Molloys in South Island, NZ @monotremeineurope - Tumblr Blog

Sat 07 Dec – Hyde-Middlemarch

Again smooth wake up, breakfast and pack for 0830 departure. Talk to co-guests Brian & Jan. Drive the courtesy car back to Hyde, unlock the bikes and head off for the last day’s run of 27km. Arrive at Middlemarch at noon. Hang round for SheBikesHeBikes shuttle which leaves at 1330. Get back to Clyde before 1600. Have a look at flooded Clutha river and over spillage at the dam. Drive up and over the Lindis Pass. Stop in Twizel to buy smoked salmon and groceries. Have dinner at the Indian Fishtail restaurant. Have to go canal route to find 261 Manuka Rd airBnB, which has great views and is cosy. There has been a lot of flooding around Wanaka, Queenstown and elsewhere on South Island while we have been on ride and it may prevent us from getting up to Christchurch on Sunday. We will have to wait and see.

Fri 06 Dec - Ranfurly-Hyde

Smooth wake up, breakfast and pack for 0845 pickup by Sam. He drops us off at shed to get our bikes at Ranfurly station. Weather is howling north-wester with some cloud. Muck around in Ranfurly for toilet, coffee and food for later. Hit the trail 0930 with a pretty easy run down to Waipiata, passing poor sucks going up the hill into the wind. We stop at Waipiata for pies at the pub that take much longer than 10 minutes stated to prepare. We continue with the wind becoming much stronger, Cathy having to dismount in some sections. Have small up-hill before going over more bridges and thru Tunnel No. 11. We get to Hyde about 2 pm. We lock up the bikes and drive the car left for us up to Peters Farm Lodge, going back on the route we had done during the day. Peter greeted us at his own old farmhouse and showed us the ropes. Another couple arrive, Brian and Jan. We unpack and rest. Peter comes back at 1700 to feed his lambs. We meet his other pet lambs. We then go back for dinner at the Waipiata pub. Back to Peters Farm, DCM does walk. TV.

Thur 05 Dec - Oturehua-Ranfurly

Up earliesh for traditional B&B breakfast by hostess Carmel at 0800. Get away smoothly and ride into Oturehua, and go to NZ longest running store, Gilchrist. Start on trail, seeing some riders that were at Clyde when we left. Strong NW wind is behind us this time and makes ascent of highest part of trail much easier. Many spectacular views and beautiful countryside. Once we get over the saddle it is free-wheeling almost all of the way into Ranfurly. We complete this leg (27km) very quickly. So quickly we have to wait around in Ranfurly (after lunch at the cafe) before Sam in the bus picks us up to take us to Naseby. We visited stores and museums while we wait for Sam. We put bikes in shed next to trail and then get dropped off at Naseby Lodge. We unpack, try to have a sleep. Cam and DCM wander about town. Everyone goes to down to curling centre and we learn to Curl at 1630.Cam and Holly take on DCM & Cathy, who win 3-2. Leave at 1815 and go straight to Royal hotel for dinner, which best of the trip so far. Speak to other trail riders. Back to Lodge and prepare for bed.

Wed 04 Dec - Omakau-Oturehua

Up about 0730 and smooth prep. Although it is steady rain, we are ready to go by 0900. The rain eases off and we head towards to Lauder. We get there and go to the Station Cafe, timing it perfectly to miss the worst downpour of the day. Head out again and the worst of the rain seems to avoid us. Go up hill over bridges and through tunnels. Holly gets towed by Cam on his ebike. Only other riders we see are a group of schoolboys, almost all of them have GoPro attachments on their helmets. We come into Oturehua and go the Hayes

Engineering Works cafe for some lunch. After that we go another 500m to The Mill. Carmel hostesses at this amazing building, very comfy. Veg out till we get picked up for dinner, not before witnessing one of those most grossest things I have seen ... that being Holly tending to her father's toenails. We get bussed to the Oturehua Railway Hotel, we have a reasonable dinner and then get bussed back to The MIll. Everyone else crashes, watching NZ version of HYBPA. I go up onto hill behind The Mill to see magnificent views of snow-capped mountains. Don’t have the best sleep due to all the birds in the roof.

Tues 03 Dec - Clyde-Omakau

Rained all night, very wet. Got up at 7 and was ready to go by 0820. After dropping key off and getting diesel, we headed towards Clyde from Lake Hawea. As we got there closer the rain stayed on the range and it was very pleasant by the time we got to Clyde Station. We met up with SheBikesHeBikes and got organised. After briefing we were off about 1100.

We take the river trail to Alexandra which lovely and much fun (13km). Have lunch at Courthouse Cafe. Then we start on Otago Rail Trail proper at 1300. A woman heading towards Alexandra was the only other person we see on the track. We begin to go uphill and into a very strong headwind, but no rain. Cathy gets blown of her bike and hurts her wrist. Becomes very hard work but the section down into Omakau is easier and we get there at 1730 after 44 km for the day. We are in the lovely Post Masters House which is really good. DCM has to go and get bike swapped after problem with handlebars. Holly, Cam & I go onto the spa bath. Have dinner at the Commercial Hotel in Omakau. Everyone to bed pretty early.

geologicaltravels

2019: Evison’s Wall … a geoscience curiosity. In 1964, NZ geophysicist, Frank Evison and his colleagues built a 24 metre concrete wall across the Alpine Fault to see if any strike-slip movement could be recorded physically. The wall remains dead straight and on its original alignment (NW-SE), as the sign says, leading one to conclude that movement along the fault goes in jumps rather than gradually. I suspect that the wall needs to be much deeper than its 1.4 metres to really determine this.

Franz Joseph Glacier

Mon 02 Dec - Glacier country

Another good sleep, with clear skies this morning, amazingly. It rained most of the night. Had breakfast in the lodge and I enjoyed a longish shower. So I have had one good meal and one good shower on trip so far!

We packed pretty quickly and got away before 0900! Cathy has sore throat. Drove to the FJ Glacier car park like we did the previous night. Only this morning the path was open and we had amazing walk up to the 2009 terminal moraine in good weather (slightly overcast) and had a great view of the glacier. We got back to carpark and briefly saw a pair of Kea, the mountain parrot. Cameron missed them because he was on the toilet.

Drove on down to Fox Glacier, and then did the walk around Matheson Lake, a supposed mirror lake. It had great views of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman but they were pretty hazy/rainy. Stopped for coffees after walk and then headed towards Lake Hawea, another 2hr drive.

Very spectacular country but very overcast and rainy. Wild coast. Stop at Haast visitor centre for toilet and then continue on to Lake Hawea. We arrive there about 1730. Still overcast and rainy. Get to our large apartment and unpack. Go into Wanaka almost immediately. Have dinner at Amigos and then go to New World to stock up before the big bike ride. Back to unit and further packing and preparation.

Sun 01 Dec - Franz Jozef

Weather turned overnight with rain and very overcast conditions. So a good sleep-in was had by all. Eventually leave Tui B&B at 1015 and head into Hokitika. Go to the I-site information office and then get coffees while looking at jade shops. After getting petrol, DCM drives down to Franz Jozef (FJ) non-stop with much rain.

Go to reception at Top 10 Holiday Park, sort out our accommodations and go into town. Raining very heavily so any flights up to the glacier out of the question. Go to the FJ I-Site and get walk info. Get some coffee, lunch and shopping in FJ. Back to Top 10. Cam & Holly go to the heated pools, whilst Cath & DCM do tidying up and washing. DCM talks to guy who played for West Coast against Wallabies in 1992.Go to dinner at Tiger King at 1830. Nice to get some good food for once.

After dinner we drive up to the FJ Glacier car park and do walk till it starts raining again. At least Holly got to see part of the glacier.

No photos today,

Back home and to bed. Still pouring,

Fam at Hokitika Gorge, and Holly at Dorothy Falls

Sat 30 Nov - Hokitika

While CMS still sleeping, DCM goes back down the state highway to Marble Hill free camping area. There is Evison’s Wall, a concrete wall that has been placed across the Alpine Fault to check for any relative movement. Get back start getting people up, get some rolls and coffee for Cam. We leave about 930, even though Holly was extremely grumpy and very late getting ready, heading towards the west coast.

Finally stop at Greymouth after about 100 km drive downstream. Have early lunch at Bonsai cafe after short walk along river bank, go to Countdown for more groceries (again), then head south along the west coast to to Hokitika. Get some bread and cake and then head out to Tui B&B at Kokatahi at about 1330. We unpack and then head out to Hokitika (or “Blue”) Gorge. We then drive up the Styx river valley and then down around the other side of Lake Kaniere. Stop at Dorothy Falls, then do walks at Canoe Cove Walk and Kohikatea Forest Walk.

Home and prepare to go out for dinner but take our time. Drive to Woodstock and have dinner at the Royal Mail Hotel. Then go up to lookout and walk down to glow worm dell.

Home & bed after another full day.

Banks Penisula

Maruia River, Springs Junction

Fri 29 Nov - Springs Junction

Arrive Christchurch 1230 AM. Get through OK, pick up Prado and go to AirBnB 10 mins awa, Abbey House. Finally get to bed about 0130.

Up about 9am. Pack and head into Christchurch. Have good breakfast at Park Ranger in Riccarton. Drive into town centre, visit the wrecked cathedral. Head south and up towards Banks Peninsula. Stop at Sign Of The Kiwi cafe and park, do short walk where Holly is wearing too white a shoe. Then drive along the rim for short drive.

Drive south to Governors Bay and then to Lyttleton but don’t stop. Head north on Route 74. End up in Rangiora and have sushi for lunch. Head on up from there towards our Fri night stop.

The drive took us up the valley of the Waiau river, with great geomorphology. Had to stop for while because of accident on highway where car had left road and gone under bridge. Get to Maruia Springs Cottage about 1730 after crossing Lewis Pass. Get crap food from local motel takeaway. DCM goes to take pics but gets eaten by midges in the process. Everyone pretty knackered.

Thu 28 Nov - Christchurch

QF139 out of SYD to Christchurch. Cairns Molloys (CMS) get down to SYD at 1340 that arvo. DCM picks up, but is very busy with remote working while they get lunch. Final packing and Amber drops in. Catch Uber to international terminal, board without any worries. CMS in business, DCM in window exit seat.

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Molloys in South Island, NZ