Auckland-Christchurch. Advice please?

[EatOrBeEaten]

I've promised some distant (and biking) relatives of mine that I'll go visit them over the Easter weekend. They live near Christchurch, they're keen for me to bring the bike down so they can kick the tyres etc. etc. Me, I'm pretty stoked about taking the bike on a LONG run out and it seems like a good opportunity to do some exploring of the mainland on the Kawasaki over the holidays

However, I'm a n00b and therefore anxious to sidestep any obvious idiocy on the road, so here's my idiocy online.

a) going at nana speeds due to the L-plate, roughly how long will it take me? I'm figuring I'll need a stopover somewhere, any recommendations? What can I expect in terms of roads/traffic?

b) what's the weather like in this part of the world in early April? If it's going to be bollocking it down then I'll have a rethink.

c) Awesome roads/sights/places worth checking out on the way back? I'll be on school holidays then, so I'll have a bit of time to check out awesome stuff.

Of course, if anyone's going south (fnar) on the 9th/10th April then let me know, would be nice to have some company

[imdying]

a) Don't travel at nana speeds; you'll be less likely to get squashed by some impatient arsehole

b) weather is fine, just bring your wets anyway... if nothing else, they're excellent at keeping cold winds at bay, seriously

c) zillions... are you coming down the middle or the east coat? I recommend the middle

[EatOrBeEaten]

By nana speeds I meant the speed limit, haven't kept to the 70kph rule after my first introduction to Auckland motorway traffic.... O_O

Good to hear about the weather too, it's my birthday in April and I was getting concerned I'd be celebrating in shhitey Autumn weather

Recommend away, all I got so far is "Go to chch, get spoiled a bit and fuck about on trailies for a few days. ride home."

[Gremlin]

Plan at least two days for the trip, depending on which route you take (and whether you turn the trip into the holiday).

Auckland to Wellington is 620 odd km, at least 7 hours non-stop of riding, it depends how many km you're comfortable to do a day, or how many hours you want to ride a day.

South Island, you can go straight down the east coast, one day easy. Or you can go west first, take in the likes of Queen Charlotte Drive, maybe a visit to Takaka (just google all these places).

Then you can go further west, to the west coast, via Buller Gorge (stunning) or head south through Springs Junction and Lewis Pass. Then you can go straight to Christchurch, or detour through Waiau and do Inland Rd or Leader Rd.

Or you can be GiJoe, find yourself in Bluff and realise you took a wrong turn, and do it all over again.

[Bren]

If you are leaving Auckland for this trip I have one bit of advice...Dont go back!


seriously though If ya need a place to crash for a night our place is always open to KBers. We are in Otaki, just outta wellington...1 hr away from fery terminal

[EatOrBeEaten]

Really? That'd be awesome, will get back to you nearer the event

Gremlin- cheers for the info. Wasn't planning on going the GIJoe way, but I'll bear his wisdom in mind...

[AllanB]

Once in Picton, I'd head North West to somewhere like say Kaiteriteri Motorcamp (just North of Motuekua). Spend the night there in a cabin or caravan and relax on the golden beach

Head South via Tapawera Highway - now either continue down the Lewis Pass or head over to the West Coast for the night (Westport or Greymouth). If you are not going to the West Coast continue to the Lewis Pass and consider spending the night in Hanmer Springs - relax in the thermal Hot Pools and take away the days aches. Be sure to go to a internet cafe and post pictures of you in your swimmers!
Hanmer to Christchurch is only about 150-160 kms of easy riding so you can arrive at your friends still feeling alive!

When in Christchurch a must do is the Akaroa GP, sorry scenic road. POst on KB and see if you can organise a guide over the hill who will ride at a sensible pace!

When heading back, shoot up the East Coast to Picton, stopping in Kaikoura for a feed of chips on the beach. Maybe you'll see a whale.

[SlashWylde]

Hey there. I have it in mind to ride down and visit friends in ChCh over the Easter break.

I'd probably want to head straight to Wellington over the course of a day, catch a ferry to Picton and stay the night in a backpackers. I'm interested in the possibility of heading down the middle to Hanmer or down the west coast to Greymouth then cutting accross to ChCh through Arthurs Pass(have to do some research on attractions of different routes).

I'll know closer to the time whether I'll be able to get away from work on the Thursday, so might be able to keep you company.

[skidMark]

Fuck travelling most of NZ on a long weekend, asking to be taken out by a retard holiday driver.

[EatOrBeEaten]

Cheers to AllanB, will definitely check those rides out!

Slash- let me know nearer the time, maybe sort something out!

Mark- good point, though it'll make a change for dicing with rush-hour death...

[Iain]

A day or two before you go check www.metservice.co.nz. They have a "rain radar" that shows expected rain over areas by the hour. It has served me well and been accurate on my trips. check the areas and times you will pass through so you know whether to expect rain or not.

Iain

[AllanB]

Fuck travelling most of NZ on a long weekend, asking to be taken out by a retard holiday driver.

Yeah, a issue. To be honest I pretty much kept off the bike over Xmas due to excessively heavy traffic.

One thing in the South Island however is that on the open road the vast majority of car drivers stick to the legal limit.
Unfortunately they also tend to doodle along in groups of little 'car trains'.

[Squiggles]

a) going at nana speeds due to the L-plate, roughly how long will it take me? I'm figuring I'll need a stopover somewhere, any recommendations? What can I expect in terms of roads/traffic?

Do it over two days at least, i've just come back from welly in a day and it gets pretty tiring and long.

b) what's the weather like in this part of the world in early April? If it's going to be bollocking it down then I'll have a rethink.

I use metvuw.co.nz & look at their forecast charts, pretty damm good for up to 7 days out... weather is "normally" alright

c) Awesome roads/sights/places worth checking out on the way back? I'll be on school holidays then, so I'll have a bit of time to check out awesome stuff.

Get ya picture taken with the gumboot in taihape... and go to te papa

[gammaguy]

i do the AK-CH run all the time,on a bike(its my job)

I can say the main thing is not to push yourself too hard,if you are tired,stop and rest.it takes a lot of concentration riding a long way.

Make sure your bike is fully serviced and sorted re tyres chain etc.there are few bike shops in the south island outside the main centers,and things never break down during business hours.even if you find a shop in rural NZ chances are it wont stock much road bike stuff.

Make sure you wear good gear and remember in april in the mainland,and thru the central north island it can get COLD and WET very easily and quickly.

Consider going down the east coast thru hawkes bay its usually warmer and drier and there are less trucks about(though still a few)

i could go on but half the fun is discovering it all for yourself

have a great trip and be safe

[EatOrBeEaten]

Well, now that Old Man Eobe is coming over, this has become a two-week odyssey.

He wants to take two/three days down to Wellington (to allow for jetlag from his epic journey here), then bolt down to Chch from the ferry and then take the scenic route back, seeing anything interesting. That's a LOT of time to go see awesome things!

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!