NZ South Island

I am planning a trip from Greymouth to Christchurch via Picton over 9
days.Has anyone got any ideas....eg is it worth travelling the Highway back
to Christchurch or spend more time up north and return by train ? Places to
see, de-tours to take???

9 days! That's a good amount for some of the world's best motorcycling. Do
more than just Greymouth/Christchurch. Get a good map. One suggestion is
the following.

[1] leave Greymouth and head south along the coast. Great scenery, excellent
road, not many cops at all. Stop to see the Franz Josef glacier.
[2] follow the road inland at Haast, over the Gates of Haast bridge and the
Haast Pass and look for lakes Wanaka and Hawea in the distance.
[3] Pass through Wanaka and head for Queenstown (party town par excellence)
via the Crown Range. A good ride.
[4] Head south past the Remarkables to Lumsden, then Invercargill. Crayfish
and oysters (in season) can't be beaten.
[5] Follow the coat east and hit the bottom left corener of the South Island
following the coast north through the Caitlins, a beautiful unspoiled area.
[6] Come back up through the centre of the island
(Balclutha-Alexandra-CRomwell-Lindis Pass) Turn right just pass Twizel and
head to Geraldine.
[7] Turn left off SH1 at Norswood and follow the Arthurs Pass route up and
over the Southern Alps turning right at Inchbonnie to hook up with HIghway 7
at Stillwater.
[8] Follow this Inangahua-Murchison-Nelson-Picton-Blenheim
[9] Back to Christchurch on SH1 on the east coast. Stop at Kaikopura and see
the whales.

You'll see snow capped Alps, glistening southern lakes, tussocky southern
"desert", mountain passes, wild west coast beaches and you'll be sure to
meet lots of interesting folks.

enjoy!

richie


"Charles Malfatti" wrote in message
...
I am planning a trip from Greymouth to Christchurch via Picton over 9
days.Has anyone got any ideas....eg is it worth travelling the Highway back
to Christchurch or spend more time up north and return by train ? Places to
see, de-tours to take???

oops...just realised this is a bicycle group, not a motorcycle group.
Sorry.

I'd cycle up to Westport enjoying the coatal scenery then inland to
Inangahua/Murchison/Glenhope and for the main excursion try to get up to
Takaka and Collingwood. Back down to Nelson and then to Picton via Queen
Alexandra route (very pretty). Then back down SH1
to ChCH


"richie" wrote in message
...
9 days! That's a good amount for some of the world's best motorcycling.
Do more than just Greymouth/Christchurch. Get a good map. One suggestion
is the following.

[1] leave Greymouth and head south along the coast. Great scenery,
excellent road, not many cops at all. Stop to see the Franz Josef glacier.
[2] follow the road inland at Haast, over the Gates of Haast bridge and
the Haast Pass and look for lakes Wanaka and Hawea in the distance.
[3] Pass through Wanaka and head for Queenstown (party town par
excellence) via the Crown Range. A good ride.
[4] Head south past the Remarkables to Lumsden, then Invercargill.
Crayfish and oysters (in season) can't be beaten.
[5] Follow the coat east and hit the bottom left corener of the South
Island following the coast north through the Caitlins, a beautiful
unspoiled area.
[6] Come back up through the centre of the island
(Balclutha-Alexandra-CRomwell-Lindis Pass) Turn right just pass Twizel and
head to Geraldine.
[7] Turn left off SH1 at Norswood and follow the Arthurs Pass route up and
over the Southern Alps turning right at Inchbonnie to hook up with HIghway
7 at Stillwater.
[8] Follow this Inangahua-Murchison-Nelson-Picton-Blenheim
[9] Back to Christchurch on SH1 on the east coast. Stop at Kaikopura and
see the whales.

You'll see snow capped Alps, glistening southern lakes, tussocky southern
"desert", mountain passes, wild west coast beaches and you'll be sure to
meet lots of interesting folks.

enjoy!

richie


"Charles Malfatti" wrote in message
...
I am planning a trip from Greymouth to Christchurch via Picton over 9
days.Has anyone got any ideas....eg is it worth travelling the Highway
back to Christchurch or spend more time up north and return by train ?
Places to see, de-tours to take???

Charles Malfatti wrote:
I am planning a trip from Greymouth to Christchurch via Picton over 9
days.Has anyone got any ideas....eg is it worth travelling the Highway back
to Christchurch or spend more time up north and return by train ? Places to
see, de-tours to take???


I have only done organised tours, but as I think it is the most
beautiful scenery in the world I can highly recommend it.

However be aware that the weather can be a mongrel and it is a long way
between towns.

I do not know if you could make Christchurch via Queenstown in 9 days
but if so go that way. You could look into a bus from Lake Tekapo, the
Nzers seem fairly well organised for that sort of thing.

If you are into pain go via Arthurs Pass, but you will miss the best
scenery that way.


--
Remove norubbish to reply direct

Jack Russell

I would definitely try and get into Golden Bay (Takaka/Collingwood etc).

I once road from Picton to Chch via the Rainbow Valley -- St.Arnaud to
Hanmer Springs -- which is a back country unsealed road. Not sure about
access these days, had to lift my bike over gates etc back then, and
you'll need to be self sufficient for a couple of days. Enjoyed the
solitude though.

But basically I think you'll enjoy whichever route you choose... Apart
from the Canterbury Plains into a Nor'west headwind ;-(

richie wrote:
oops...just realised this is a bicycle group, not a motorcycle group.
Sorry.

I'd cycle up to Westport enjoying the coatal scenery then inland to
Inangahua/Murchison/Glenhope and for the main excursion try to get up to
Takaka and Collingwood. Back down to Nelson and then to Picton via Queen
Alexandra route (very pretty). Then back down SH1
to ChCH