Another South Island Tour report.

[clint640]

Good stuff mate! Looking forward to the next installment.

Cheers
Clint

[Cary]

1 - Heading for the hills on the 'Race to The Sky' road (Cardrona)
2 - Exiting the Mangatapu Track
3 - Okuku ford
4 - Andy testing the depth, the cold way!

[Cary]

1 - Blasting thru the Molesworth road
2 - St Arnaud in the COLD
3 - Heading out to Milford Sound
4 - Andy trying to attract a mate (not the Tiger i hope!)

[Taz]

Here's some more day 7 pics...

Pic 1. Road to Knobs Flat (sounds painful).
Pic 2. View to the right of the Homer Tunnel.
Pic 3. Homer Tunnel.
Pic 4. Milford sound.
Pic 5. Cruise ships at Milford
Pic 6. Milford Sound.

[Taz]

Left Te Anau early this morning in the hope of getting to Invercargill while the bike shops were open as my rear brake pads were almost down to the backing plate
Took highway 99 thru Blackmount, Clifden, Tuatapere, riverton and finally to Invercargill. Arrived in Invercargill at 9:30 and went to MotoSouth. I removed the brake pads from the rear of the BMW and matched them up to some KTM ones. They allowed me to use a little space in their workshop so I didn't have to fit them out in the Cold. Thanks Guys. With the pads fitted it was on to Bluff just to say been there done that and get the obligatory pic of the sign post. Then back into Invers for lunch.
After lunch we headed up to Lumsden then on to tackle the Nevis Pass road. We got part way up the Nevis in the rain and thought the better of it and turned back. Headed thru Kingston and Frankton where the skies started to clear. Visited Arrowtown for a looksee and a brew then onto our over night stop at Cromwell. Ran into a couple of workmates of Cary's that were also staying at the chalets and spent the night playing pool in the bar.

Kms today 554.

Pic 1. BMW in the workshop.
Pic 2/3/4. Bluff.
Pic 5. Nevis
Pic 6. Lake Whakatipu.

[Taz]

More Day 8 pics.

Pics 1-4. Arrowtown.
Pic 5. Kawarau Gorge (Roaring Meg?)
Pic 6. Cromwell digs.

[Taz]

From Cromwell we headed for Bendigo and Welshtown for a look. Then onto the Thomsons Track thru countless gates this track climbs over the Dunstan Mountains and comes out a Omakau. Instead of going into Omakau and the main road we turned right and took the back roads to Becks, these roads are a great mix of seal and gravel. We then headed up to St Bathans and stopped for a brew and toasted sandwich at the Vulcan Hotel. After lunch we were off to Naseby and the Danseys Pass coming out at Duntroon and heading for Kurow where we met up with John (aka OldRider). We were invited to stay with John and his wife Philipa at their house in Otematata but first we headed off to tackle the Hakataramea and Benmore (black Forest Station) roads. We took a wrong turn at the black forest station and headed along the lake front for a while until the road came to an end at a swamp which Cary just had to ride the Tiger thru!. And back. On the correct track again we made good time to Benmore and our overnight stop at Otematata where we we treated to a sumptious dinner and desert and a comfortable nights kip. Thanks John and Philipa.

Pic 1. Bendigo.
Pic 2/3. Welshtown.
Pic 4/5/6. Thomson Track.

[Taz]

More Pics........

Pic 1/2. Thomson's Track.
Pic 3/4/5. St Bathans.
Pic 6. Naseby

[Taz]

Still More pics......

[Taz]

More pics....

Pylon Service Road (Lake Benmore)
John and Philippa. Aka Oldrider.

[Taz]

After a loverly breakfast we cleaned the bikes and John shwed us around the Canal roads that surround Omarama and Twizel. These canals feed the power stations in this region and are a feat of engineering. We stopped to feed the fish in one of thre salmon farms that are in the canals. The private roads that run beside the canals are great.
We said our goodbye's to John in Twixel and headed for Mt Cook. From Mt Cook it was onto lunch at Lake Tekapo then thru to Geraldine for our overnight stop at the Geraldine Holiday Park. Met a couple of other bikers, Ross and Colin from Tauranga. Together we went to the local sports bar for dinner and some beverages Was a good night.

K's today 350.

Pic 1. Salmon Farm
Pic 2. Feedin the fish
Pic 3. Dam!
Pic 4. Twizel
Pic 5. Mt Cook.
Pic 6. Salmon.

[Taz]

More pics....

Pic 1-4. Canals.

[Taz]

Woke to an overcast day today. Our route today takes us from geraldine along the plains to Mt Somers thru spring burn and onto Lake Coleridge. We Take the Lyndon road past Lake Lyndon then Head thru Arthurs pass. The sun has come out by now and the day is warming up nicely. Turning right we take the road around Lake Brunner to Stillwater stopping at the Brunner Coke and brick works. The conditions these guys had to work under makes me glad we have the protections against exploitation by big business that we have today. From here we stopped for lunch at Greymouth then tootled up the coast stopping at the Punakaiki pancake rocks and Cape Foulwind where we both tried to fart.... We found a small pub called the Star Tavern and stopped for a brew in the sun then set out for the Westport Motor Camp. Went and found a roast for dinner at the local pub then back to the camp ground where Cary beat me at mini golf .

Kms today 427.

Pic 1. Rakaia River.
Pic 2/3. Lake coleridge.
Pic 4. Arthurs Pass.
Pic 5/6. Brunner Coke Works.

[Taz]

Pics from day 11....

Pics 1-6. Brunner Coke and brick works.

[Taz]

Even more pics......

Pic 1. Coke works
Pics 2/3/4/5/6. Punakaiki Pancake rocks.