south island road trip suggestions

[zebedee99]

have a friend coming over pushing for a road trip round the south island - any suggestions on where to go (apart from the obvious ) - anywhere a bit off the track - don't know the south island well at all yet. not looking for anything too hard-core (ie i don't want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere on me own!). will be driving a 74' FJ40 2F on duel fuel with factory PTO winch, but no other mods. heading off end of may for 3 or 4 weeks, picking up the truck in chch. cheers - jake

[albundy]

You goota do Serpentine, Old Man Range, Nevis Valley, Macetown and Skippers when you are down central way. If you have time head into Mavora lakes, go up past the lakes and take the left turn over the river before boundary hut. This will take you to an awesome rustic hut in the middle of nowhere. I have never felt as isolated as I did up there. Mind you taht's a week of driving just there.
Al

[rollypolly]

golden bay.
goldfeilds track or barrins flat up the cob

[vando]

Danzies Pass (and Danzies Pub )

[nuts]

anywhere on the westcoast is good
did molesworth was a good trip

[rokhound]

Even if you can't do all of Molesworth, drive in through one of the passes behind Hamner (Jacks or Jollies), drive as far as you can (which used to be to the bridge by the meeting house) and come back to Hamner via the other Pass. All easy stuff with great scenery. (Might need a kidney belt in a 40 though, the tracks can be very cut up with pot holes). If you are with another truck in here, try the no driving over bridges, and have a look up some of the side tracks that were cut in for the power lines.

As Al said, down South is awesome, but takes some time.

There are some great tarcks on the coast, a little local knowledge is sometimes required to find them though, although all the well known stuff is fairly well documneted in different books (Mark Wright???? or Ken Sibley). Not sure if that is Mark's last name or not

[Sadam_Husain]

If your around the top of the south Island the Maungatapu track between the pelorus river bridge and nelson makes a good deviation, theres also a track over the range that links lake rotoroa and rotoiti around the st arnard area.

Molesworth/St James/ Rainbow stations are probably closed now unless you try your luck with the cockie at the gate?

[DaveM]

Molesworth closed early due to fire risk, but Rainbow should still be open, can check through the St Arnaud info centre to confirm.

[SKR]

Rainbow will be sweet unless there's a shit load of rain, $20 to get through the gate though.
A few weeks back they graded Island Gully to the Wairau bridge, ALL vehicles where getting up to four punctures!!! I had two (utter shite tyres), so get some info from the farmer as the road doesn't see a lot of traffic in that area and a couple spares.

[nuts]

i.e westport txt orr call me can show u

[zebedee99]

yer all legends, plenty to be going on - thanks. just gotta buy a book now and study up on what yer all talking about! my mate has lived in africa for the last 8 years, so i know if we get stuck it's me that's getting out to push!!

[zebedee99]

Rainbow will be sweet unless there's a shit load of rain, $20 to get through the gate though.
A few weeks back they graded Island Gully to the Wairau bridge, ALL vehicles where getting up to four punctures!!! I had two (utter shite tyres), so get some info from the farmer as the road doesn't see a lot of traffic in area and a couple spares.

you want to try driving around in the southern foothills of the himalayas in a 'refurbished' 1953 dodge M-37 that some eejit fitted with mag wheels and radial tyres! at least 3 hours a pop to repair a puncture, and my boss really unimpressed with the bill for new rubber - which all has to be flown in. but he organised the refurb, so i'm laughing. except when sat on the side of the road, waiting for a flat to be fixed (again) new rims and tyres on the way, but by truck. on the road 2 months already: i won't be here to see them arrive....