Auckland-Christchurch. Advice please?

[TimeOut]

Is there an NZ By Bike or similar book that I can peruse? I have been charged with sorting out a route and itinerary, gawd 'elp us!

The "New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas" is really good. I got mine at Paper Plus

[EatOrBeEaten]

Sounds perfect, cheers

[Gremlin]

gijoe has one... and to be honest, we looked at the areas we were covering on gps software, picked semi main routes that didn't look boring...

When we cross-referenced it to the book, we had pretty much picked out all the routes

I think the book does have a bit more info tho, but its handy indeed, if you don't know the roads. How many days do you have for going from chch north?

Going south, depending on the number of km you want to do, auckland to gisborne, and gisborne to wellington (via back routes with wimbledon), or via the east cape/forgotten highway

[Mystic13]

- Book the ferry early for the long weekend. Take ur own tie downs.

- www.metservice.co.nz is great like someone said. Where it comes into it's own over metvue is you can call up the forecast, then the rain radar and compare the two. The forecast is usually pretty accurate in terms of what will happen it's just the timing that will be out. By comparing the two you can see how soon or late the rain is and make decisions. As an example the worst I've seen is the forecast being out by 7 hours from the night before to the next morning. When everyone thought it would rain it turned out to be a brilliant days riding.

- If you don't have plastic rain coats for wearing over the top then buy some. I prefer the two piece. They keep you dry and keep you warm. I've been through the dessert road when it's been sleeting (could have made a snow cone off the screen) and other riders I were with were complaining of seriously freezing to the point that a couple stopped early just to get a hot shower. I've also done Aucks to Wellington with 7 hours of rain. Plastic is your friend. I actually enjoy bad weather riding.

- My general rule for riding somewhere is if there are two routes, look at the sky and choose a direction based on which looks drier and take a moment to see where the clouds are going. I've found some really interesting roads like this. Sure I've also found roads to nowhere and on one occassion a road to where I just came from but it's the ride...

- As for holiday weekends it's not as dangerous as people say because us riders tend to use secondary roads. And for some reason cars look for the most major road in the area.

- I don't tend to stop at planned locations but stop when it feels right. Going Aucks to Christchurch I'd be planning to stop at Picton. If there is riding with a destination over a few days then it's just stop when we feel like it. Then you can go for wanders down roads and find the hidden gems. Of course you run the risk of turning up in a town with no accommodation. That just makes the ride more special because someone will always put you up. (Or you're sleeping under the stars).

Most of all just have fun.

[Mystic13]

I also carry the "(North Island) Complete Drivers Atlas With Indexed Country Roads". There'll be a South Island one I guess.

This map allows me to get lost on the smallest of back roads and if I'm ever in doubt the road I'm on is in the book and I can find the way out. You can also get a good sense on the map about which roads are gravel (It doesn't say that in words but it seems to change the road colour on the map where the road turns to gravel in my experience.

The HEPA Motorcycle map is great but the "Complete" map allows you to plan your own back of beyond routes.

[pritch]

That's a big trip but do-able with good planning. SH1 is usually to be avoided but the stretch from Picton to Christchurch has an interesting texture with several ranges of hills and a great coastal stretch either side of Kaikoura.
It's a really nice ride.

There is a ton of advice on KB about using the ferries, a lot of it conflicting. You pays your money and you takes your choice. You do need to have your own tie downs - and know how to use them. Easter will be busy on the ferries.

The weather should be OK in April, but it can rain anytime. At least you are on the right side of the Ranges.

Have fun.

[SDU]

When you get to chch don't forget to introduce yourself to the locals, by meeting up for a ride or drinks.

We're not all scary

[EatOrBeEaten]

loads of good stuff here, thank you all

In talks with The Old One, he's thinking about travelling to SI Wednesday 15-Wednesday 22, so we should get the ferry stuff ok. that gives us half a week either side on NI. Will get the atlas today and have a poke through it.

No tie-downs on the ferries? For real? O_o.

[Tank]

No tie-downs on the ferries? For real? O_o.

I will be back by then and have just purchased a couple of new sets of tie-downs - you are more than welsome to borrow mine to save you buying some.

[EatOrBeEaten]

I will be back by then and have just purchased a couple of new sets of tie-downs - you are more than welsome to borrow mine to save you buying some.

Cheers mate, that'd be awesome

I'm still pretty amazed at the lack of tie-downs on the ferry though- seems outrageous!

Oh, and bought that atlas today, cheers for suggesting it TimeOut

[testastretta]

If you are wanting to take a fairly direct route from Picton to Christchurch .Just south of Kaikoura by the golf course head inland to Waiau via Mt Lyford.From Waiau head east back to SH1 through the Leader Valley(Alpine Pacific Triangle)Although this takes out some of the best of the coast road this detour has some great twisty bits and the traffic is very light.The road surface isnt the best but alot of fun can still be had.

[EatOrBeEaten]

If you are wanting to take a fairly direct route from Picton to Christchurch .Just south of Kaikoura by the golf course head inland to Waiau via Mt Lyford.From Waiau head east back to SH1 through the Leader Valley(Alpine Pacific Triangle)Although this takes out some of the best of the coast road this detour has some great twisty bits and the traffic is very light.The road surface isnt the best but alot of fun can still be had.

Cheers So much good advice on this thread and via PM

*takes notes*

The ride report will be thing of beauty, it might even be worth reading!

[tigertim20]

Id recommend taking the east coast, awesome road, and forget the 70km restriction!! The road will be bloody busy around the easter time, so go a day or two early, to avoid some of the madness.
The weather from Picton-Christchurch will be generally pretty awesome, Enjoy the ride!!
I lived in Chrsitchurch for 12 years and Blenheim for 9, and travelled the road bout 2 times a month on average, youll enjoy that road!
Good Luck!