South Island driving route
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You could consider Rotorua if you haven't already done that when you went to Rotoiti. The Top10 camp ground at Blue Lake has very clean tidy motel cabins, probably at a reasonable price.
Just 2.5 hours on to Napier after that and cuts an hour off the day before. -
The East Cape drive is best to do clockwise but be aware that the best scenery is between Opotiki and Te Araroa. After that you spend most of the drive inland. I last did that route in January leaving in the other direction. We stayed in Gisborne to use as a East Coast base but there are only so many things you can do in the city if the water is too cold to swim in. But there are vineyards nearby and some good restaurants.
Agree with @dogmeat about the Waikaremoana drive. I hope the road has improved since I was there (10 years ago) but all those blind corners on a gravel road made for a very slow trip. It made the Forgotten World Highway seem like SH1.
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@dogmeat said in South Island driving route:
Two warnings. Keep an eye out on the road conditions as although its still a bit early at this time of year every route can close. Also Taupo can be fucking cold and miserable if there's a southerly.
Bingo! Due to leave today and its been raining solid all night - S25 South of Whitianga is closed in both directions!
Looks like the road north to Coromandel is still open, so Coromandel and Stan Hill here we come! Adds an extra hour to the trip, but we are in no hurry
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@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@dogmeat said in South Island driving route:
Two warnings. Keep an eye out on the road conditions as although its still a bit early at this time of year every route can close. Also Taupo can be fucking cold and miserable if there's a southerly.
Bingo! Due to leave today and its been raining solid all night - S25 South of Whitianga is closed in both directions!
Looks like the road north to Coromandel is still open, so Coromandel and Stan Hill here we come! Adds an extra hour to the trip, but we are in no hurry
Open now,
NZTA Waikato/BoP
FINAL UPDATE 9:20AM
SH25 is now OPEN between Hikuai and Whitianga. Please continue to drive cautiously and according to wet weather conditions. Thank you for your continued patience, have a nice day. ^APhttps://twitter.com/NZTAWaiBoP/status/1266805859792883715 …and going to be shit all over the north it seems.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12336066 -
@Snowy said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@dogmeat said in South Island driving route:
Two warnings. Keep an eye out on the road conditions as although its still a bit early at this time of year every route can close. Also Taupo can be fucking cold and miserable if there's a southerly.
Bingo! Due to leave today and its been raining solid all night - S25 South of Whitianga is closed in both directions!
Looks like the road north to Coromandel is still open, so Coromandel and Stan Hill here we come! Adds an extra hour to the trip, but we are in no hurry
Open now,
NZTA Waikato/BoP
FINAL UPDATE 9:20AM
SH25 is now OPEN between Hikuai and Whitianga. Please continue to drive cautiously and according to wet weather conditions. Thank you for your continued patience, have a nice day. ^APhttps://twitter.com/NZTAWaiBoP/status/1266805859792883715 …and going to be shit all over the north it seems.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12336066🤦🏾♂️
I'm in Coromandel already!
Ah well.
As an aside, I just saw a bloke come out of the 4Square here with a tray of Rheineck. Had no idea you could still buy that stuff!!!
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@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@Snowy said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@dogmeat said in South Island driving route:
Two warnings. Keep an eye out on the road conditions as although its still a bit early at this time of year every route can close. Also Taupo can be fucking cold and miserable if there's a southerly.
Bingo! Due to leave today and its been raining solid all night - S25 South of Whitianga is closed in both directions!
Looks like the road north to Coromandel is still open, so Coromandel and Stan Hill here we come! Adds an extra hour to the trip, but we are in no hurry
Open now,
NZTA Waikato/BoP
FINAL UPDATE 9:20AM
SH25 is now OPEN between Hikuai and Whitianga. Please continue to drive cautiously and according to wet weather conditions. Thank you for your continued patience, have a nice day. ^APhttps://twitter.com/NZTAWaiBoP/status/1266805859792883715 …and going to be shit all over the north it seems.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12336066🤦🏾♂️
I'm in Coromandel already!
Ah well.
As an aside, I just saw a bloke come out of the 4Square here with a tray of Rheineck. Had no idea you could still buy that stuff!!!
Shit. Maybe it has been on the back shelf ince 1989?
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@Hooroo said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@Bones said in South Island driving route:
@Hooroo maybe downtown Tony Brown then 😬
It's Stan Hill, one of Palmys finest!!! Good guy, he wouldn't remember me most likely, but I spent some time with him. His kids were a bit below me in age.
Also, Tony fucking Brown still owes me a keg!!!
Stan Hill!!! Thank You!! The man knows his steak!!
Well, ended up in Coro so checked this place out. Must have let the chef go because nothing was "low and slow" and there no wings. Food was fine though, just standard pub fare.
I chatted to Stan briefly, he didn't recognise me, and fair to say, didn't seem altogether interested in trying to 😁
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@voodoo you should be right with State/AA/AMI (State/AMI both owned by IAG)...I'd stay away from Tower/Youi/AMP (latter more because they have an excess on glass claims and Tower cos they just laid off some staff, Tower also bought Youi, Youi were cnuts prior to being taken over)
Think all those have an agreed value option (assuming you are looking at Full Cover)
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3 months to the day since we arrived to QT, and we are now back on the road - heading to Wanaka for a few weeks of skiing.
Fuck this boat rolls around, there are some seriously sick looking people around.
Good to be leaving Palmy for a bit, though I didn't feel that great this morning, scratchy throat, fever, dry cough - weird. Good thing I'm not planning to stop for a piss until I get to Wanaka. Got a bit lost coming out of Palmy too, busy town that. Called some old mates though and they helped, gave them each a quick pash as we said goodbye.
Happy days.
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@Snowy said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
Good to be leaving Palmy for a bit
"Ever" was the last word you were looking for there I think.
How's the snow looking down south?
Ruapehu opening 1 July.I'll be heading back in a couple of weeks to see Mum, but the family is basing themselves in Wanaka for 5-6 weeks.
Cardona opens 26th.
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@Snowy said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo Hope your Mum is doing O.K.
Hmmm, Cardrona is very tempting.
Thanks mate. Her sister is tagging in for the next couple of weeks and Hospice getting more involved who are fantastic.
We have season passes for Cardona / TC, haven't ridden either since 1997 so can't wait!
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@voodoo yeah Hospice are fantastic, must be tough working in that environment!
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