going the other way.

Did it Labour weekend - in a whale-sized cage that used up most of the road.

Thank you Mr Ford for providing power steering.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 4th November 2007, 21:51

Originally Posted by crash99

c'mon you SI Kiwibikers, you've got fantastic roads down here, get out into them!!

Man you should have posted that you were down this way I am sure you would have got an escort... me included...

I didn't go for a ride today...

cause

exactly not sure why I didn't go out probably because I miss your post your were down this way

**98tls** · 4th November 2007, 21:51

[QUOTE=scumdog;1278659

Thank you Mr Ford for providing power steering.[/QUOTE] Err ahh yea,no worries Tom.Should i go check my garage for missing bits.

**scumdog** · 4th November 2007, 21:58

Originally Posted by 98tls

Err ahh yea,no worries Tom.Should i go check my garage for missing bits.

YOU have a '66 Thunderbird in YOUR garage too???

**Warr** · 4th November 2007, 21:59

Takaka Hill is about as good as it gets !!
Mind you out to Akaroa, Milford Sound... all great roads.
Up this way Kawhia Harbour -TeAnga, East Cape, 22 in the dry!! , Waioeka Gorge...

Edit: No I didnt do them all today.. Sounds like you had a great outing Crash

**98tls** · 4th November 2007, 22:08

Originally Posted by scumdog

YOU have a '66 Thunderbird in YOUR garage too???

Na mate,wish i did,must get you to take us for a spin in that someday.Sadly only one Ford in my garage.

**MaxB** · 5th November 2007, 00:07

Originally Posted by scumdog

Best going the other way.

+1 Going towards Wanaka. Brilliant. One of my all time favourite roads. You guys are blessed.

**Rashika** · 5th November 2007, 06:13

planning on maybe doing that route about next tuesday actually, haven't done the crown range since they sealed it and never on a bike so it wil be interesting.
And the reason you didn't see many bikes? cos they were all up north near nelson riding those fantastic roads! You gotta get up to that Nelson rally sometime Scummy!