Route 1045km
Leaving Christchurch in the Rain for our first day on the bike - rode to Ashburton - 93km
Cooking dinner after our first days riding
Our camp site in Ashburton
State Highway 1, South of Ashburton on route to Timaru - Avoid this road at all cost! Many NZ drivers are not bike aware!!! Unfortunately it is hard to avoid main roads in NZ. 77km Today.
A field of lavendar near Winchester
In the kitchen again - at the Timaru Holiday Park
Art on Cars in Timaru
checking something? Rode to Oamaru today 87km.
A huge custard sqaure at Ma & Pa's in St Andrews
Phew! Half way to the South Pole!
We spent our 3rd night in Oamaru - this is the Oamaru Bascilica
Downtown Oamaru, a rainy morning - Rode to Palmerston 62km.
Coastal road and beaches south of Oamaru on route to Palmerston
Locals
Moeraki Boulders
Beaches just north of Palmerston
Luckie the Dog @ the Palmerston Motel
Local church in Palmerston. From Palmerston we rode a small way up the pig rode, then turn off to Macrae's flat, then via (almost) Hyde and down to Middlemarch.
Heavy traffic at Macrae's Mine
Macrae's open cast mine
Preparing breakfast in Middlemarch.
Our campsite at Blind Billy's Campground, Middlemarch
Middlemarch railway yard
Middlemarch Station
Sign at the Middlemarch end of the Rail Trail
Middlemarch Hotel
View from the trail north of Middlemarch - looking Southwest
On the trail - Today we back-tracked via the rail trail to Ranfurly, 63km.
Rocky 'Central' country side
Road from Hyde to Macrae's flat
Old rolling stock and station at Hyde
Lunch at the Hyde Hotel - a great place to stop for a coffee and bite to eat!
Hyde Hotel
Views from the trail, north of Hyde
Trail surface and cuttings
Our first tunnel north of Hyde
More views from the trail
Riding solo
The old rail bridge converted for bikes
Sometimes a road is nearby
Views from trail south of Waipiata
Waipiata Hotel, just beside the trail
Approaching Ranfurly
Arrived at the Station
Scouting out dinner - which turned out to be very good!
Our campground in Ranfurly
Heading back to the station and rail trail the next morning
The route to Wedderburn is fairly straight forward
Arriving at Wedderburn
New cycling accommodation at Wedderburn
Crossing under the main road
The marker of the highest point on the trail
At the highest point. Today we rode from Ranfurly to Alexandra, 89km.
Views from the Trail
Historic store at Oturehua
Inside the store
Another shot inside the store
The trail ahead as we approach the Ida Valley
Poolburn Gorge
Poolburn Tunnel
Rocky Poolburn Gorge
Bridge just north of Lauder
Refreshments ar Lauder
Farm deer beside the trail
Arriving at Omakau
The view south as you leave Omakau
Trail side restroom
View toward Alexandra
Approaching Alexandra
Setting up came in Alex
The historic Ophir Bridge. From Alexandra we back-tracked on the road as far as Lauder, stopping via Ophir. Then from Lauder we took the trail again as far as Oturehua, then back on to the road to Naseby. All up 87km.
Ophir PO
Morning tea in Ophir
Another view of the Cafe and historic buildings
Back on the trail - heading north this time from Lauder
swimming dam in Naseby
Historic Naseby
Dinner location in Naseby
Heading north from Naseby toward Dansey's pass eventually coming out at Duntroon (Waitaki River) from where we headed up to Kurow. All up 90km.
Yes we are going the right way
The price list...
Arriving for morning tea at Dansey Pass Hotel
The Hotel and Road merge
A good size mushroom!
Heading up the pass
Looking south as we survey where we've come from
At the top of the pass (looking north east)
Looking down the other side!
Letting the brakes cool down...
Campsite in Kurow
From Kurow we headed across the Waitaki River to Waimate and then up to Timaru - total of 112km. We sent a rainy and relaxing day in Timaru.
From Timaru we headed north on Highway 1 to Winchester and then turned up to Geraldine and then hghway 72 to Mt Somers. Here is our camp site at Mount Somers.
Mt Somers store
Mt Somers! From here we rode to the Rakaia Gorge and then via Glentunnel & Darfield to Christchurch - 120km.
Mt Hutt ski area
Very strongs winds at Rakaia Gorge
A couple on a push me - pull you recumbent tandem!
Looking up the Rakaia Gorge
Crossing the Rakaia River
Rakaia River Bridge
Breakfast at Drexels in Christchurch
Loading the bike for the train trip to Picton and home...
