Te Anau-Bluff-Oamaru

[Jantar]

I can't say to the second, but it sounds about right to me. I love that road.

[LBD]

Te Anau is home and I spent a few years looking after an old Iron lady on the lake, probably did that road weekly.

I am new to this forum business so If I can work out how, will drop you a private note.

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Thats the one. Now when you get to Kingston heading toward Queenstown, start playing AC/DC's extended Jailbreak, all 14 minutes and 42 seconds of it. Then if you are in the right groove, you hit the first tight left/right at the 6 minute and 11 second mark, turn the volume up, grow horns, and the next 8 minutes 31 seconds will be the most unforgettable ride. Does not work as well coming back the other way. (What you reckon Jantar)

To send PM or private Email just left click Jantar’s name and a menu will drop down. Oh make sure you are logged on.

One of the options is “Private message “and one is “send email”. Job done.

What a fantastic place to spend some years of your life.

[Gremlin]

3. Fox Glacier – Queenstown. Approx 250kms.
Head through Haast pass down to Wanaka. Spectacular! Take the Crown Range Road past Cardrona. A stop at the pub is a must. It’s the same one used on the Speights ads. Then down into Queenstown Then on to – Te Anau. Approx 174kms.
We will cover 430km.

Its not the 430 ks but what will we miss rushing this part of the trip. We don't want to stay in Queenstown so will pick a place near by. Any ideas?

Fill in Fox, and avoid Haast and Makarora gas, as its expensive. There is a gas station at Lake Hawea (on SH6), Allied Petroleum (although they were out of 91 when I went through on my trip with gijoe)

West coast is beautiful. We did Franz Josef to Invercargill via Wanaka in one day, but we were both 1 up for most of it, and averaged almost 500km for 13 days.

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Fill in Fox, and avoid Haast and Makarora gas, as its expensive. There is a gas station at Lake Hawea (on SH6), Allied Petroleum (although they were out of 91 when I went through on my trip with gijoe)

West coast is beautiful. We did Franz Josef to Invercargill via Wanaka in one day, but we were both 1 up for most of it, and averaged almost 500km for 13 days.

When I started talking about the trip I had this in mind. I wanted to ride from here to there and cover the ground but as time has past I realised I can do that here and should take time to see the country. I must be getting old.

Our OZy mates, Well they are miss guided kiwis and live in OZ, have confirmed tonight so the trip is in January 2010. Probably leave around the 7th or so. Will work on the time table now and start finding accommodation in the stop over places.

I note the weather has been a bit wet down the coast in the last few days/month. Better plan on new wet weather gear for that part of the trip. All seems to far away. Should be going tomorrow. Never mind time will fly.

Thanks for the tips on fuel. I am of a mind that, as long as I can get it the price is no big deal. Only on the coast and in southland for 3 / 4 days.

Time to look for da Bluetooth coms system and a Garmin Zumo. I like new toys. Have a great day at work everyone and thanks for the feedback.

[Gremlin]

gijoe had an ixon rain suit, I had a dririder (both one pieces). I also used rain off over gloves, and they kept me pretty damn dry through some incredible rain (ie, could just see the tail lights in front of me, the rest was rain )

Time to look for da Bluetooth coms system and a Garmin Zumo. I like new toys. Have a great day at work everyone and thanks for the feedback.

only problem with bluetooth for a comms system is battery life. I think I remember reading a life of 7 hours for the recommended ones. I like new toys too (in IT, so its pretty much a given) and have the zumo, but because 7 hours is rather short (and consideration had to be given for things like grand challenge) I went the route of a baehr comms box instead.

Not cheap, but I had radar and gps, and then gijoe and I had uhf radios with push to talk, which did the job (but wouldn't work for pillions, unless they also had radios). Since the system is wires, no battery issues, besides the uhf radios, and my rated 55 hour life ones got at least 36 (I think I left it on overnight once too, so it would be more).