Just booked the Ferry .... now the looooong countdown

[Tank]

Rosie - thanks for the link - that was awesome!!!!!

[nodrog:Me]

2nd tip - although bluff is about the size of greenlane Mcdonalds, dont think they havnt got a police station, or highway patrol there :slap:

[pritch]

From memory Fox is a shorter walk than Franz. The terminal face of Fox was more interesting too -

The glaciers are just a fraction of what used to be there only a few years ago. At Fox the road is marked to show where it reached at various times.
At the rate it's disappearing it could be gone before you get there.

Travelling in this direction you'll come to Fox first and a short time later to Franz Joseph. I can't comment on cabin accomodation at Fox but the camp at Franz Joseph was almost brand new when I was there last year. It's a wee way past the township and it's just a short walk back to the pub for dinner. Recommended.

[Devil]

Starting at Auckland we are taking a couple of days to get to Wellington.
Then we go:
Picton - Westport - Hamner Springs - Christchurch - Dunners - Bluff - Te Anau - Wanaka - One of the Glaciers - Blackbull - Picton - Home to Auckland.

Google Maps puts it at just over 4000km - we expect that we will end up with about 5000km after side trips etc.
.

May I recommend the route we took Feb last year (roughly) Each item being a day:
Picton - Amberley (just out of Chch)
Amberley - Queenstown
Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Sound (You HAVE to do that road) - Te Anau
Te Anau - Queenstown
Queenstown - Glaciers (Fox or Franz, we stayed at the more southerly one, dont have a map on me at the mo). Also had a trip out to Jacksons at some point. Return trip, only one road, but good scenery and a place to stretch the bikes legs
Glaciers - Blackball hilton
Blackball - Nelson with a side trip to do the Takaka Hill
Nelson - Picton then whereever.

[EJK]

Last night finally managed to find a gap in time that didnt coincide with work issues, wifes birthdays, kids school holidays, or other commitment allowing me and my mate to head off on out first big ride !!!! Its not until end of Feb but we are really looking forward to it. The Ferry was booked last night !!!

Any recommendations are welcome (and I have picked up a lot here already).

Starting at Auckland we are taking a couple of days to get to Wellington.
Then we go:
Picton - Westport - Hamner Springs - Christchurch - Dunners - Bluff - Te Anau - Wanaka - One of the Glaciers - Blackbull - Picton - Home to Auckland.

Google Maps puts it at just over 4000km - we expect that we will end up with about 5000km after side trips etc.

We wanted to do more passes (We get to do Lewis and Hasst) but time was against us.

Either way - we think we have some awesome roads ahead of us - it's probably not much for some of you guys - but for us two - this is one hell of an adventure.

You too booked a ferry?

just kidding, my FXR has a limit you know...
Sounds fun pap, I used to live in CHCH for 5 years, and its a great town!

[Hawkeye]

Hey tank, Dunno if youve seen this thread but there's loads of good advice on here. I'm south bound in November, can't wait! I think we're both in for a treet kida.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81659

Looks like there is going to be a few of us down there in November. I'm also heading down there with a mate. Unfortunately, there will be no gravel for us. (sports tourer and a cruiser) but I'm certainly looking forward to it. Mates daughter is in Otago so that is where we will be heading, but how we get there hasn't been planned yet. 14 days to kill so we should be able to make it an 'interesting ' journey.

[Hawkeye]

Banks Peninsular and the Marlborough Sounds have some cool/scenic roads to explore. Marlborough is mainly gravel, and Banks Peninsular has a mixture of gravel and seal, depending on where you go.

We did an Adventure-n00b trip to the south island earlier this year, which may give you some ideas of places to go.

Sigh, I miss living in the South Island

Hi Rosie, Thanks for that link. We started riding around the same time so it's great to see you up to that level of skill. I haven't been on an adventure ride yet but based on that thread, it's making me seriously consider getting a more dual purpose bike to give me those types of options.

[FJRider]

You could always "do" the Arthurs pass as a side trip from the west coast side. 2 - 2 1/2 hours return to Arthurs pass township. Worth the effort...