Otago-Southland Adventure rider rides

**Ruralman** · 1st July 2008, 20:13

Hi Guys.
Could the moderators please consider making this a sticky please
I thought its time we had a thread to pull together the adventure riders from Otago in one place so its a bit easier to plan rides etc away from the other threads.
All the usual stuff from day trips, alternative routes to rallies and other rides that someone has a good idea for.
I am very keen to do a ride from my place, over the full length of the Dunstan trail, probably stay at Chatto Creek (?) and then over the Nevis - would need to be a summer/early autumn ride. I had wanted to do it this year but somehow it never quite fitted in. I've never been over the Thompson's track to Tarras either and want to fit that in with something.
Theres lot of alternative routes begging to be used to get to the Kiwibiker annual Christmas get together at Danseys this year - I'm very keen to go through Ramrock road again as the last time I did that it was pissing down on the way to last years Brass Monkey.
So all you Otago adventure riders please subscribe to this thread and use it and for riders from elsewhere keep us posted when you're coming through.
Cheers
Bruce

**Dunstan** · 1st July 2008, 21:09

sounds good trip l'm keen count me in

**hondav2** · 1st July 2008, 22:29

Can I suggest the moderator makes it Otago - Southland as some of the good rides start and finish in both provinces. Im in the process of sorting a venue for a get together of duel sport riders. Check out this link http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355983
When I know a bit more about prices ect I will get back to yous. Cheers Toddy

**scorry** · 2nd July 2008, 07:38

You should organise a day ride from dunedin / clarkes then over the dunstan then over the nevis and stay in Garston the same night that bronz have thier Touring Trophy run there.
I only did the nevis part last year and there was 4 guys who did the whole trip.
There was around 40 people staying out the back of the Garston pub and it was a great night.
I am on the bronz committee so i will let you know when it is on this year, usually Octoberish

**Ruralman** · 2nd July 2008, 09:27

Originally Posted by hondav2

Can I suggest the moderator makes it Otago - Southland as some of the good rides start and finish in both provinces. Im in the process of sorting a venue for a get together of duel sport riders. Check out this link http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355983
When I know a bit more about prices ect I will get back to yous. Cheers Toddy

Yes thats a good idea and I'm happy for the Mods to change the title

Originally Posted by scorry

You should organise a day ride from dunedin / clarkes then over the dunstan then over the nevis and stay in Garston the same night that bronz have thier Touring Trophy run there.
I only did the nevis part last year and there was 4 guys who did the whole trip.
There was around 40 people staying out the back of the Garston pub and it was a great night.
I am on the bronz committee so i will let you know when it is on this year, usually Octoberish

Another good idea - the only thing is that in October I'm not sure if the Dunstan (at least at the Clarkes end) is officially open, and the Nevis is often badly scoured out around the river crossings until you get into summer and some road maintenance has been done. It might be Ok on smaller trail or specialist enduro/adventure bikes (eg KTM 990/690) but not so good for the "soft adventure bikes" like my Tiger, especially if the rivers are still up. It won't stop those who want to go with the right bikes of course.
Great that there is someone on the BRONZ committee with an interest in adventure riding - I'll keep an eye out in the mag

**Ruralman** · 2nd July 2008, 09:37

Originally Posted by hondav2

Can I suggest the moderator makes it Otago - Southland as some of the good rides start and finish in both provinces. Im in the process of sorting a venue for a get together of duel sport riders. Check out this link http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355983
When I know a bit more about prices ect I will get back to yous. Cheers Toddy

The trip I have suggested might be a good event to bring everyone together. The first bit I suggested was from my place over the back roads from Waitahuna to Lake Mahingerangi to Clarkes Junction and then over the Dunstan. Between my place and Milton we can camp a fair few bodies overnight prior to the start.

I still reckon its more of a summer ride though and it sounds like you're probably wanting to get something underway well before then ? Keep in touch Toddy.

I'm in need of a trip to blow out some cobwebs and was thinking of a ride round the Southern Scenic route ending up in Te Anau sometime in the next month (just a sealed road ride at this stage). Hopefully we can grab a beer together and talk about adventure rides. Cheers

**scorry** · 2nd July 2008, 09:38

Actually me and my cousin went to all 5 of the touring trophy runs last year on our trail bikes, we had to take some very interesting routes with the worst one being a wrong turn and going through a farmers paddock and ended up right in front of his house.
The bigger bikes that went on the nevis run last year was a xr650, bmw1150 and a xtx660, the river was up a bit and it made for interesting viewing for us on trail bikes.
Will keep all informed of the TT runs for this year, first one is 13th September and it is going to Konkonga, my suggested route is straight over the dunstan and thru Patearoa, should be good

**Dunstan** · 2nd July 2008, 13:50

Originally Posted by scorry

Actually me and my cousin went to all 5 of the touring trophy runs last year on our trail bikes, we had to take some very interesting routes with the worst one being a wrong turn and going through a farmers paddock and ended up right in front of his house.
The bigger bikes that went on the nevis run last year was a xr650, bmw1150 and a xtx660, the river was up a bit and it made for interesting viewing for us on trail bikes.
Will keep all informed of the TT runs for this year, first one is 13th September and it is going to Konkonga, my suggested route is straight over the dunstan and thru Patearoa, should be good

IT a day ride may be keen on this ride

**Ruralman** · 2nd July 2008, 17:38

Originally Posted by scorry

Actually me and my cousin went to all 5 of the touring trophy runs last year on our trail bikes, we had to take some very interesting routes with the worst one being a wrong turn and going through a farmers paddock and ended up right in front of his house.
The bigger bikes that went on the nevis run last year was a xr650, bmw1150 and a xtx660, the river was up a bit and it made for interesting viewing for us on trail bikes.
Will keep all informed of the TT runs for this year, first one is 13th September and it is going to Konkonga, my suggested route is straight over the dunstan and thru Patearoa, should be good

I presume that is Kokonga (up past Hyde) ? If so another good route is to go up SH8, go up the Millenium track form Beaumont to Millers Flat, then over the top via Lake Onslow, down to the Styx, Pateraroa and then through to Kokonga. You'd still need a road legal dirt bike unless you trailered it to the Beaumont pub.

Originally Posted by Dunstan

IT a day ride may be keen on this ride

These TT trips involve a night at the end point usually (with lots of drinking based on the one TT run I did to the Vincent the year before last!!), but if you can't stay then theres no reason why you couldn't carry on and just make it a day trip - I might be keen to do it that way as well

**Dunstan** · 2nd July 2008, 18:54

Originally Posted by scorry

Actually me and my cousin went to all 5 of the touring trophy runs last year on our trail bikes, we had to take some very interesting routes with the worst one being a wrong turn and going through a farmers paddock and ended up right in front of his house.
The bigger bikes that went on the nevis run last year was a xr650, bmw1150 and a xtx660, the river was up a bit and it made for interesting viewing for us on trail bikes.
Will keep all informed of the TT runs for this year, first one is 13th September and it is going to Konkonga, my suggested route is straight over the dunstan and thru Patearoa, should be good

where Konkonga on map (unsure were it is )

**Ruralman** · 2nd July 2008, 19:43

Originally Posted by Dunstan

where Konkonga on map (unsure were it is )

From Middlemarch, ride to Hyde, then up and over the Hyde hill which I still rate as the best piece of motorcycle road in Otago - for all bikes from cruisers to scooters and all the real bikes in between

- and then Kokonga is next, just a collection of getaway weekend batches and a back packers/ motel beside the Taieri river before you get to the end of that highway where it joins the Pig Root. At Kokonga there is a side road which is a short cut through to Pateraroa.

**Ruralman** · 2nd July 2008, 19:47

Thanks to the Mods (Jantar I presume - thanks Malcolm) for changing the title and making this a sticky.

Is anyone familiar enough with the Lake Onslow Rd to know whether it is going to be easily passible in early Sept ? I do know a couple of farmers in the area (at either end) who I could contact nearer the time but we might have someone who knows the road. I would imagine theres a bit of snow up there at the moment and that this might take till October to clear off the high stuff ???

**hondav2** · 2nd July 2008, 21:19

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Thanks to the Mods (Jantar I presume - thanks Malcolm) for changing the title and making this a sticky.

Is anyone familiar enough with the Lake Onslow Rd to know whether it is going to be easily passible in early Sept ? I do know a couple of farmers in the area (at either end) who I could contact nearer the time but we might have someone who knows the road. I would imagine theres a bit of snow up there at the moment and that this might take till October to clear off the high stuff ???

Its not open till 30th Sept, Its a road you want to ride when its dry. It would be very slippery in the wet. Have a look in www.toddy.smugmug.com I have some pics when i rode it . Also the Old Dunstan and Nevis dont open till 30th Sept. Cheers Toddy

**scorry** · 3rd July 2008, 09:08

Lots of good ways to get to kokonga but my bike isnt road legal, its a wr450.
So thats why i would go over the first half of the dunstan to patearoa.
But it would be a better ride as rural man said from beamont.

You said you went to last years vincent tt tun, did you win the slow race?

**Jantar** · 3rd July 2008, 09:41

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Thanks to the Mods (Jantar I presume - thanks Malcolm) for changing the title and making this a sticky.

Is anyone familiar enough with the Lake Onslow Rd to know whether it is going to be easily passible in early Sept ? I do know a couple of farmers in the area (at either end) who I could contact nearer the time but we might have someone who knows the road. I would imagine theres a bit of snow up there at the moment and that this might take till October to clear off the high stuff ???

The section from Onslow to Styx is unpassable at the moment (unless your bike is fitted with snow tyres). The piece over DOC land is closed to all traffic until the end of winter, and even then it is very boggy. Last time I went through there (4WD) there were some pretty deep patches of mud. Paulette was through there in february on horse back, and even she reckoned it was pretty hard going for the horses. So definitely a dry weather trip unless on a full off road bike.