Accomodation for the top half of the South Island late Jan.

[Ms Piggy]

I'm very excited b/c I'm planning myself a 2 week holiday with the bitchin' mobile down South. (Hopefully she'll have a more reserved paint job by then though) I know it's only August but I wanna be totally set by the time I go down and ok, I admit it, I'm an organisation freak!

We're gonna start by going over to Nelson (via Queen Charlotte Drv) and then over to Westport, over Arthurs Pass to ChCh and etc, etc. How many days do ya reckon I should allow for the top half? ie. as far as ChCh. I want to go right up to Farewell Spit and then I'm hoping to go down as far as Central Otago and the Catlins.

So do any of you have any suggestions for good places to stay in or around Neslon & on the West Coast. I won't have a tent (can't be arsed pissing about with that!) so probabaly looking for basic cabin, not really into backpackers but don't mind using communal cooking areas. From ChCh onwards I won't need accomodation cos all my whanau are down that way.

Oooo and any suggestions on interesting rides would be great & places to check out.

All suggestions welcome. Thanks

[dangerous]

Late Jan is a good time to be on the rd down here as its a bit dryer and the mad xmas trafic has slowed down.
As far as Nelson goes theres the best place in the world there to stay............. my mums Watch out on the Queen Charlotte Drv it is VERY tight and trafic uses the hole rd but an awesome ride (have holiday house there)
Farewell Spit is realy a 2 day (min) trip as there is so much to do there eg Harwards hole (the deapest hole in the southern hem 2nd in the world next 2 Calcuta) poopoo springs, the watch a me call it caves etc, all a must if ya have the time.
Theres heaps of places to stay on the West coast depends on were you will be stopping. I reconmend the Hasst pass if your ass can handle the long ride.
Akaroa is a must but then again I'd think that you've done that before.
Any more questions keep em comming.

[Ms Piggy]

Akaroa is a must but then again I'd think that you've done that before.

Nah mate I haven't! That's the other ride I wanna do while I'm down.

Thanks for the advise so far.

[Paul in NZ]

Catch up with me before xmas and I'll draw all over a map for you...

I'm a good (well OK) south island boy....

Cheers

[geoffm]

So do any of you have any suggestions for good places to stay in or around Neslon & on the West Coast. I won't have a tent (can't be arsed pissing about with that!) so probabaly looking for basic cabin, not really into backpackers but don't mind using communal cooking areas. From ChCh onwards I won't need accomodation cos all my whanau are down that way.

i spent a few days up there in the middle of the year. nice stuff. The road between Motueka and SH6 (to Murchison) is a ripper and a nice fang. I can dig out the map if you wnat the details. I just got the photos back from developing - 'might scan them in.
I did a quicky write up back then (June/ July)

the backpackers "Alan's Place" in Nelson is owned by a couple with a VFR750. I met them on the ferry in Feb, but they were away that weekend I was in Nelson (and the place was full). They are in the BBH guide.
Alan's Place Backpackers (BBH)
42 Westbrook Tce Nelson
Details 0-3-548 4854
Seem like top people.
I stayed in the pub in Nelson, which was good.
The New Commercial Hotel in Kaikoura is pretty cheap and comfy. Stayed there a couple of times.
Generally pub accomadation is (IMO) pretty good, and not to far from the bar... Usually cheaper than motels
Geoff

[Ms Piggy]

Cheers guys.

[Ms Piggy]

Anyone else with any ideas/recomendations?

Hey Geoff - when you say the pub was "cheap", how cheap was it exactly?

Cheers Cathy

[Mongoose]

Remember to give me a yell closer to the time and/or when you have dates, "FREE" lodgings at Mongoose Manor. Feel free to make use of it.
YA even gets yer own room!!

[Ms Piggy]

Remember to give me a yell closer to the time and/or when you have dates, "FREE" lodgings at Mongoose Manor. Feel free to make use of it.
YA even gets yer own room!!

Well how generous of ya! I may be riding down the bottom half with my sister but we'll pop in for a cuppa if we don't take you up on staying at Mongoose Manor

[Mongoose]

Well how generous of ya! I may be riding down the bottom half with my sister but we'll pop in for a cuppa if we don't take you up on staying at Mongoose Manor

Cheers, plenty of room for all comers, just let me know closer when you know when you will be down this way

[Ms Piggy]

I know it's still ages away but I'm a self-confessed organisation freak.

I'm now seriously thinking of cruising over Arthurs Pass, staying in Hokitika and then going down the Haast Pass in the 2nd half of my journey.

Does anyone know good & reasonably priced places to stay round these spots? I'll be on my own.

Sorry Dangerous & Mongoose doesn't look like I'll make it over to the rally, I just think it's a bit unrealistic for me to ride from Akaroa to Alexandra on my 250 in a whole day. But shall certainly catch ya both at some stage.

[F5 Dave]

I still haven’t gotten to ride the Takaka hill on a bike. Mot & Takaka & cool places & the whole area is worth some time esp if you are there with someone. If not then do some extra miles. Harwoods is not really a go as it is a long gravel road then a long walk, I wouldn’t want to do it in bike gear & wouldn’t leave it anywhere either. Great walk & sight though.

We’re off late feb, but again will be in the van as camping in it & going to tramp (well. . . ) some of Able Tasman. If you have the time & can justify the extortion fee a boat ride to Anchorage (first decent stop in AbTs) is well worth it, there is even a backpacker’s on a boat which we are going to try. We saw it on a sunny day & proclaimed it the most beautiful place on earth, I’ll add a picture but it misses the beach which the best bit by far.

You'll have to book in some places though, we did this long several hour walk & then went to Mot & couldn't get accom, then to Nelson & drove most around there before getting a Cobb which was miserable (next to noisy pub over road).

Crumbs I must get the bike down for that hill ride. Maybe I’ll do a weekend.

[Kickaha]

Crumbs I must get the bike down for that hill ride. Maybe I’ll do a weekend.

Bring the bucket and we'll meet you at the top for a race down the Takaka side

Last time I rode it we had a group of 10 of us have a coasting race from the top down to the Rat Trap

[sAsLEX]

parents have a place in St Arnaud which should be available to rent, will find there website and update, bloody nice spot too

[Ms Piggy]

I still haven’t gotten to ride the Takaka hill on a bike. Mot & Takaka & cool places & the whole area is worth some time esp if you are there with someone. If not then do some extra miles. Harwoods is not really a go as it is a long gravel road then a long walk, I wouldn’t want to do it in bike gear & wouldn’t leave it anywhere either. Great walk & sight though.

We’re off late feb, but again will be in the van as camping in it & going to tramp (well. . . ) some of Able Tasman. If you have the time & can justify the extortion fee a boat ride to Anchorage (first decent stop in AbTs) is well worth it, there is even a backpacker’s on a boat which we are going to try. We saw it on a sunny day & proclaimed it the most beautiful place on earth, I’ll add a picture but it misses the beach which the best bit by far.

You'll have to book in some places though, we did this long several hour walk & then went to Mot & couldn't get accom, then to Nelson & drove most around there before getting a Cobb which was miserable (next to noisy pub over road).

Crumbs I must get the bike down for that hill ride. Maybe I’ll do a weekend.

Well we may see you b/c thats where we're going first. Riding from Picton to Nelson (via Queen Charlotte Drv) on the 29th Jan, then (30th)over the Takaka Hill Rd as far as Takaka (I can't wait to do that road either, although I think I'll leave the tricks up to Kickaha), then (31st) from Takaka to Farewell Spit the next day (1st), then (2nd) allllllll the way back to Motueka. Then down to Rangiora (for a few days respite) then over to Akaroa ( for a night and then I'll head off on my own....so hence why I wanna know about accomodation at Hokitka & on the Haast Pass.