22-29 Dec : Picton - Mavora Lakes - Picton

[Jeepers_Creepers]

Hi,

I've planned a trip on 22-24 Dec from Picton to Mavora, returning from Mavora to Picton on 27-29 Dec.

Currently it's not too hardcore as there's only one vehicle (although a friend may be joining me for some of the return journey) and the trip is more about getting off the main highway and into the more remote parts of NZ than testing the limits of my vehicle.

In saying that there are a few nice tracks that I'm really looking forward to driving including:
- Napoleon Hill
- Clayton Pack Track
- Nevis Crossing to Coal Pit Saddle
- Cardrona to Lowburn Station via Pisa Range
- Old Dunstan Rd
- Dunrobin Rd

I'm about to post full details here but if anyone is nearby and wants to join me on any of the routes then feel free. Times are liable to change and it's possible that there may not be time to do all of the tracks but the general route will remain pretty much the same.

I'm leaving tonight from Hamilton and will have internet access up until Friday evening. Otherwise feel free to drop me a text on 021-26 357 25.

Cheers and have a good Xmas,
Alex.

[Jeepers_Creepers]

*** : slow off-road section
** : fast off-road section (usually just a gravel rd or the like)
* : sealed road

All times are to the nearest quarter of an hour. Times have been calculated using average speeds of 100 km/h on sealed roads, 50-100 km/h on good gravel roads and 10-15 km/h on rough tracks.

Red / Blue : the colour of the cover of the guide by Ken Sibly (red is Volume 1, blue is Volume 2)


Sat 22 Dec

1. * 144 km / 1.5 hrs : Picton - Howard Valley Rd (NW of St Arnaud)
http://tinyurl.com/ysg36n

2. ** 17 km / 1 hr : Red 8 - "Porika Track" (good track, steep and rough in places)
http://tinyurl.com/yscerr

3. ** 28 km / 1 hr : Red 9 - "Braeburn Track" (gravel road with fords)
http://tinyurl.com/yqz8tr

4. * 133 km / 1.5 hrs : Longford - Ahaura
http://tinyurl.com/2d3rkc

5. *** 31 km / 3 hrs : Blue 21 - "Napoleon Hill" (gravel at each end, clay in the middle)

6. * 182 km / 2 hrs : X of SH7 & Waipuna Rd - X of SH73 & Lyndon Rd
http://tinyurl.com/2dg4rf

=====

Sun 23 Dec

7. ** 21 km / 0.5 hr : Red 71 - "Lyndon Rd" (good gravel rd)
http://tinyurl.com/2e29nr

8. * 116 km / 1.5 hrs : X of Homestead & Coleridge Rds (E of Lake Coleridge) - X of Te Moana & Leishman Rds (W of Te Moana)
http://tinyurl.com/2d9p6m

9. *** [time permitting] 27 km / 2 hrs : Blue 36 - "Clayton Pack Track" (clay and grass in the middle, some steep climbs, many fords but no major crossings)

10. * 83 km / 1 hr : Clayton - Black Forest
http://tinyurl.com/yr7k3j

11. ** 29 km / 1.5 hrs : Blue 41 - "Black Forest Rd" (good single lane graded track)

12. * 140 km / 1.5 hrs : Benmore Dam - Cromwell
http://tinyurl.com/2mov8m

13. a) * Cromwell - Gibbston
*** [time permitting] 25 km / 2 hrs : Blue 59 - "Coal Pit Rd" - Doolans Saddle - Nevis Crossing
** 50 km / 1 hr : Red 101 - "Nevis Valley" only from Nevis Crossing (gravel road, 31 fords)
http://tinyurl.com/3yyt29
OR
b) * [time permitting] 6 km / 0.25 hr : Cromwell - Bannockburn
http://tinyurl.com/2nu8yd
*** 14 km / 1 hr : Red 102 - "Carricktown Track" (becomes grassy with some rocky sections and ruts)
** 57 km / 0.75 hr : Red 101 - "Nevis Valley" (gravel rd, no further crossings)
http://tinyurl.com/3ycr4u
OR
c) * 111 km / 1.5 hrs : Cromwell - Frankton - Garston
http://tinyurl.com/2k8t5d

14. * 100 km / 1 hr : Garston - Five Rivers - Mossburn - Mavora Lakes
http://tinyurl.com/2l9kg9

=====

Xmas in Mavora

=====

Thu 27 Dec

1. * 100 km / 1 hr : Mavora Lakes - Mossburn - Five Rivers - Garston
http://tinyurl.com/2792n2

2. a) ** [if not done before Christmas] 50 km / 1 hr : Red 101 - "Nevis Valley" only to Nevis Crossing (gravel road, 31 fords)
http://tinyurl.com/29cchp
*** 25 km / 2 hrs : Nevis Crossing - Doolans Saddle - Blue 59 - "Coal Pit Rd"
* 40 km / 0.5 hr : Gibbston - Arrow Junction - Waiorau Snow Farm (N of Cardrona)
http://tinyurl.com/ytbx22
OR
b) ** [if not done before Christmas] 8 km / 0.25 hr : continue along Red 101 - "Nevis Valley" (gravel rd, no further crossings)
http://tinyurl.com/33ljhe
*** 14 km / 1 hr : Red 102 - "Carricktown Track" (becomes grassy with some rocky sections and ruts)
* 90 km / 1 hr : Bannockburn - Cromwell - Wanaka - Waiorau Snow Farm (N of Cardrona)
http://tinyurl.com/ytx7kk
OR
c) * 95 km / 1.25 hrs : Garston - Frankton - Arrow Junction - Waiorau Snow Farm (N of Cardrona)
http://tinyurl.com/2etldu

3. *** 40 km / 3 hrs : Waiorau Snow Farm - Lowburn Station via Pisa Range

4. * 32 km / 0.5 hr : Lowburn Station - Cromwell - Alexandra
http://tinyurl.com/2xldoh

5. *** [optional] 11.5 km / 1 hr : Blue 61 - "Tucker Hill Rd" (rough dirt and rock track in middle)
http://tinyurl.com/2xjjzj

6. ** 15 km / 0.25 hr : Blue 62 - "Upper Mannorburn Rd" only to X of Crawford Hills & Moa Creek Rds (sealed and good gravel rd)
http://tinyurl.com/2x8lfv

7. *** 20 km / 2 hrs : Red 90 - "Old Dunstan Rd 2" only to X of Old Dunstan & Long Valley Ridge Rds (gravel, grass and some rutted muddy sections)

=====

Fri 28 Dec

8. *** [optional] 30.2 km / 3 hrs : Red 91 - "Long Valley Ridge Rd" (varies, can be rough and rutted)

9. * 40 km / 0.5 hr : Linnburn Runs Rd - Patearoa
http://tinyurl.com/2xmarg

10. *** [optional] 18km / 1 hr : Red 88 - "Gorge Rd" (gravel track and grass with a number of boggy sections)

11. *** [optional] 12.7 km / 1 hr : Blue 64 - "Mundell Rd" (rock, grass and clay in the middle section)

12. *** [optional] 8.3 km / 1 hr : Blue 63 - "Preston Rd" (single lane gravel turning to rock, grass and clay)
http://tinyurl.com/ynpu8m

13. * 25 km / 0.25 hr : E of Kyeburn - W of Morrisons (along SH85)
http://tinyurl.com/2zd8zz

14. *** 49 km / 3 hrs : Blue 65 - "Dunrobin Rd" (middle section is rough, rutted and rocky, with boggy patches and steep climbs)

15. * 55 km / 0.5 hr : Maruakoa - Duntroon - Kurow
http://tinyurl.com/2h57gu

16. a) * 35 km / 0.5 hr : Kurow - Cattle Creek
http://tinyurl.com/2bdzq7
OR
b) * 30 km / 0.25 hr : Kurow - Grassy Hills Rd (W of Ikawai)
http://tinyurl.com/yolcul
*** 21 km / 1 hr : Blue 44 - "Clarksfield Back Rd/Grassy Hill Rd" (grass and clay, some gravel - possible to shorten)
* 15 km / 0.25 hr : Zig Zag Rd - Kelchers - Stony Creek Rd (W of Waihao Forks)
http://tinyurl.com/2pcnql
*** 49 km / 2.5 hrs : Red 83 - "Old Kaiwarua Rd" (some grass and clay and a short boggy section)
OR
c) * 58 km / 0.75 hr : Kurow - Ikawai - Waihao Forks - Stony Creek Rd
*** 49 km / 2.5 hrs : Red 83 - "Old Kaiwarua Rd" (some grass and clay and a short boggy section)

17. ** 42 km / 0.5 hr : Red 82 - "Hakataramea Pass"
http://tinyurl.com/2acjv3

18. a) ** 25 km / 0.5 hr : Red 81 - "McKenzie Pass"
http://tinyurl.com/24h9sh
OR
b) * 20 km / 0.25 hr : X of Haldon & McKenzie Pass Rds - Burkes Pass
http://tinyurl.com/2b54f8

19. * 31 km / 0.5 hr : Burkes Pass - Kimbell - Clayton
http://tinyurl.com/2e9d52

20. a) * 20 km / 0.5 hr : Clayton - Lochaber Rd
http://tinyurl.com/222ccf
*** 35 km / 2 hrs : Red 77 - "Orari Gorge" (mostly grass with at least two boggy patches)
OR
b) *** [if not driven before Christmas] 27 km / 2 hrs : Blue 36 - "Clayton Pack Track" (clay and grass in the middle, some steep climbs, many fords but no major crossings)
* 16 km / 0.25 hr : Te Moana - Orari Bridge
http://tinyurl.com/2adoza

21. * 10 km / 0.25 hr : Orari Bridge - Rangitata
http://tinyurl.com/2326kc

22. * 36 km / 0.5 hr : Rangitata - Ashburton
http://tinyurl.com/27umfy

23. * 87 km / 1 hr : Ashburton - Christchurch
http://tinyurl.com/2g3j32

=====

Sat 29 Dec

24. * 135 km / 1.75 hrs : Christchurch - Glasnevin - Weka Pass - Lochiel - Hanmer Springs
http://tinyurl.com/ytmba4

25. *** 11km / 1 hr : Red 35 - "Jollies Pass" (rough)

26. a) ** 109 km / 2 hrs : Red 14 - "Rainbow Rd"
* 120 km / 1.5 hrs : SH63 - Blenheim - Picton
http://tinyurl.com/23uc9l
OR
b) ** 197 km / 3 hrs : Red 16 - "Molesworth Station Rd" only to Taylor Pass Rd
* 52km / 0.75 hr : Kilkeshen/Rossmore - Blenheim - Picton
http://tinyurl.com/27o6nf

If there is plenty of time on this day a possibility is:
* 87 km / 1 hr : Tophouse – Nelson
http://tinyurl.com/33wbvt
*** 40 km / 2 hrs : Red 13 - "Maungatapu Track (Nelson to Pelorus Bridge)" (some steep rough gravel and rock)
* 56km / 1 hr : Pelorus Bridge – Picton
http://tinyurl.com/3da3b5

[rake]

You will need permission to drive the Napoleon/caves track as the farm has been sold and the gate is locked

[Jeepers_Creepers]

You will need permission to drive the Napoleon/caves track as the farm has been sold and the gate is locked

Yes, thanks for that. I've just talked to Robyn Smith to organise that, somehow I'd managed to miss the fact that I needed permission for this track off my list.

Other than that I am pretty organised though. As a matter of interest I also need permission for the following tracks:
• Blue 36 – "Clayton Pack Track" - done
• Blue 41 – "Black Forest Rd" - done
• Nevis Crossing to Coal Pit Saddle - got permission from Trevor Healey at Ben Nevis, haven't been able to get hold of John Cook at Lochar Downs yet
• Lowburn Station - have left a message with Dave McLean but he's away near Stewart Island atm
• Blue 65 – "Dunrobin Rd" - done
• Blue 44 – "Clarksfield Back Rd/Grassy Hills Rd" - done
• Red 77 – "Orari Gorge" - got permission from Roddy at Blue Mtn Station, have left a message with Orari Station

[Jeepers_Creepers]

Also, I wanted to try and drive from Glenorchy through Greenstone Elfin Bay and Mt Nicholas Stations along the western shores of Lake Wakatipu to the Mavora Lakes but I wasn't able to get permission. It's a shame but it is their call after all.

[downunderxj]

I don't want to spoil your trip, but some of those times look rather optimistic, or you are prepared to spend every daylight hour on the road with little time to stop & rest.

For example 2 hours across the rainbow road from the bottom of Jollies Pass through to the highway, that is amazing country and the one time I have done it admittedly we stopped at the lake for fishing and other places but it took the better part of a whole day to traverse. We were definitely not averaging 50km/hr when we were driving.

I wish you the best of luck and safe travelling

Ian

[Jeepers_Creepers]

I don't want to spoil your trip, but some of those times look rather optimistic, or you are prepared to spend every daylight hour on the road with little time to stop & rest.

...

Ian

Hi Ian,

I think you're right, the times are going to be optimistic. They are more like driving times rather than actual elapsed times as I had to come up with a planned route somehow. There is always the options to remove some routes if I find that it is just too rushed so I think I am just going to play it by ear. Consider it more of a wish list than what is actually going to get driven.



~ Alex