A little ride out in the southern hemisphere

[Ian Porter]

You may have noticed I've been absent from the forum for the last month

The reason being that me and Ruth have spent the last 3.5 weeks touring New Zealand by bike (an F800gs for me and a Triumph Bonneville called Betty for Ruth)

We're currently sat in Singapore airport waiting for our final flight home and looking forward to some well earned sleep.

We'd kept a blog for family to follow while we were away and I'll post the address for anyone that wants to read it.
I hope to fill it out a bit and add more photo's when I have time so it becomes a full ride report.

The blog can be found at www.bigbirdandtango.blogspot.com

 

[Lutin]

Can't wait to see the photos, Ian.

Hope you have a good flight home and that you actually manage to get some sleep.

 

[austin]

Sounds like we are in for a visual treat

 

[Chewbadger]

Did they tell you they've been to New Zealand? Lol.....

 

[Ian Porter]

Did they tell you they've been to New Zealand? Lol.....

Well I had to go somewhere to take my mind off the absent powder coater

 

[Chewbadger]

Should be there now, probably.... Possibly,....

 

[Lulu]

Good to hear it all went well ,Ian. Hope you are both home safely now. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[Mikey]

You've been absent?

 

[Ian Porter]

Christchurch

I've started going through the photos so here's a few for now

our first view of New Zealand as we flew in



Our Hotel for the first night





the 'Broken' city, still very much a demolition/building site





but lots of colour and art everywhere



















a great improvised shopping precinct made from shipping containers



a different way to tour the city



The river Avon and botanical gardens on the way back to our hotel











some useful advice in the hotel room (and yes we did get an earthquake that night)




more later

 

[Lutin]

Great stuff, Ian.

Had heard about the "container city" previously. It looks rather neat.

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 1 Christchurch to Mount Cook

first stop of the day was to collect the bikes

Ruth's Bonneville (Betty)



and the rest of the motley crew



and the support vehicle that carried all of our luggage around (Neil, our van driver, was a mine of information and great company)



Just outside Christchurch we stopped at a very long straight road, the site of two motorcycle world speed records in 1955





and then we headed for the mountains



don't know who these two are but they keep getting in the way of the scenery



once over the mountains we arrived at lakes Tekapo and Pukaki (if you're monitor isn't calibrated you're missing the amazing turquoise colour of the water)





it's that pair again...



and with our destination in the distance - Mount Cook







the view from our room at The Hermitage at the foot of Mount Cook

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 2 Mount Cook to Dunedin

today we rode along lakes Benmore and Avimore (part of New Zealand's hydro electric system)















and in the afternoon visited Moeraki beach to see the boulders







and there they are again



ending up in Dunedin at Larnach Castle - tonight's view from the window in the room

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 3 Otago Peninsular

Today was a rest day so we headed off on our own down the Otago Peninsular









and visited the penguin sanctuary

trouble was is was a very hot day and all of the penguins had buggered off for a swim so we had to make do with this





and a couple of chicks (yes they are there but you have to look closely)



there was plenty of other bird life and seals to see though











and a nice beach



we then headed back along the coast road



to Larnach Castle and had a look around the house and grounds

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 4 Dunedin to Invercargill

today's ride took us along the coast past some lovely beaches again



followed by lunch at the Whistling Frog cafe



and a stop at the Lost Gypsy Caravan to see some unusual uses for junk











and then on to Invercargill and E Hayes hardware store to see some bikes (some of which you may recognise)























and a few others that were there

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 5 Milford Sound cruise

No pictures from the road today as it was raining very heavily all the way from Invercargill to Milford Sound

it was still a magical ride though and the rain was to our advantage on the sound as you can see from all of the waterfalls



















our sister ship moored along side us for the night



and a bit bigger cruise liner in for the night too



a bit cramped tonight and the water line was about where the lights are on the wall (hope that port hole is watertight)



complete change in the weather the following morning - and most of the waterfalls have gone













more seals

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 6 Milford Sound to Queenstown

having got back from the cruise on Milford sound and with a long way to go, today was a bit of a quick blast to Queenstown

a quick stop at the Mirror Lakes



and then again at Lake Wakatipu





with time for a bit of clowning around





and a chat with the old bill (he was a friend of one of the tour company and just stopped for a chat, although we though he ought to arrest the tour guide for having the nerve to be riding a Harley)



before arriving in Queenstown we did a bit of this





down this



and then headed into town for a couple of nights here

 

[Rubberchicken]

Lovely pics! I miss that place.

Christchurch Cathedral hurts a bit seeing it like that, all those lovely brick buildings were still standing when I was there.

The turquoise lake is a bit of a sight isn't it! Even on a dark grey day it's something to behold.

 

[Ian Porter]

The turquoise lake is a bit of a sight isn't it! Even on a dark grey day it's something to behold.

the ride out from Mount Cook was very grey and it was still amazing,

the turquoise of the water was reflected up onto the bottom of the clouds in places, quite surreal

 

[Ian Porter]

Day 7 Queenstown

another rest day and we just took a boat ride across lake Wakatipu to a sheep station

 

[Hudders]

Fantastic pictures Ian, keep them coming