STG Southern Safari

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 10th December 2008, 21:06

Over the Xmas Break Me and Xaria will be doing the 13 STG Southern Safari (have heaps of time till end of Jan 2009)

It starts in Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown, Glenochy, Routeburn/Kinloch. (Back to Queenstown) then Arrowtown, over Crown Range, Wanaka, Lindis to Benmore and Omarama, Kurow, (and the dams) then into Glennavy, and over the Waitaki up to Duntroon down to Oamaru, down to Kakanui, Meheno, Palmermerston. From Palmerston to Ranfurly, Omakau, and back to Alexandra.

We will be stopping at the odd spot answering some mystery questions along the way. Over the route you will be on the most eastern, western, highest, lowest sealed roads in Otago.

We will confirm dates as we get closer. but will be somewhere between 23th Dec 2008 - 5th Jan 2009 and it will take a couple of days to complete. We haven't decided where we will be staying as of yet... Possibly camping at Otematata.

Any one wishing to join us or tag along for part of the trip is more than welcome.

**Jantar** · 10th December 2008, 21:09

Yes, I'm keen. I'm sure I have a spare day during that period.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 10th December 2008, 21:15

Originally Posted by Jantar

Yes, I'm keen. I'm sure I have a spare day during that period.

Cool would be great if you could join us for part of the trip

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 29th December 2008, 20:45

DAY ONE
Well a bit of an early start (8am) from Alexandra through the Gorge and into Cromwell Old Cromwell Town and answered 2 questions, and already feeling the heat of the day.

Into the next gorge and the stopping off at AJ Hacket and answered a couple more questions, then watched a couple fools jump off a bridge Continuing into Queenstown and a quick top up with gas, (reason going to Glenorchy and beyond, and then back to Queenstown... would be pushing my overall fuel range)

Into Glenorchy then continued out to Kinloch/Routeburn to the most westerly sealed road in Otago. Answered a question or two took a photo or 3. Then back into Glenorchy for a coffee and a few more photo's. Ride back to Queenstown with a bee that got inside my jacket... at first I thought it was a sting but it was a splat... and somehow it survived... another top up of go go juice and then shooting through to Arrowtown answering a question at the shotover jet carpark as well as Arrowtown Museum. A few photo's and we were off again up to the sumbit of the Crown Range, answering another question and a few more photo's of the awesome veiw. And my GPS begs to differ in the height...

Back in the saddle and shoot smartly to Wanaka for a byte to eat and back in the saddle again to Cromwell for the use of the public facilities. Going back through the gorge I reckon we saw Mr Sensible and lovely better half on the DuKe heading towards Cromwell and the Lindus... (maybe)

Back in Alexandra around 16:15.

What an awesome day... absolute scorchter of a day to tell the honest truth (32 degrees). The leathers were starting bake on and need peeling off and airing out. Traffic was behavng and didn't see anything totally cage stupid. Hope to get some photos up tonight or tomorrow when I get home.

First Batch of photo's
http://www.southernrider.co.nz/album/ thumbnails.php?album=107

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 31st December 2008, 16:53

DAY TWO
Another early star and leaving Alexadra around 8am, (actually a little earlier) and we were on our way. This time back through the Cromwell gorge but heading to the Lindus pass. Stopping at the Tin Man for a photo opp, Xaria missed it and continued ahead, and by the time she realised I was not there I had done the few photo's and back on my bike. I met her coming back on a one way bridge.

In to Tarras for a non coffee as the blasted cafe wasn't open... how rude, Oh well I will have to wait till I get to Old Riders place. Over the Lindus with me shooting ahead to try and get a few photo's as Xaria came over the summit... her bike being a bit of a stealth bike unlike the blue beast, I nearly missed her as I didn't hear her coming... Continuing through the Lindus and on in to Omaramammamaammaaa (should be enough M's and A's

) and to busy watching other things and miss the turn double

got to the turn off where I saw a sign saying Clay Cliffs before we said hang on...So while we were there we might go and have a look at the Clay Cliffs...

10km of gravel and we get to the gate where it says private property and $5.00 per vehicle (2 bikes $10...ummm to see some clay) we decided we didn't want to see them that badly. Turning around heading back to Omarama and topping up with fuel, we headed in the right direction to Otematata and to Old Riders Joint.

This is where it got interesting John had try to anticipate where we were going... and then HiJacked our ride. I must admit though on this part I didn't mind to much as we had to go to Glenavy and over the Bridge to answer another question... it was a pretty boring piece of road, and I like Johns Suggestion better, but his route didn't take us to the two spots we needed to go to answer the required questions.

Xaria was happy to go and get those to questions, while we went tiki touring . Any way after a couppa (or two) a sandwhich (or 4) and a scone by which time Old Rider had organised and invited the neighbours for a ride...

We Rode up to Benmore and then Aviemore answer a question at each dam then on into Kurow where Xaria parted and headed to Glenavy and over the Waitaki to answer another question while the rest of us tiki toured through Weston into Oamaru for fuel and then onto the Old coast road, Trotters Gorge when one of Old Riders Neighbours had a wee off, on a corner that jut keeps getting tighter... he said it was a moments of misconcentration. Lucky we were pootling and only minor damage to bike... pride and possibly a sore shoulder.

In to Palmerston for a coffee break and wait to rejoin Xaria which she was not far behind us. And another chin wag and we were on our way again back to Dunedin. We decided to go straight home as it had been a couple of longish days in the saddle and my butt felt it. Total 1195.6km's traveled. Officially we needed to head back to Alexandra via the Pig route to answer 3 or 4 more questions, but we had already gotten them on a previous trip.

Over all the Southern Safari took me to a couple of places I had never been before like the most westerly sealed road in Otago. The trip was great and we both had fun with it. Hope to be doing it again next year... which will be in Southland.

I hope to put the remaining photo's up later tonight..

**Xaria** · 31st December 2008, 19:02

Southern Safari

I did the Southern Safari last year pretty much by myself and decided that it was definitely one I would repeat.
On Sunday, I met up with Nighthawk in Milton about 11.30 and went through to Alexandra to stay with my parents. It was an awesome, stinking hot day that boded very well for our little trip.
We made an early start on Monday to avoid the traffic and heat. We were in the historical area in Cromwell answering questions by 8.30 and then through the Kawarau Gorge to stop and look at the bungy. Really hot by this time and it was only a little after 9. We went onwards to Glenorchy; traffic was still not too bad, except in Queenstown itself, which was only to be expected. It was my first time riding out to Glenorchy and it was really great.
After a bit of a discussion at the Rees River we went a few kilometers further on and found the westernmost point in Otago. A few more photos then turned round to regroup in Glenorchy with a coffee. I must say that the coffee was quite expensive $9 for a latte and flat white, but it was very yummy.
Back through to Queenstown then the back road to Arrowtown. Nipped into the shotover jet car park to answer a question: What does the sign say entering the car park? Warning, Jet boating is contagious! You may become addicted. Fought our way through Arrowtown to answer another question then went over the Crown range. It was my first time on this road as well and I was quite apprehensive about it, especially after we looked at it on Dads map and saw a section called “the Zigzags”. However as there was very little traffic going our way, I just took my time and got to the top for the obligatory photos and more questions at the highest point on sealed roads in New Zealand. Down the road to Wanaka where we stopped for a nice cold coke and filled roll and just chilled off a bit. Bike gear is great for safety but we were getting a bit overheated by this time. We just wandered around town for a while as we really didn’t want to get all our heavy gear back on. Back to Cromwell, where I lost Nighthawk for a while then back to Alex and a couple of cold drinks.

The next morning we were off early again which meant we were in Tarras before the café opened, then through the Lindis Pass and then got to Omarama with a bit of time to spare before meeting Old Rider for a cuppa, so we went for a tikki tour down to the clay cliffs, which was fine for the first couple of roads, then turn down a high quality gravel road and then find out that it is $5 per vehicle to go for a look, so we just turned back and fueled up in Omarama, turned on the GPS and went to Old Riders.

Mrs. Old Rider (Phillipa) had put on a great smoko with sandwiches and scones and while we had them Old Rider was discussing our ride and that he had invited a couple of his neighbors to go with us. As the Southern Safari was going down very boring roads after Kurow, I insisted that Nighthawk went with the other group down the twisties.
After the rest of the group turned up we left and with a couple of stops on Benmore and Aviemore dams we got to Kurow and I turned off and went off to Glenavy. Very straight roads with quite a bit of traffic so with my little 250 it is interesting passing. Off to the reserve at the end of Kaik road for the Easternmost point in sealed roads in Otago, then trough Oamaru and then turned down Teschemakers road which was really full of loose new seal so I didn’t get the question there, but then on to All day bay and the lowest point in sealed roads in New Zealand. Back onto SH1 and met up with the rest of the group at the café in Palmerston, and then straight home.
The weather was nowhere near as hot as the previous day, perfect weather for a ride and I am so glad that we went. I’m looking forward to next year’s one which I believe will be back around Southland.

For photos, see Nighthawks post