North Islanders South Island Tour 09/10

[madaz068]

We have been talking about returning to the South Island for a while now.

Talked it over with Dace, Suz and Ryan at the Whanga Republic Day, so Ron and myself have decided to run a tour down there either Dec, Jan, Feb of this coming year. We have given those months so all the people that want to go can give there suggestions.

At the moment its all just thinking out loud so here are the basic ideas.

It will be a Shiney/Med Trip, and your vehicle will need a snorkel min. We want to try and make sure people dont break anything so we can continue to the next place. We would like to mostly camp (tents) and stay in a camp ground say every third ish night for showers and washing.

Basic plan is as follows

Everyone meets in Welly to catch ferry over.
Day One...Travel to Reefton stay in at Big River and Explore the area and old mines
Day Two... Travel to Coast via Punakaiki and stop for Pancake Rocks, Blow Holes, Cave Creek. Stay either in Puni or Greymonth
Day 3..... Travel to Queenstown via Glaciers and Haast, and Crown Range. Stay in Frankton Camp
Day 4..... 4x4 Trip into Macetown
Day 5 .... 4x4 Trip Skippers Canyon, Bullendale, old Skippers Pub
Day 6..... 4x4 Trip Nevis to Cromwell
Day 7 .....Travel to Milford Sound via Homer Tunnel and stay in Te Anau
Day 8 .....Travel to Bluff check out Burts Bikes and the beach he used to race on
Day 9......Travel to CHCH via Dunedin
Day 10..... Worselys Port Hills and Waimak River
Day 11..... Travel to Picton and Ferry

This is all a very rough plan.

Now i need your help, all the south island guys, what should we do and what shouldnt we do down there. We would like to catch up with some of you while we are down there. Maybe you could show us somethings while we are down.

So who is keen for this??????

[NJV6]

Everyone meets in Welly to catch ferry over.
Day One...Travel to Reefton stay in at Big River and Explore the area and old mines
Day Two... Travel to Coast via Punakaiki and stop for Pancake Rocks, Blow Holes, Cave Creek. Stay either in Puni or Greymonth
Day 3..... Travel to Queenstown via Glaciers and Haast, and Crown Range. Stay in Frankton Camp
Day 4..... 4x4 Trip into Macetown
Day 5 .... 4x4 Trip Skippers Canyon, Bullendale, old Skippers Pub
Day 6..... 4x4 Trip Nevis to Cromwell
Day 7 .....Travel to Milford Sound via Homer Tunnel and stay in Te Anau
Day 8 .....Travel to Bluff check out Burts Bikes and the beach he used to race on
Day 9......Travel to CHCH via Dunedin
Day 10..... Worselys Port Hills and Waimak River
Day 11..... Travel to Picton and Ferry

Your day 3 is a big day especially if you want to stop at the glaciers. Frankton is a good camp though as it is right on the lake edge.

Day 4 wuold be a shorter day which you may need after that drive.

Day 6 would be better spent up the old man range in my opinion - could camp that night at Piano Flat, near Waikaia and head to Te Anau from there? - the old man range is very high and barren for those never been to 1600+masl.

Day 8 Get the tides right and you can drive the length of Burt's beach which takes you from Riverton to Invercargill (riverton is on the senic route from Te Anau to Invercargill.)

[madaz068]

Everyone meets in Welly to catch ferry over.
Day One...Travel to Reefton stay in at Big River and Explore the area and old mines
Day Two... Travel to Coast via Punakaiki and stop for Pancake Rocks, Blow Holes, Cave Creek. Stay either in Puni or Greymonth
Day 3..... Travel to Queenstown via Glaciers and Haast, and Crown Range. Stay in Frankton Camp
Day 4..... 4x4 Trip into Macetown
Day 5 .... 4x4 Trip Skippers Canyon, Bullendale, old Skippers Pub
Day 6..... 4x4 Trip Nevis to Cromwell
Day 7 .....Travel to Milford Sound via Homer Tunnel and stay in Te Anau
Day 8 .....Travel to Bluff check out Burts Bikes and the beach he used to race on
Day 9......Travel to CHCH via Dunedin
Day 10..... Worselys Port Hills and Waimak River
Day 11..... Travel to Picton and Ferry

Your day 3 is a big day especially if you want to stop at the glaciers. Frankton is a good camp though as it is right on the lake edge.

Day 4 wuold be a shorter day which you may need after that drive.

Day 6 would be better spent up the old man range in my opinion - could camp that night at Piano Flat, near Waikaia and head to Te Anau from there? - the old man range is very high and barren for those never been to 1600+masl.

Day 8 Get the tides right and you can drive the length of Burt's beach which takes you from Riverton to Invercargill (riverton is on the senic route from Te Anau to Invercargill.)

Thanks for the info, would be good to meet up with you down there and maybe show us around

[NJV6]

Thanks for the info, would be good to meet up with you down there and maybe show us around

No Problem.

[Dace]

Me and the Wife are fully keen to do this, never been south of Nelson

[albundy]

Not sure if worsleys will still be around by then Nick, lots of work happeneing up there to develope. Road has been bulldozed at the top for access of logging trucks.
Another suggestion would be from cromwell up the carrick town track onto the old woman range, through to the old man range, down whitcombe rd to pianio flat. The counrtry up there is spectacular and the track is pretty much grade three. Whitcombe rd is a little more difficult, but people shouldn't break anything.
I would be interested in late january ealry february, can't do xmas/new year as I have to cover the matron when she is on leave. Know the area well so can lead or organise patrs of it should you wish.
You could even head into Mavora lakes, I know a very isolated hut on a good, but not to demanding track should you be interested.
Al

[madaz068]

Not sure if worsleys will still be around by then Nick, lots of work happeneing up there to develope. Road has been bulldozed at the top for access of logging trucks.
Another suggestion would be from cromwell up the carrick town track onto the old woman range, through to the old man range, down whitcombe rd to pianio flat. The counrtry up there is spectacular and the track is pretty much grade three. Whitcombe rd is a little more difficult, but people shouldn't break anything.
I would be interested in late january ealry february, can't do xmas/new year as I have to cover the matron when she is on leave. Know the area well so can lead or organise patrs of it should you wish.
You could even head into Mavora lakes, I know a very isolated hut on a good, but not to demanding track should you be interested.
Al

Thanks Al for the suggestions. I would like to take you up on your offer to lead that part be great for the others to meet you as well. Promise not to give you to much of a hard time for being a Aussie

[NJV6]

Day 6 would be better spent up the old man range in my opinion - could camp that night at Piano Flat, near Waikaia and head to Te Anau from there? - the old man range is very high and barren for those never been to 1600+masl.

Another suggestion would be from cromwell up the carrick town track onto the old woman range, through to the old man range, down whitcombe rd to pianio flat. The counrtry up there is spectacular

Yip same place, That was my thoughts too.

[albundy]

Promise not to give you to much of a hard time for being a Aussie

Too kind, but I'm still giving you shit for being a nth islander

[Jerry]

its ok ... nick's still a hillbilly just count his toes

A good chch stop would be a paintball game at thingy island where there is that tank driving place as well

[madaz068]

its ok ... nick's still a hillbilly just count his toes

A good chch stop would be a paintball game at thingy island where there is that tank driving place as well

You coming Jerry?

[Jerry]

unsure yet....

[sig]

we did this a few years back and one thing we learnt was ,stay longer at each place ie stay at reefton 2-3 nights and do a few tracks in one area then move on to another spot and do the tracks in that area then move on etc etc otherwise you cover lots of tarseal miles and not much mud miles.the kids enjoyed it more when we did this . just a helpful hint to consider .we did this before i discovered ORE so when (not if) we do this again we would find out whos local and get local knowledge.we used andy cockcrofts book as our guide and wasted valuable time on tracks that were gravel rds more than they were 4wd tracks (nothing against andy ,he did a great job on the book ) thats my two cents worth ,hope it helps

[wgtnnewbie]

another option for the otago leg would be to do the dunstan trail. (of course if i managed to do the trip i'd have to stop off and see the out laws and the parental units)

[Jafa]

we did this a few years back and one thing we learnt was ,stay longer at each place ie stay at reefton 2-3 nights and do a few tracks in one area then move on to another spot and do the tracks in that area then move on etc etc otherwise you cover lots of tarseal miles and not much mud miles.the kids enjoyed it more when we did this . just a helpful hint to consider .we did this before i discovered ORE so when (not if) we do this again we would find out whos local and get local knowledge.we used andy cockcrofts book as our guide and wasted valuable time on tracks that were gravel rds more than they were 4wd tracks (nothing against andy ,he did a great job on the book ) thats my two cents worth ,hope it helps

Sig is right, theres at least 3 days worth of tracks around Reefton alone, let alone adding bulletproof chasm, and all the stuff around wesport, depends whether your going touring, or 4wding

[Bulletproof]

we did this a few years back and one thing we learnt was ,stay longer at each place ie stay at reefton 2-3 nights and do a few tracks in one area then move on to another spot and do the tracks in that area then move on etc etc otherwise you cover lots of tarseal miles and not much mud miles.the kids enjoyed it more when we did this . just a helpful hint to consider .we did this before i discovered ORE so when (not if) we do this again we would find out whos local and get local knowledge.we used andy cockcrofts book as our guide and wasted valuable time on tracks that were gravel rds more than they were 4wd tracks (nothing against andy ,he did a great job on the book ) thats my two cents worth ,hope it helps

I would agree otherwise it is not relaxing and all the time on the tarseal , even so there is plenty of good scenery .

Depending on your route to Reefton it could be via the Braeburn track with good veiws of Lake Rotoroa as an example if you wanted to get off tar seal for an hour. In the Reefton Area as well as Big River, the Waipuna caves are a must so one day wouldn't do the area justice.

These are all easy trips with no damage. I am willing to help out by showing you some.

Cheers Richard

[gimmemud]

This sounds like it's gonna be a good trip. Don't mind a northerner tagging along do ya? I haven't even been to the south island before

[Dace]

My firm belief is

"the more the merrier"

[madaz068]

This sounds like it's gonna be a good trip. Don't mind a northerner tagging along do ya? I haven't even been to the south island before

Of course, the more the better

[madaz068]

we did this a few years back and one thing we learnt was ,stay longer at each place ie stay at reefton 2-3 nights and do a few tracks in one area then move on to another spot and do the tracks in that area then move on etc etc otherwise you cover lots of tarseal miles and not much mud miles.the kids enjoyed it more when we did this . just a helpful hint to consider .we did this before i discovered ORE so when (not if) we do this again we would find out whos local and get local knowledge.we used andy cockcrofts book as our guide and wasted valuable time on tracks that were gravel rds more than they were 4wd tracks (nothing against andy ,he did a great job on the book ) thats my two cents worth ,hope it helps

Sig is right, theres at least 3 days worth of tracks around Reefton alone, let alone adding bulletproof chasm, and all the stuff around wesport, depends whether your going touring, or 4wding

Couldnt agree more Jafa. Planning a harder trip to Reefton maybe later in the year. You coming on this????

[madaz068]

we did this a few years back and one thing we learnt was ,stay longer at each place ie stay at reefton 2-3 nights and do a few tracks in one area then move on to another spot and do the tracks in that area then move on etc etc otherwise you cover lots of tarseal miles and not much mud miles.the kids enjoyed it more when we did this . just a helpful hint to consider .we did this before i discovered ORE so when (not if) we do this again we would find out whos local and get local knowledge.we used andy cockcrofts book as our guide and wasted valuable time on tracks that were gravel rds more than they were 4wd tracks (nothing against andy ,he did a great job on the book ) thats my two cents worth ,hope it helps

I would agree otherwise it is not relaxing and all the time on the tarseal , even so there is plenty of good scenery .

Depending on your route to Reefton it could be via the Braeburn track with good veiws of Lake Rotoroa as an example if you wanted to get off tar seal for an hour. In the Reefton Area as well as Big River, the Waipuna caves are a must so one day wouldn't do the area justice.

These are all easy trips with no damage. I am willing to help out by showing you some.


Cheers Richard

Was going to ask if you wanted to help up your way .

Where does the Braeburn track start?

[Bulletproof]

Where does the Braeburn track start?

After leaving the ferry at Picton and then driving up the Wairau valley to the Nelson Lakes , after going past Lake Rotoiti the Porika track leaves the Howard Valley and takes the original track over the tops to Lake Rotoroa and then the Braeburn is the back route down to Murchison via the Tutaki valley.

Just a option

Cheers Richard

[albundy]

When I do a safari, every third day is rest day usually in a campground so the wife can get things done. When a boys trip I push this out to fourth day.
you can cover alot of miles in central otago without doing tar seal, so staying in one place actually limits you.
Nick, I take it the trip is safari type rather then tough truck, therefore bulletproof chasm is out????
if you are headinfg through haast there re tracks we could do there s well. Too much too think of.
Al

[madaz068]

When I do a safari, every third day is rest day usually in a campground so the wife can get things done. When a boys trip I push this out to fourth day.
you can cover alot of miles in central otago without doing tar seal, so staying in one place actually limits you.
Nick, I take it the trip is safari type rather then tough truck, therefore bulletproof chasm is out????
if you are headinfg through haast there re tracks we could do there s well. Too much too think of.
Al

Would love to do the bulletproof, but thought this trip is more a safari type. Happy to get stuck and stuff, but dont want people breaking shit i guess. Anything grade 3 i would say is fine. (Now you will tell me bullproof is grade 3 lol )

[madaz068]

Where does the Braeburn track start?

After leaving the ferry at Picton and then driving up the Wairau valley to the Nelson Lakes , after going past Lake Rotoiti the Porika track leaves the Howard Valley and takes the original track over the tops to Lake Rotoroa and then the Braeburn is the back route down to Murchison via the Tutaki valley.

Just a option

Cheers Richard

Sounds bloody good, want to come lead that part

[Pico42]

Day One...Travel to Reefton stay in at Big River and Explore the area and old mines
Day Two... Travel to Coast via Punakaiki and stop for Pancake Rocks, Blow Holes, Cave Creek. Stay either in Puni or Greymonth
Day 3..... Travel to Queenstown via Glaciers and Haast, and Crown Range. Stay in Frankton Camp
Day 4..... 4x4 Trip into Macetown
Day 5 .... 4x4 Trip Skippers Canyon, Bullendale, old Skippers Pub
Day 6..... 4x4 Trip Nevis to Cromwell
Day 7 .....Travel to Milford Sound via Homer Tunnel and stay in Te Anau
Day 8 .....Travel to Bluff check out Burts Bikes and the beach he used to race on

I agree with other comments re the stay at Reefton, plenty of tracks there. Also Day 6 - Nevis is a nice road, but Carricktown/Duffers Saddle/Sisters/Obelisk/Old Man/Waikaia Bush Road is a much more interesting way to Southland - and there are also a few side trips...

Also. Day 3 could be broken up with a stop at Haast and a trip into Barn Bay. By all accounts it can be challenging, but is reasonable for most vehicles, depending on the depth of the Cascade River (those that want a really hard trip can go up Coppermine Creek north of Haast too).

And Day 7, (and I am not sure of the access status...) but you could investigate the option of going into Borland Lodge, Percy Saddle, Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove - can any Te Anau people advise on this?

Will keep an eye on this - would be keen to tag along on the localish trips...

[85BJ73]

We could be keen on this, depending on dates and costs involved......we wanna do a trip like this.......I hope to see this happen guys.....

[Jerry]

been costing this up...... looking at 2000k for the travelling distance alone from picton to picton..., i would allow for at least $2.50/L or $3/L for fuel, ferry is 200 each way?,

[madaz068]

been costing this up...... looking at 2000k for the travelling distance alone from picton to picton..., i would allow for at least $2.50/L or $3/L for fuel, ferry is 200 each way?,

Better allow $5 a km if you bringing the v8 Jerry

[downunderxj]

While the idea is great I would be careful trying to fit too much into the trip, it will only take one person having a break down to throw the whole schedule out the window.

A better way would be to focus on the West Coast, or Central Otago/Southland, or Canterbury/Marlborough or something like that, stay in that area and really give the tracks & back roads a good go.

Then if the whole trip goes well schedule another one for the following year going to one of the other area's.

Trying to fit the whole South Island into a two week trip doing the scenic areas and also trying to fit in the 4wd tracks will see you spending all your time driving.

Just my thoughts