Route update

The last leg that I was having trouble piecing together has just fallen into place after contacting the Kennett Bros to pick their (local) brains regarding the best way in to Wellington.

It looks like it will be a similar distance to what was originally shown on the map but now I'll probably ride from Greytown to the Rimutaka Rail Trail and on to the Hutt River Trail then carry on in to town to complete the North Island Leg. I think this is a much better option, thanks Jonathon.

South Island Route Map

This is the final South Island Route; 1156 km over 14 days.

Itinerary

NORTH ISLAND

Feb 25 Thurs Drive to Awanui

1 Feb 26 Fri Drive to Cape Rienga - Bike down Ninety Mile Beach

2 Feb 27 Sat 90 Mile Beach to Ahipara 78

3 Feb 28 Sun Ahipara to Opononi 90

4 Mar 1 Mon Opononi to Dargaville 86

5 Mar 2 Tues Dargaville to Wellsford 96

6 Mar 3 Wed Wellsford to Stillwater 73

7 Mar 4 Thurs Rest Day in Stillwater 0

8 Mar 5 Fri Stillwater to Gulf Harbour - Ferries - Half Moon Bay to Miranda 25 + 82

9 Mar 6 Sat Miranda to Hamilton 87

10 Mar 7 Sun Hamilton to Te Kuiti 76

11 Mar 8 Mon Te Kuiti to Owhango 104

12 Mar 9 Tues Whakahoro to Whanganui River 45

13 Mar 10 Wed Whanganui River - Canoe

14 Mar 11 Thurs Whanganui River campsite to Pipiriki - Canoe then Pipiriki to Raetihi 27

15 Mar 12 Fri Raetihi to Wanganui 102

16 Mar 13 Sat Wanganui to Fielding 67

17 Mar 14 Sun Fielding to Ekatahuna 75

18 Mar 15 Mon Ekatahuna to Greytown 63

19 Mar 16 Tues Greytown to Wellington 80

SOUTH ISLAND

20 Mar 17 Wed Wellington to Blenheim (Arahura then bike to Blenheim) 30

21 Mar 18 Thurs Blenheim to St Arnaud 104

22 Mar 19 Fri St Arnaud (rest day) 0

23 Mar 20 Sat St Arnaud to Hanmer (Rainbow Rage) 106

24 Mar 21 Sun Hanmer to Christchurch 140

25 Mar 22 Mon Rest Day in Christcurch 0

26 Mar 23 Tue Christchurch to Lincoln (via Diamond Harbour Ferry) 32

27 Mar 24 Wed Lincoln to Ashburton 78

28 Mar 25 Thurs Ashburton to Fairlie 100

29 Mar 26 Fri Fairlie to Kurow (via Hakataramea Valley) 125

30 Mar 27 Sat Kurow to Naseby (via Dansey's Pass) 88

31 Mar 28 Sun Naseby to Clyde (via Otago Rail Trail) 95

32 Mar 29 Mon Clyde to Garston (via Nevis Crossing) 105

33 Mar 30 Tue Garston to Winton 92

34 Mar 31 Wed Winton to Bluff 61

Apr 1 Thurs Invercargill to Auckland - Fly

Intro

Over the next few months as I build towards the trip I'll post more information. It's constantly evolving as I gain more knowledge about various routes. The South Island legs in particular could change because there are several back country tracks involved and I'm not 100% sure if they're all open and join up as shown on the maps. Meanwhile the current plan is shown on the map. I'd appreciate any comments if anybody has any inside information on any of the planned route.

Mark