Discussion
gents,
we're having an organizing meeting at my house on 4.2 to start laying out routes. i would appreciate your feedback and guidance on roads we should definitely DO, and avoid. our thinking just now is that we will be able to get you dates for 2008 planning RealSoonNow so that we can work with events you'll be planning for 2008 too.
the group will be in NZ for 18-20 days, so the thinking is we should find 2-3 towns on the North & South islands where we can use them as a base, and do days out from there.
feedback welcome, as David and Geoff will be here to our house in Londonium. i'll be moving to Sydney in April (as will our Caterham SV) so they'll be coordinating things for the 12 EU cars, shipping and air fares, whilist my with and I will be coming to NZ on hols over the next 12-16 months to recce the routes.
discuss
we're having an organizing meeting at my house on 4.2 to start laying out routes. i would appreciate your feedback and guidance on roads we should definitely DO, and avoid. our thinking just now is that we will be able to get you dates for 2008 planning RealSoonNow so that we can work with events you'll be planning for 2008 too.
the group will be in NZ for 18-20 days, so the thinking is we should find 2-3 towns on the North & South islands where we can use them as a base, and do days out from there.
feedback welcome, as David and Geoff will be here to our house in Londonium. i'll be moving to Sydney in April (as will our Caterham SV) so they'll be coordinating things for the 12 EU cars, shipping and air fares, whilist my with and I will be coming to NZ on hols over the next 12-16 months to recce the routes.
discuss
Hey Steve, I guess your'e the bloke I met in Sydney, thrashing the @rse off Ashtons Mini on a Lotus run?
Anyway, over Christmas New Year I was home in NZ visiting the rellies, but I also travelled 4000k around the Sth Island. As soon as I can work out how to draw lines on maps etc, I'll mark up my route and post/email it to you. If you are only going to be in NZ for 20 odd days and wish to keep the birds happy, I personally would keep to the Sth Island (Otherwise known as the Mainland ! ;-)). For what its worth I travelled from my home town (Temuka), through the lakes (Tekapo, Pukaki etc) and on to Queenstown (we had a separate trip to Mt Cook). Then down to Te Anau, Milford Sound, back through Queenstown/Wanaka over to the West Coast (Haast pass), Fox Glacier and Franz Glacier. Up the West Coast (Punakaiki) to Nelson. From Nelson down the east coast to Kaikoura. Kaikoura to Home. There were a number of roads which in my opinion shouldn't be missed. In no particular order The Crown Range (between Queenstown and Wanaka, the highest sealed road in Australasia apparently), the road into Milford Sound (Brilliant but watch our for the Keas around the Homer tunnell), Nearly the entire West Coast (Amazing but wet..if you don't know already the West Coast has the most awesome scenary, but nearly always pee's with rain measured in metres per year), Queen Charlotte Drive coming into Picton, the main roads into and out of Kaikoura. A couple of things to remember about the Sth Island. Keas' these are a mountain parrot and WILL eat parts off your car, I kid you not. If you see signs for falling rocks, be extra careful as a couple of times we came around bends to find sizable lumps of rock on the road. Single lane bridges, for gods sake take it easy coming onto to these as often it is dificult to see the far end of the bridge until you are actually on the darn thing, sometimes they are also shared with trains!. Speed scameras. They park up old shitey Japanese imported vans with darkened windows hiding their scameras. I got a 134kms in a 100 (no points but $230 fine), once you know what they look like, they are fairly easy to detect and Detectors are legal.
When you get to Sydney, I'd be happy to share a beer or two and take you through the maps and recommend places to stay and touristy things to do. The amount of times my girl and I said, shit I wish we were in the Lotus became very monotonous!!
Andrew
Anyway, over Christmas New Year I was home in NZ visiting the rellies, but I also travelled 4000k around the Sth Island. As soon as I can work out how to draw lines on maps etc, I'll mark up my route and post/email it to you. If you are only going to be in NZ for 20 odd days and wish to keep the birds happy, I personally would keep to the Sth Island (Otherwise known as the Mainland ! ;-)). For what its worth I travelled from my home town (Temuka), through the lakes (Tekapo, Pukaki etc) and on to Queenstown (we had a separate trip to Mt Cook). Then down to Te Anau, Milford Sound, back through Queenstown/Wanaka over to the West Coast (Haast pass), Fox Glacier and Franz Glacier. Up the West Coast (Punakaiki) to Nelson. From Nelson down the east coast to Kaikoura. Kaikoura to Home. There were a number of roads which in my opinion shouldn't be missed. In no particular order The Crown Range (between Queenstown and Wanaka, the highest sealed road in Australasia apparently), the road into Milford Sound (Brilliant but watch our for the Keas around the Homer tunnell), Nearly the entire West Coast (Amazing but wet..if you don't know already the West Coast has the most awesome scenary, but nearly always pee's with rain measured in metres per year), Queen Charlotte Drive coming into Picton, the main roads into and out of Kaikoura. A couple of things to remember about the Sth Island. Keas' these are a mountain parrot and WILL eat parts off your car, I kid you not. If you see signs for falling rocks, be extra careful as a couple of times we came around bends to find sizable lumps of rock on the road. Single lane bridges, for gods sake take it easy coming onto to these as often it is dificult to see the far end of the bridge until you are actually on the darn thing, sometimes they are also shared with trains!. Speed scameras. They park up old shitey Japanese imported vans with darkened windows hiding their scameras. I got a 134kms in a 100 (no points but $230 fine), once you know what they look like, they are fairly easy to detect and Detectors are legal.
When you get to Sydney, I'd be happy to share a beer or two and take you through the maps and recommend places to stay and touristy things to do. The amount of times my girl and I said, shit I wish we were in the Lotus became very monotonous!!
Andrew
Hey there Andrew, yes i remember you. i'll send you a PM so you have my email address and we can meet up.
The SWMBO factor is a fair part of what the event is about, after thrashing the @rses off our cars
The more you could jot down before this Saturday and PM to me would be very helpful. We're certainly getting quite a
buzz in the group of owners, and I finished the logo last week.
Looking forward to a few (too many ) pints in Sydney in 2 weeks mate!
Steve
The SWMBO factor is a fair part of what the event is about, after thrashing the @rses off our cars
The more you could jot down before this Saturday and PM to me would be very helpful. We're certainly getting quite a
buzz in the group of owners, and I finished the logo last week.
Looking forward to a few (too many
) pints in Sydney in 2 weeks mate! Steve
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