Another South Island tour

[BladeBrit]

Hi All,
I am another Brit biker that has been planning a South Island tour for some time and it will finally be going ahead from Christchurch on the 19th Feb for 3 weeks.
I would appreciate any comments on the planned route and any suggestions of roads and places I have missed or ones that are not worth the effort.

So the plan so far is:-

1- Tekapo via 73, 77, 72, 79, 8
2- Cromwell via Mount Cook

At this point I was planning on checking the weather around Milford sound and if it is good for the next 2 days then I would go to Te Anau to ride to Milford sound. On the other hand if it is bad I can reverse the route and swing down to Dunedin then go via Invercargill before getting to Te Anau in the hope of better weather.

3- Te Anau via 6, 94
4- Milford sound Rideout
5- Invercargill / Bluff via Clifden / Riverton 99
6- Dunedin via coast road Owaka etc
7- Dunedin Day off Speights Brewery
8- Dunedin Rideout to Oamaru return via 85 and 87
9- Queenstown 8
10- Queenstown Day off or day off later at Wanaka
11- Wanaka via Arrowtown
12- Fox Glacier via 6
13- Fox Glacier Day off

Here again the plan is to check the weather and use Lewis and Arthur pass to get to the sunny side if there is one. The route below simply goes over and comes back to the west coast but I could go over and loop around the top of the Island before using the other pass to return to Christchurch.

14- Hanmer springs via 7 Lewis Pass
15- Greymouth Via 73 Arthurs pass
16- Wesport - Karamea -Westport
17- Nelson area via 6 Buller gorge
18- Collingwood Rideout
19- Nelson - Kaikoura
20- Christchurch via 70
21- Akaroa rideout

A couple of questions I have are is the Catlins the coast road via Owaka and not SH1 via Gore?
Any suggestions of good accommodation on route are also welcome. At present I have been surfing for B&B places and Motels so I have a collection of telephone numbers I can ring. I like to phone ahead and know that I have something rather than turning up and finding there is nothing available at a sensible price.
One or two people have mentioned the Top 10 parks as a reasonable place to stay. If you have used these do you need to phone ahead or do you normally just turn up.
Sorry about the size of my first post.
To answer a couple of questions you may have I will be on a VFR800 and here in the UK I ride a CBR954RR03.

Cheers Phill

[Blackbird]

Greetings Phill from another ex-UK bod (1975 ). As soon as you can, get yourself a copy of this book: http://www.aucklandmapcentre.co.nz/d...cycle-atlas.sm. Amazon or major bookstores usually have it. It gives details of all the great rides in NZ and is really worthwhile.

I use the Top 10 chain when touring and they're great. The schools will have gone back by the time you get here so occupancy will drop a bit. Normally, you won't have to book but in some areas like Franz Josef, it might be a bit busy. However, one Top 10 location will book you on to another if you want to do it that way. You'll always be able to find inexpensive accomodation somewhere.

Just for info, here's some stuff related to touring the South Island by bike:

http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2009/...th-island.html

http://kiwibound.livejournal.com/2009/03/17/

The VFR is perfect for those south island passes - I last did it on a Blackbird and that was pretty good too

Have a great time,

Geoff

[cromagnon]

Here is another recent thread about the tour of the south island that has good info in it: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-on-this-route

[BladeBrit]

Greetings Phill from another ex-UK bod (1975 ). As soon as you can, get yourself a copy of this book: http://www.aucklandmapcentre.co.nz/d...cycle-atlas.sm. Amazon or major bookstores usually have it. It gives details of all the great rides in NZ and is really worthwhile.

I use the Top 10 chain when touring and they're great. The schools will have gone back by the time you get here so occupancy will drop a bit. Normally, you won't have to book but in some areas like Franz Josef, it might be a bit busy. However, one Top 10 location will book you on to another if you want to do it that way. You'll always be able to find inexpensive accomodation somewhere.

Just for info, here's some stuff related to touring the South Island by bike:

http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2009/...th-island.html

http://kiwibound.livejournal.com/2009/03/17/

The VFR is perfect for those south island passes - I last did it on a Blackbird and that was pretty good too

Have a great time,

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, Unfortunately it looks like Amazon are quoting 4 weeks delivery on that book so i will look for one when I get to NZ. I will actually be arriving on the 1st feb and taking 2 weeks to see the sights of the north island but sadly by car, so I should have some time to read the book while there if I am not distracted to much by the wine.
Top 10 sounds like a good backup to have thanks.
I read your earlier Birds galore write up which was excellent but had not seen the kiwibound blog so I will check that out.
Thanks for the help

Here is another recent thread about the tour of the south island that has good info in it: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-on-this-route

Thanks for the link cromagnon I had missed that one.
I will now be adding the Glenlorchy side trip to the day 11 itinerary.
11- Glenorchy then Wanaka via Arrowtown

Cheers
Phill

[Southern man]

Just a tought. The March Hare Rally is on in Waimate on the 4/5/6 march about the same time that you are in the area. Largest rally in New Zealand. Well worth a look. www.marchhare.co.nz

[Blackbird]

Thanks Geoff, Unfortunately it looks like Amazon are quoting 4 weeks delivery on that book so i will look for one when I get to NZ. I will actually be arriving on the 1st feb and taking 2 weeks to see the sights of the north island but sadly by car, so I should have some time to read the book while there if I am not distracted to much by the wine.
Top 10 sounds like a good backup to have thanks.
I read your earlier Birds galore write up which was excellent but had not seen the kiwibound blog so I will check that out.
Thanks for the help
Cheers
Phill

No worries Phill. Auckland Map Shop, Whitcoulls or Borders bookshop in Auckland will almost certainly have them. You can probably pre-order from their websites and they'd hold for you. Failing that, I'll take you on trust and lend you mine. If you're touring the north island, you might think about coming to the Coromandel Peninsula which is a couple of hours from Auckland. Arguably one of the best motorcycle roads in the country, particularly if you avoid some of the bikers who treat it as a racetrack at the weekends. Pity you'll be in a car though at that stage If you do, there's always a warm bed and cold beer at home - we've watered and fed quite a few overseas riders. You can always get in touch through geoff.james74@gmail.com. Where are you from in the UK?

[BladeBrit]

Thanks for the very kind offer Geoff,
My accommodation in North Island has been booked already as I have certain things I want to see or do and with the shape of the island it seemed easier to pre book to make sure I had somewhere to put my head.
I will however be staying in Thames on Saturday the 12th as I was planning on driving back to Wellington via the Coromandel Peninsula and the East coast route through Gisbourne and Napier. (I will try and imagine i am on the bike)
So perhaps we could meet up for a beer or something on route.
I have just realised that I will be that car getting in everyones way on the 13th so I will apologise for that in advance.
As I have a few days on foot when I arrive to acclimatise with the time zone I will search out that book then.

Arrive Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch
Picton
Marton
Rotorua
Rotorua
Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei
Thames
Whakatane ?
Wairoa ?
Wellington
Wellington
Christchurch

Home here is north Bucks so just 10 minutes ride to the Cotswolds :-)

Southern Man,
Thanks for the heads up on the March Hare Rally it would be nice to go along to something like that and meet up with some other bikers.
If I am in that area around the time I will definitely get along there.

[Blackbird]

No worries - will see if we can make that work as it's only 40 minutes from home. The East Cape run is great, either all the way round from Whakatane to Gisborne or via the Waiokeka Gorge depending on what time you have available. It's an easy day run right round from Whakatane to Gisborne even stopping to take lots of photos and you'll certainly want to do that.

We weren't all that far apart in the UK then. I lived in Northants and was on the staff at Cranfield University before emigrating. Great riding in the Cotswolds.

[Jantar]

I see your itinary has you in Dunedin on the 26th - 27th Feb. That co-incides with the tt2000 ride www.tt2000.org . Maybe you'd like to get together with a few of the Dunedin riders on the friday evening.

[BladeBrit]

It looks like the full east coast route for me then.
You would probably be familiar with a lot of our local rideout then Geoff.

Jantar, That is excellent news as you have noticed I was planning a drinking day on the Friday so meeting up with some like minded people to assist would be great.

I am planning to pick up a prepayed SIM when I get to Christchurch so as soon as I get access to a computer I will post up the number and make some plans.

This is just getting better and better.

[kit]

Yes the Catlins is the southern scenic route, and not the gore rd. It is a great peice of rd, watch out for loose gravel etc on the road as it pretty much never gets swept.

[BladeBrit]

Yes the Catlins is the southern scenic route, and not the gore rd. It is a great peice of rd, watch out for loose gravel etc on the road as it pretty much never gets swept.

Thanks Kit that is another piece of the puzzle in place.

[blueblade]

Good to see you included Glenorchy. That is a truly awesome piece of road !!!!!
Did it on an Aprilia Tuono a few years ago and still consider it one of the best rides I have ever had.

[BladeBrit]

If anyone want's to get in touch whilst I am on tour my number here in NZ is
021 0286 2723. Best time is in the evening as I should be riding during the day.
Just leving the North to head for Thames and the Coro Penninsular, but still on 4 wheels at the moment.
Found some great roads while in the car and had to just imagine I was on the bike.

Phill

[Blackbird]

Great to meet you today Phill and hope you weren't too frustrated in the cage round the Coro Loop. Look forward to hearing about your trip, especially on the VFR down south!

Geoff