South Island trip advice?

[WOMBLE]

Hey everyone,
I am thinking of taking a little bike ride round the South Island around March/April .

I was just wanting to know if anyone would like to join me or give some advice on where to go and what roads to take.

I have only been as far as Wellington, so this wont be a race.

I plan on taking around 10 days but this is negotiable if i can get a group together and the time frame suits everyone.

Cheers
WOMBLE ( formerly pobodysnerfect)

[Highlander]

Take a week doing the scenic tour down to Invercargill and head back up with those of us doing this: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=51034

[sunhuntin]

recommended roads: west coast, arthurs pass [watch the bloody kea!] and also the kaikoura twisties if its dry. they aint much fun in the wet. heading north into kaikoura, theres a rest stop by the "welcome to" sign. pull in there [watch the gravel] and wonder at the marvel of the road cone wedged on a tree stripped of all branches. its been there about 2 years now.

sights to see... the kea at arthurs pass. stop at the rest stop a few k west, as they are "wild" and there are more of them. seals outside kaikoura. bluff sign post. stop at wanaka, just for the views [there aint much else there!] but the views are to die for.
also, if you can, keep an eye on the stream and creek names at bridges... i saw heaps of neat ones! harley creek, bruce stream [my dads name] and wanganui river [about a thousand k away from the city of wanganui, musta got re-routed ] and _intense_ found an imp creek [and then proceeded to somehow climb down a rock wall to have a nosey under the bridge... in motorbike boots!] chances are there are heaps of neat names i missed.

id love to join you, but am restricted to one trip per year, which coincides with the burt challenge. have a great time, and take tons of photos!

[geoffm]

Fine day - go to Milford Sound. I went in the afternoon and stayed in the backpackers overnight. It was great as all the buses were going the other way.
The Lindis Pass and the Mackenzie basin and the trip through Middlemarch to ranfurly is primo country as well. Watch for cops.
I had a good night and kip at the pub in Riverton, just out of Invercargill - a good run down from Te Anau to Invergiggle with no other cars on the road.
10 days isn't enough.

[sunhuntin]

aparima was it? they had a stall at the burt challenge... best fish ive ever eaten! i got a sticker for the bike from them, but after the first day of rain it was gone. they are bike friendly, according to the remain of the sticker.

what was petrol like at milford sound? i want to go there, but only having a 200k range, im leary about taking a dead end road and getting stranded.

[Delphinus]

stop at wanaka, just for the views [there aint much else there!] but the views are to die for.

The food in Wanaka is always fresh and yummy. Relishes cafe near the water is one of my favourites.
And Fergburger in Queenstown is prob the best burger joint I've ever eaten at!

Oh hold on, did you want riding advice?

[Jantar]

what was petrol like at milford sound? i want to go there, but only having a 200k range, im leary about taking a dead end road and getting stranded.

There is petrol available at Milford Sound and it isn't as expensive as you might think. $5.00 per litre is much cheaper than getting a truck from Te Anau to pick up your bike...... No, just kidding, petrol is expensive, but not that bad. The thing is that it is card pay only, and IIRC it doesn't take all cards.

[Delphinus]

The thing is that it is card pay only, and IIRC it doesn't take all cards.

Self service card pay only at Haast on the west coast too after hours. Needed a credit card with a pin on it so make sure you add pins to your cards. (You then have the option of signing or pin entry with all transactions)

[sunhuntin]

There is petrol available at Milford Sound and it isn't as expensive as you might think. $5.00 per litre is much cheaper than getting a truck from Te Anau to pick up your bike...... No, just kidding, petrol is expensive, but not that bad. The thing is that it is card pay only, and IIRC it doesn't take all cards.

thanks for that... will maybe explore that option next year. at the worst, i will invest in a 10l petrol can and get that filled at the final stop. planning on riding as many of the south islands roads as i can, in the interests of "mapping" the cheese cutters down there... location, length, placement on the road, what they are protecting etc.

[Rashika]

If you are interested in doing a rally along the way, plan it around the March Hare rally in waimate, just south of Timaru (first weekend in march). It is prob the biggest rally in the south island and usually is a fantastic weekend.

Have fun!

[blueblade]

Honda Riders Club have a South Island tour organised from 4th to 18th April. I went on one last year and it was great. Cover the whole island and take in most of the best roads and tourist sites. They have a support van to carry all your gear and we used it to cart extra fuel to Milford Sound. Not sure if this one is fully booked yet. Check their web site if you are interested or any Honda dealer should be able to put you in touch. Much easier than doing it on your own, especially if its your first time.

[xknuts]

If you are interested in doing a rally along the way, plan it around the March Hare rally in waimate, just south of Timaru (first weekend in march). It is prob the biggest rally in the south island and usually is a fantastic weekend.

Have fun!

Couldn't agree more