Your best South Island adventure route

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 07:01

Originally Posted by JATZ

Mt Greenland, in behind Ross, probly not a good one to start on but it's in your neighborhood

Is it a dead end? Or can you ride through somewhere? It looks like an out and back?

**Creeper** · 2nd March 2009, 07:54

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I will be keeping an eye on this one as I am coming down to the South in March. I have also been storing up a few rides and routes....
There is a wealth of information here and the riders have all the knowledge of routes....
Keep browsing and taking notes, there is so much out there but where to start?

when are you heading down south?? Have you got a route planned yet......I leave next Monday 9th for 3 weeks, might be able to catch up

Cheers
Dave

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 15:50

Originally Posted by Creeper

when are you heading down south?? Have you got a route planned yet......I leave next Monday 9th for 3 weeks, might be able to catch up

Cheers
Dave

Hi Dave...
I will be planning on going bout the 13th or so, depending on bookings etc.
I would think that 8 days will be enough but will be flexible.
I have to pay for bloody kennels lol....
I am on leave from 13th till 28th or thereabouts....
Yes, we could hook up and explore if you are around. I have no plans but I have ideas, of course the Rainbow and molesworth are definites and Farewell Spit....as well as ALL the metal roads and tracks I can find, Porika, Mangatapu too!
PM me.......

Mark

**jezzaNZ** · 2nd March 2009, 15:52

I'm heading down that way on Monday 9th March also for a week, I plan to do a circut down the West coast through Central O and back up the East Coast. Time is limited so I hope to get in the following roads/tracks: Starting from Picton Porika Rd, Breaburn Track, Maruia Saddle, Big River Rd Reefton (if time permits),West Coast, Skippers, Walter Peak Stn to Te Anau (Lake Mavora), Nevis Rd-Hawksburn Rd to Alex, Millers Flat to Lake Onslow and dack down Old Dunstan Rd, Danseys Pass, Haka Pass, McKenzie's Pass-Bourks Pass, then the Molesworth back to Picton.

There I said it. Anyone is more than welcome to tag along if you would like a guide. Cheers Jez

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 16:01

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

I'm heading down that way on Monday 9th March also for a week, I plan to do a circut down the West coast through Central O and back up the East Coast. Time is limited so I hope to get in the following roads/tracks: Starting from Picton Porika Rd, Breaburn Track, Maruia Saddle, Big River Rd Reefton (if time permits),West Coast, Skippers, Walter Peak Stn to Te Anau (Lake Mavora), Nevis Rd-Hawksburn Rd to Alex, Millers Flat to Lake Onslow and dack down Old Dunstan Rd, Danseys Pass, Haka Pass, McKenzie's Pass-Bourks Pass, then the Molesworth back to Picton.

There I said it. Anyone is more than welcome to tag along if you would like a guide. Cheers Jez

Thanks, I just also added a couple of extra side trips...

Shit, there is a lot of country down there....I wish I could get a transfer down south, be there in a minute!!

**jezzaNZ** · 2nd March 2009, 16:24

Yeh there is a lot of stuff I have left out due to time constraints and the fact I am riding alone and know the physical effort needed to pull the 950 out of a sticky situation by myself!!!!! Anyway it is a bit of a soul searching, work de-stressing, finding yourself kind of a ride so will just soak up the surroundings and hopully have some great experiences I guess.

Forgot to mention enjoying the Southern hopitality also!!!!!!

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 18:26

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

Yeh there is a lot of stuff I have left out due to time constraints and the fact I am riding alone and know the physical effort needed to pull the 950 out of a sticky situation by myself!!!!! Anyway it is a bit of a soul searching, work de-stressing, finding yourself kind of a ride so will just soak up the surroundings and hopully have some great experiences I guess.

Forgot to mention enjoying the Southern hopitality also!!!!!!

I will join ya! If we can explore the South on the Katies.. I can lift the big motha out of the mire....

**Creeper** · 2nd March 2009, 20:07

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Hi Dave...
I will be planning on going bout the 13th or so, depending on bookings etc.
I would think that 8 days will be enough but will be flexible.
I have to pay for bloody kennels lol....
I am on leave from 13th till 28th or thereabouts....
Yes, we could hook up and explore if you are around. I have no plans but I have ideas, of course the Rainbow and molesworth are definites and Farewell Spit....as well as ALL the metal roads and tracks I can find, Porika, Mangatapu too!
PM me.......

Mark

Hey Mark, I don't think the timing will work by the 13th I plan to be down in Otago or there abouts. Might think abot changing my plans & see if I can hook up with Jezz

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 20:45

Originally Posted by Creeper

Hey Mark, I don't think the timing will work by the 13th I plan to be down in Otago or there abouts. Might think abot changing my plans & see if I can hook up with Jezz

Pity we didn't meet up earlier, could of made a road trip of it together...

**JATZ** · 2nd March 2009, 20:54

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Is it a dead end? Or can you ride through somewhere? It looks like an out and back?

Yip it's in and out, 4wd track.

**Padmei** · 2nd March 2009, 21:05

NOt meaning to hijack the thread but how do you find the big 950-990s. I think in the future I may get a bigger bugger & they may be on the list.

There seems to be many on tardme that aren't selling for about $14k which I didn't think was too expensive considering the new price.

You're gonna have a fantastic trip guys.

**Underground** · 2nd March 2009, 21:11

Looking forward to the ride report ,we're off down there for a week next month

**Waihou Thumper** · 2nd March 2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by Padmei

NOt meaning to hijack the thread but how do you find the big 950-990s.

I had one and downgraded to the 640A. Will be looking at the 690A when it comes to NZ, if ever.....(fit a big tank)
FOR an adventure bike, the 990A has a range of 270-290Km, that isn't adventure in my mind. With the HP and the lack of a tank big enough, it is hard to enjoy a big day out.
My two cents worth...

**jezzaNZ** · 3rd March 2009, 09:50

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I will join ya! If we can explore the South on the Katies.. I can lift the big motha out of the mire....

Sounds good Mark, I am catching the 10:25am Interislander ferry on Monday 9th of March as I have to drop my son to Welly airport for a 9:15am flight that morning. If you need a bed Sunday night you are more than welcome to stay with me in PPram.

In response to the big Katooms, when I first got my 950 (replacing a Super Tenere XTZ750) I thought I had made a bad mistake as I was I tend to ride more technical stuff then just gravel roads. Now I have ridden it for a while I can't wait to get it out of the garage and ride the beast, as some on this site will testerfy I can ride it everywhere the smaller bikes go and even beyound. I'm not blowing my own trumpet here but in my opinion any bike is only as good as its rider.

To this end I totally recommend the big KTM's as long as you are a confident rider. In addition I can get about 330-350km's on a tank and have done 60 odd km's on reserve!!!!!! Not bad when you consider she is a big beast.

Mark/Dave, PM me if you are interested in hooking up for the "Southern Loop". Cheers Jez

**Waihou Thumper** · 3rd March 2009, 10:15

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

Sounds good Mark, I am catching the 10:25am Interislander ferry on Monday 9th of March as I have to drop my son to Welly airport for a 9:15am flight that morning. If you need a bed Sunday night you are more than welcome to stay with me in PPram.

By join ya I meant somewhere out there on the road, pity I cannot get off work till later in the month.
I will be leaving the 13th or a day later. Might have to catch up in the South.
Thanks for the offer.....
Mark