Akaroa anyone?

[insomnia01]

Hi de Hi Campers !!! Got a Sth Isld pilgrimage in March 2014 and need some local info on the intended trail below,


SH75 - Pigeon Bay Rd - Holmes Bay Rd - Purau Port Levy Rd - Diamond Bay - Gebbies Pass Rd

Q's is can I ride this route on a road Bike ? ( Blackbird ) Google maps suggest it looks like sealed road all the way round

- I'm leaving Akaroa ( night stop ) heading to Punakaiki via SH73 & Arthurs Pass, how about catching the ferry from Diamond Bay to Lyttelton ?

- having left Te Anau the day prior I would rather not go back over my footprint from SH75 to Lincoln which is why I'm looking at ferry to Lyttelton but Gebbies Pass Rd to Halswell to SH76 then SH73 I dont mind
other ideas that fit in with this route I'm happy to look at also

[insomnia01]

Thanks for everyone's input but it seems the Diamond Harbour ferry is a non vehicle ferry which means I need to go the long way

[SVboy]

I would not recommend this trip on a Blackbird. Chch to Diamond harbour-fine-Port Levy-ok but watch for grit. Beyond that-mostly tight unsealed roads. Could be done but not great fun!

[insomnia01]

cheers for the info

[STJim]

I hope you enjoy your trip South. I am familiar with the main road over the hill to Akaroa. It's a great ride and you won't mind coming back out the same way. When are you doing this. Have you considered doing the TT2000 as well?

[insomnia01]

I hope you enjoy your trip South. I am familiar with the main road over the hill to Akaroa. It's a great ride and you won't mind coming back out the same way. When are you doing this. Have you considered doing the TT2000 as well?

March 2014 got a 0630 ferry from Wgtn down & around cross back over the following Monday, apart from the C1KC I'm not doing any endurance riding events after the SCRR cock up, I now seem to prefer just riding but still like to do a couple of long distance rides & the Sth Isld seems to have bitten me

[SVboy]

I hope you enjoy your trip South. I am familiar with the main road over the hill to Akaroa. It's a great ride and you won't mind coming back out the same way. When are you doing this. Have you considered doing the TT2000 as well?

You will enjoy ChCh to Little River on a Big bike. Radar detector needed! The hill from Little river is loads of fun but dangerous, variably surfaced and populated with many poor[o/seas] drivers. Quite a few big bikes go to akaroa regularly. If this is your first foray, I suggest this is the route to use.

[thepom]

The ride to Akaroa as described by svboy is incorrect slightly....no need for the radar detector as the local police biker fellow....rastascat....motorbike caught fire so out of action........the road is not dangerous if you ride safely and as long as caution is used its an absolute stunner of a ride....well recommended...

[insomnia01]

The ride to Akaroa as described by svboy is incorrect slightly....no need for the radar detector as the local police biker fellow....rastascat....motorbike caught fire so out of action........the road is not dangerous if you ride safely and as long as caution is used its an absolute stunner of a ride....well recommended...

I'm in no rush to get out of the Sth isld in a hurry

[AllanB]

Still being policed by police cars over that way. There was one out there last weekend.

Stop at the Little River café (and art gallery) for a feed - excellent food and coffee!

You could do the Akaroa back loop but you end up at the Hill Top for the ride down. It is a twisted narrow track often blowing a gale and not well populated (the eastern bays like Pigeon Bay are off this road). Take care for stray sheep and rogue tourists.

Best bet is to post up when you are going over to Akaroa or heading back and arrange yourself a CHCH KB escort!!!

[SVboy]

The ride to Akaroa as described by svboy is incorrect slightly....no need for the radar detector as the local police biker fellow....rastascat....motorbike caught fire so out of action........the road is not dangerous if you ride safely and as long as caution is used its an absolute stunner of a ride....well recommended...

Try telling that to oncoming tourists in camper vans used to driving on the other side of the road, the out of paddock sheep, the up coming tour busesand variable road surface. And as ALLANB said-the popo are still out there. That one he mentioned followed me over the hill last weekend and obviously knew the hill well, dammit!

[AllanB]

One of the most dangerous things you may encounter on the Akaroa ride is another motorcyclists coming the other way cutting corners or hugging the centre line!

And campervans - on that hill they appear to be under the illusion that they are in a dinky little country and they can stop anywhere to take a photo. As in the middle of a blind corner! I've encountered this several times and been lucky that the other side of the road was clear!

It is still an amazing ride and you'll find me over there way too much!

The Christchurch Port Hills roads are almost a waste of time nowadays due to the volume of bloody cyclists on them. I notice that Diamond Harbour is getting some traffic (car and mbikes) now the original café has some competition and service and food has improved.

[dangerous]

fuck me its just the Akaroa GP... whats all the fuss?
correct me if Im wrong but Rust's work bike is compleat and running it was his off siders that went poff
radar detectors are needed everywere, yes even on 75
only one sealed road there and back (cept the summit road loop) no more dangerous than any other road

The route the OPer mentioned is mostely shingle tracks, aka stock routes sealsed roads down to the bays but not between... a Black bird will do it but unsure whay ya would.

My reconmended route on a BB would be 75 there, summit road return drop down to any bays one wants return to 75

[AllanB]

fuck me its just the Akaroa GP... whats all the fuss?

Ahem - dare I mention the Aprilia one killed on that hill ...........

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have done the suggested loop a few times but when I had my Triumph Scrambler. Though heavy it was a good shingle road bike. Its very scenic but narrow and corrugated and some of it is about 4m wide. Not a lot of fun on a big road bike I wouldnt think. I could (but wont) take my ST-R on it (its lighter than the scrambler).