Team kiwi rides from Queenstown to Auckland and return

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We are on the road again.
We wanted to test our mettle with a ride with some long days because we are planning to ride from Japan to London 2019.
We rode to Auckland and back to Queenstown over a ten day period in early December 2018.
The weather forecast for ten days in early December looked good. 
Day 1 525km Queenstown to Hokitika via the Haast Pass 
Day 2 560km Hokitika to Koromiko  via Arthus Pass and  the Kaikoura coast road
Day 3  465km + ferry Picton to Whangamomona
Day 4 215km Whangamomona to Taupo
Day 5 280km Taupo to Auckland. A three day stopover.
Day 6 310km Auckland to Ohope via Paeroa and Waihi Beach
Day 7 623km Ohope to Masterton via the Waioeka Gorge and Gisborne.
Day 8 167km + ferry Masterton to Koromiko via Titahi Bay
Day 9 457kmPicton to Hanmer Springs via Nelson and the Lewis Pass.
Day 10 475km Hanmer to Omarama via the Inland Scenic Route
Day 11 170km Omarama to Queenstown

4247km 
386km Average/day 

Blue skies
Friendly welcomes from family and friends who hosted us along the way
An opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with our beautiful country.

Road works galore. Plenty of evidence that petrol taxes are being spent. 
Repairs to storm damaged roads and new construction.
Occasional freshly graded gravel to test us, hot tarseal, too.

Farmers at work making the most of the fine weather.
Shearing, baling hay, mustering, tending grape vines, picking fruit.
Laden forestry trucks on both the south and north island roads.

Here are route  maps for our trip north and south and some photo collages of the first three days.



Our route south from Auckland




Leaving home, 
Yes, a map book to augment the GPS 
The Cardrona Valley and Pub
Clutha  River.



Haast Pass


Hokitika, Arthur’s Pass with a cheeky kea.



Kaikoura road. There were a few stops along the road. But not for the tourists on the train. 
The loose rubble cutting tells us why slips often close our roads.

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