South Island passes adventure ride

[Moki]

Now that fits right into my New Year's resolution. Veeery keen to take in maybe the return trek from the top. Hook up maybe Blenheim. Any ther "narthiners" interested in going for a blast?

[laRIKin]

I for one would appreciate a local guide when we do the Okuku - Lees section on the Wednesday 14th.

I would like to but have this thing called work, so I will have to see what I can do about that.
I know that will enjoy the trip around the Lees Valley.

If I can get the time off I could take you down some of the river tracks as well, so you can get muddy or real dusty.
Depending on if we get a summer longer than two days.

[RedKLR650]

Sunday - we do about 700kms I think - from Dunedin right through Haka etc and Port hills passes to ChCh. Its our biggest day. You could maybe meet up with us in Oamaru and ride through the Myers - Burkes section and leave us around Geraldine.
Cheers
Bruce

Hi Bruce,
If you guys are really going all out for the pass thing, there is the BIG pass about 6 km from the Little Pass ( On the Holden Road ). It's 3 km off the shingle on a legal paper road, but I know the farmer that owns the land ( Grays Hills Station ) so I don't think it would be a problem. It would only add about 10 min to the day, but one more pass all the same...... Give me a buzz on 0 3 688 5050 to discuss if interested
:-) Cheers, Stu

[Zukin]

Hey all

Do you have an idea of where you will be on what dates?
Attached is our plan on our ride around NZ, and we would love to catch up for a cuppa or beer
or even better to ride with you if we are heading the same way

For those of you that finish the Passes trip and want to tag along on ours would be most welcome (same applies before the passes trip starts)

Cheers Scott

DAY 11 Tuesday 13th February
Picton to Westport
Distance = 320km
Road Conditions – All tar seal today
From Picton, we follow the Queen Charlotte Road through the Marlborough Sounds to Nelson.
We then head inland towards Murchison, before heading through the Magical Buller Gorge and onto Westport. .

DAY 12 Wednesday 14th February
Murchison to Franz Josef
Distance = 300km
Road Conditions – All Tarseal today.
From Westport we follow the rugged but beautiful West Coast South to Franz Josef Glacier.
The rugged West Coast is magical on a good day, as it twists and turns along the South Island.
We will probably have stopovers at Punakaiki, as well as most of the towns along the coast such as Greymouth and Hokitika.
Then it’s a stopover at Franz Josef where we will be under the shadow of Mt Cook.

DAY 13 Thursday 15th February
Franz Josef to Queenstown
Distance = 460km
Road Conditions – All Tarseal today
If weather and time permits we will continue through Haast along the coast to Jackson’s Bay.
Then it’s onto the only time we cross the Main Divide, and then follow the shores of Lake Wanaka, then through the Cardrona Valley, making a small detour up to the Possum Bourne Memorial, before the adventurers make then way to the adventure capital of the world, and a well deserved day off doing whatever they want.

DAY 14 Friday 16th February
REST DAY
Distance = 0km
Special Events –

DAY 15 Saturday 17th February
Queenstown to Invercargill
Distance = 250km
Road Conditions – All Tarseal today
An easy days riding to today with a direct route taken from Queenstown to Invercargill.
We want to fossick around in Invercargill looking for places of interest of Burt Munro.

DAY 16 Sunday 18th February
Invercargill to Dunedin
Distance = 250km
Road Conditions – All seal today,
Another easy days riding today, but the trend of the Coast continues.
However from today we change direction for the first time in 10 days! We head north
We follow the road through the Catlin’s which I understand is beautiful before we link back to the Main highway at Balclutha and onto Dunedin

DAY 17 Monday 19th February
Dunedin to Christchurch
Distance = 490km
Road Conditions – Approx 150km of gravel on todays ride (alternate route available)
Today we actually head inland after we pass through Oamaru.
We head over the Hakataramea and the McKenzies Pass’s, before the ride along the Canterbury Plains through Ashburton and arriving in Christchurch probably dusty and dirty and looking for a good shower.

DAY 18 Tuesday 20th February
REST DAY
Distance = 0km
Special Events –

DAY 19 Wednesday 21st February
Christchurch to Blenheim
Distance = 410km
Road Conditions – Approx 200km of gravel roads from Hanmer Springs to Blenheim
We leave Christchurch and the last of the South Island Cities, and then it’s onto Hanmer Springs.
Although the distance isn’t great the road we take is!! Molesworth Station, no petrol, no assistance and nothing until we almost reach the top of the South Island Blenheim, a quick trip to Picton and the end of the South Island leg.

[Ruralman]

Hi Zukin - hope things have been going well for your trip. Looking at our itinerary it looks like we will actually be in Franz Joseph on the same night - the Weds. We are booked in to the Glow Worm Cottages according to Jantars' excellent planning agenda. My mobile is 0274 384 964 if you want to ring or text on the day.
cheers
Bruce

[Zukin]

Hi Zukin - hope things have been going well for your trip. Looking at our itinerary it looks like we will actually be in Franz Joseph on the same night - the Weds. We are booked in to the Glow Worm Cottages according to Jantars' excellent planning agenda. My mobile is 0274 384 964 if you want to ring or text on the day.
cheers
Bruce

Hey there

That is fantastic
We should have a KB (get together there)?
Maybe a meal somewhere (fish n chip shop or pub meal)?

My cell is (027) 3446372

Will you be heading North or South after Franz?

Cheers Scott

[Ruralman]

Hey there

That is fantastic
We should have a KB (get together there)?
Maybe a meal somewhere (fish n chip shop or pub meal)?

My cell is (027) 3446372

Will you be heading North or South after Franz?

Cheers Scott

Next day will be South, over Haast , Lindis and Danseys (606km on Jantar's plan) and staying at Naesby (which is the end of our trip)

[Zukin]

Ok
We will be heading that way too
We will be going into Queenstown though via Cardrona

Sounds like it could be a good ride that day
Cheers Scott

[Ruralman]

Ok
We will be heading that way too
We will be going into Queenstown though via Cardrona

Sounds like it could be a good ride that day
Cheers Scott

I hope it will be a great day - but I will have my extra heavy duty Oringi rainsuit just in case!! Look forward to catching up.

[Jantar]

Hi Bruce,
If you guys are really going all out for the pass thing, there is the BIG pass about 6 km from the Little Pass ( On the Holden Road ). It's 3 km off the shingle on a legal paper road, but I know the farmer that owns the land ( Grays Hills Station ) so I don't think it would be a problem. It would only add about 10 min to the day, but one more pass all the same...... Give me a buzz on 0 3 688 5050 to discuss if interested
:-) Cheers, Stu

Great, My map shows Big Pass as a track rather than a road, but if you could get permission for us to do it, then it will be a better ride than just going to little Pass and turning around again. It will only add 15 - 20 mins onto the entire trip and most of that will be due to the 8 fence lines I see that we have to go through. Hopefully at least some of the gates will be open.

[Jantar]

Hi Zukin - hope things have been going well for your trip. Looking at our itinerary it looks like we will actually be in Franz Joseph on the same night - the Weds. We are booked in to the Glow Worm Cottages according to Jantars' excellent planning agenda. My mobile is 0274 384 964 if you want to ring or text on the day.
cheers
Bruce

We will also be in Blenheim on the night that you are in Picton. Only 25 minutes away. This may be another chance for a quick get together at meal time.

[warewolf]

The itinerary is well sorted.

I can't make the whole thing but would be keen to hook up for the parts close to Nelson. Can you add day/dates and overnight stops to the itinerary, please? Looks like you're doing the whole thing in one day...reckon Plug'd be a starter!

[Jantar]

I can't make the whole thing but would be keen to hook up for the parts close to Nelson. Can you add day/dates and overnight stops to the itinerary, please? Looks like you're doing the whole thing in one day...reckon Plug'd be a starter!

Yes, we did consider doing it in a single day, but then considered that some of the adventure type bikes don't have such good headlights . So here it is again:

Sunday 11th Feb: Leave Dunedin and head north taking the coastal route. Turn inland at Glenavy and head to Wahou Downs. Then over Meyers Pass into the Hakataramea Valley. Over Hakataramea Pass to Haldon Rd. A short detour 15 minutes to the south to Little Pass and possibly Big Pass, then U-turn and head to McKenzie Pass. Then onto Burkes Pass. From here its Highway 79 to Geraldine, the Main road to Rakaia, then the back roads to Banks Peninsular. Up to Gebbies Pass, then the Summit road to Dyers pass and Evans Pass and down to Sumner.

Monday 12th: From Christchurch its mainly main roads north to Waipara then via Weka Pass and Lewis Pass to Springs Juction. From here its north to Murchison and follow the Buller River to St Arnaud. A fairly straight but scenic road takes us to Blenheim.

Tuesday 13th: We take the back streets of Blenheim then on to Taylors Pass. Out to Dashwood then Redwood Pass to get onto SH1. We cross Weld Pass and Dashwood Pass then turn southwest towards the very scenic Molesworth. Over Wards pass then down towards Hamner. Saxton Pass is also in this area, but its on a No Exit road, and now that DOC have taken over we may not get permission for that one. Jacks Pass and Jollies Pass loop then into Hamner.

Wednesday 14th: Back over Weka Pass (yes we are back tracking a road we have already ridden) and down to Amberly then to Whiterock, Okuku Pass and Lees pass to Oxford. Then Porters Pass and Arthurs Pass to the west coast and down to the Glaciers.

Thursday 15th: Through the scenic west coast to Haast, then inland and over Haast Pass to Makarora. Follow Lake Wanaka, then Lake Hawea, and some back roads I know of to Tarras. Over Lindis Pass to Omarama, then Ahuriri Pass, and follow the Waitaki Hydro Lakes to Duntroon. Turn south to Cross Danseys Pass, and on to Danseys Pass pub and Naseby.

Friday 16th: No more passes, but 25 covered in 5 days, and the 6th day to get home again.

[miSTa]

Not going to be able to ride with you at all but would be great to catch on the Sunday night in chch

[Ruralman]

Not going to be able to ride with you at all but would be great to catch on the Sunday night in chch

Look forward to that mate, and to meeting a few of the other adventure riders from ChCh I haven't met yet. Its a bit of a bugger that work gets in the way of real life sometimes aye!!