Cairns Secret Squirrel

No pics but we've had just the best time.

Met some great people maybe they'll get to NZ and our fellowship will show them a great time.

Ursala B

"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." Elbert Hubbard

Trip Report and Statistics

I was away three weeks in total.  I rode 4184 kms and had five "rest" no riding days. My average fuel consumption was 23.51 kms per litre. The whole tour cost $394.63 for petrol.

I stayed with friends or at the campout six nights and camped only four nights (talk about slacker!) and stayed in accommodation five nights.

So all in all I have to say thank you so much to my friends for taking such great care of me...

Average per day total spend was just under $89 (incl petrol) per day.

AND a jolly good time was had indeed!

Across the road from Colombo

“Get home-itis”

I think I have to acknowledge this has been my problem for the last 2-3 days.

Now that the journey has a destination (home) I don't take pics etc

Plus my new dance shoes which arrived in Auckland Monday will hopefully be delivered soon pls pls!

Dunedin to Cheviot

A 9am to 5pm kinda day.

I'm so knackered and no photos either.

Cheviot is about 450kms from Dunedin. But I'll get on a 2.15pm sailing tomorrow and then hopefully beat the "strong in places" winds on Wednesday

Omaui

I've never seen such a thing. A monstrous diesel stove with my tiny expresso machine on top

Bluff

The weather is stunning and a bit of snoozing in the sun at Queen's Park and on-on to Bluff where much has changed in the five years since I was at this secret squirrel event.

Gore-Invercargill-Bluff

I head north back towards Gore and off heading back south down country roads. A real slice of "old" farming NZ. Paddocks with sheep and soft rolling hills of pasture. Waimumu-Ti Tipua-Dacre before taking the highway to Longville and onto Invercargill and Bluff.

Sun is shining again

The front has passed and although a little cold the sun is shining again.

So the road somewhat less travelled towards Invercargill calls for me to follow.

Mataura River

what a little gem

Mataura

This very bright and intelligent dog who is affectionate and friendly and gets very excited by motorcycles is called Luka. 

I could even get to be a dog person with pooches like this around.

Old and abandoned

Alexandra to Mataura

I risk taking a less travelled route just south of Roxburgh from Ettrick through Moa Flat, Heriot, Waikaka, Knapsdale and out to Gore... a beautiful scenic ride with nowhere much to stop and take pictures so it's just a lovely lovely ride and I guess you had to be there.

Alexandra and Mataura (past Gore) .

The weather is predicted to have a pookie cold front come through.

I am again fortunate to get a new tyre in Alexandra and after about an hour I'm on my way.

This clever creativity was outside the Mitre 10in Alexandra. I thought it very clever.

St Bathan’s (4)

I return to The Domain and find my rear tyre is almost tread-less and will need attention pronto.

Shortly two blokes on bikes arrive to camp and they had some helpful tips on what tyre I might get... thankyou HP for sending me some help.

The night sky here is filled with starlight and this night was superb because there was no moonlight. Well worth crawling out of the tent a couple of times to watch it all.

St Bathan’s (3)

I made a toast to M and a toast to myself to acknowledge that I'm severing the ties that bind me to these memories.

St Bathan’s (2)

It's not the same dog as previous visits but still a friendly dog at the Vulcan a Hotel

St Bathan’s (1)

I made camp with mixed feelings. M and I had camped here many times so after setting up I took the walking track to the pub and found it the most crowded I have ever seen about 15 people.

Leaving Dunedin

Florence Hill

Catlins and Coastal Route

It's some years since visiting this area. So this was one of the places I planned to visit this trip if weather was right.

Weather was right but it was blustery wind so I didn't stop much but enjoyed the ride. It's all sealed and of course more traffic.

Clearly HP thought my plans were hilarious and I got sent unpleasant breezes to keep me alert

The other wee problem is the pull-over areas are chunky gravel which is a bit treacherous for wusses like me travelling alone.
New

Invercargill

Having had a techno failure I spent sometime in Invercargill. Sounds idiotic but they have Harvey Norman and what's more they have a Jaycar... who'd've thought.. and between them I'm back on boogie street able to charge my devices whilst riding

Burning up fossil fuel

OMG I've done 2139 kms in 11 days and I didn't travel at all for two whole days whilst in Arthur's Pass

Price gouging at Makaroa Tourist Centre a whopping $2.38 per litre for 91. That's the highest price I've seen.

Lumsden

What a lovely campground. Lots of green grassy space and very friendly hosts.

Lordy I've ridden over 400kms today ... no wonder I'm tired ... cheese, salami and crackers and about a litre of Raro and a cup of tea and I'm off to bed

Queenstown is a zoo and best missed

But this little picnic spot as you head out towards Lumsden is a beauty

Back thru Haast Pass and the lakes to Wanaka.

The grass by the hotel was a nice sunny spot to sit and have the usual stuff for lunch before heading out through Cardrona the Crown Range to Queenstown.

It's still a very steep and tight descent in places and I'm probably not much improved with the bike handling

No photos as we've taken so many and the road was pretty busy with campers etc

Cromwell through the Gates of Haast up to Pleasant Flat

Couldn't resist heading north up towards Wanaka and on passed the beautiful lakes and then out to the West Coast just for fun. It's a gorgeous ride but there was quite a lot of traffic.

Pleasant Flat in 2016 was one picnic table that was it... today it's three picnic tables, water and three toilets and overnight camping... even a bus turned up to use the DoC facilities.

Ugly Camping Cromwell

Driving down beside Lake Dunstan Zi ride past what was previously the Lake Dunstan B&B where we've stayed several times last time with our Aussie friends.

The place looks a bit forlorn so I guess maybe they sold up.

Mine was the last Trip Advisor review ... so it's a bit sad.

So it's into Cromwell for cold drink; gas up and head to the camping ground. Dirty and dusty and pricey for what you get and too far out of town to walk.

After Lindis Pass

I didn't stop at the summit lookout today but headed down and had a nap and brew up at this picnic spot.

Lake Pukaki and MtCook

I wish some place would show up on the planet as the "next place" to rush off to and see lovely scenery and take selfies then maybe NZ would recover from this onslaught.... oh dear I think I'm being negative...

Leaving Fairlie

Fairlie it was so cold packing up - I appreciated how good my tent, mat and sleeping bag is.

Still I got away 2hrs and 15mins from getting up. When there was two it took two hours so clearly I understand my way around the packing up of the tent!!

First night of camping

On-on to Fairlie

Near Mount Somers

Mount Hutt

Lovely clouds and views

Just a quick eat

I stopped at a rest area and ate Renee's bread with salami and cheese and then went on.

I didn't stop at Sheffield Pie shop and decided it was too early to camp at Rakaia Gorge - two favourites from the past.

After Arthur’s Pass

After a lovely stay in Arthur's Pass ... totally pampered and loved to max by a friend I'm off into the chilly morning down down towards Christchurch...

Arthur’s Pass

I’m so taken care of. I have friends who live in this beautiful place and run a B&B and I am most priviledged to stay a night or two or possibly three.

I arrived in beautiful sunshine and enjoyed a walk along the river,

Lake Brunner

The communal grave of those that died in the Brunner Mine is at Stillwater. From there the scenic route brings me to Moana where there is a fabulous view of the lake.

I lucked in to arrive just as the train pulled in... what a treat

The sun was warm and the air windless it was great to dilly-dally at the cafe and just enjoy being present. Another first going solo!

Moonlight

 This was a thriving gold mining community of over 100 people. The second largest gold nugget found in NZ was here. Nothing remains except an information board and picnic table and a view of the mountains.

Good place for a brew up.

Reefton

Another first. A visit to the sports shop in Reefton. M and I always dropped in and we nearly always purchased something. Their gear is of very good quality. We’ve bought things from sleeping bag and trousers through to water shoes and camping gas!

If you visit Reefton its just one of the best outdoor shops in the area ... probably the only one!

Reefton

By the time I arrived at Reefton the wind was pretty fierce for the last 60-odd kilometers. 

I’m happy to have a comfortable bed for the night.

Brunner Mining Area

On on loosely following the Grey River and a stop at the Brunner Mining area.

Took this nice pic of the Grey River from the Brunner suspension bridge. An explosion in 1896 at the Brunner killed 69 people and still remains the biggest mining disaster in NZ history.

Down the Coast to Greymouth

Back down the coast same as yesterday made for more curves and cruisey riding down to Greymouth.

A little further on and a little detour to Kumara. Gold was discovered in 1876 and it was also home to Richard John Seddon who was to become NZ Premier.

Historic bathing pool.

South of Kumara is this amazing swimming pool built during the depression. Now an historic site is amazing to visit.

Denniston Plateau

Today’s travels took me up to the Denniston plateau. A sealed road but has loose metal on the surface and combined with some tight curves and a few of them rather steep and the trip to the top required my serious concentration. Stuffed up on one corner...fortunately no-one (vehicle) around!

But the views were worth the concentrated ride to the top.

The plateau lies  at 600 metre elevation and is notorious for being shrouded in cloud but today it was chilly and overcast but stunning views. Pics don’t really don’t show how spectacular it is up there.

Blackball

Always a favorite place to visit with a rich history of mining, the birth of the Labour Party in New Zealand and more recently the Blackball Salami Co

A delicious pie from the shop next to the Salami place

Blackball Community Centre

Lower Buller River heading into Westport

Add caption

From McKinley Lookout.

The empty road ...

West Coast -top end

The top end of the West Coast of South Island is stunning in beautiful weather and today was perfect. Sunshine, not hot and not windy.

Punakaiki Blowholes has become so touristic that since I couldn’t find any place to park in two out of the three car parking areas I decided it was clearly too overcrowded to be an enjoyable place to visit.

However the riding was fabulous with not much traffic and enough curves to be interesting: slow enough riding to enjoy the view.

...heaven...

Sunset at Westport Motel

My little Versys parked neatly outside my motel room

Cable Bay

A frolic at the beach with friends and the dog