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Motorcycle Trip through New Zealand – Burt Munro Challenge PART 3

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Welcome back to Part 3 of our Motorcycle Trip through New Zealand.

 

If you missed Part 1 and 2 of the trip through New Zealand, click here…

 

4.2.19

After we visited Aoraki/Mt Cook,  Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre  and the Lavender Farm,  we headed over to Omarama where we split into two groups.  

Michael, Sue and Jason headed over Lindi’s Pass and through Cromwell, Clyde, Middlemarch and Dunedin to Port Chalmers and  the Buffalo Lodge, our lodgings for the night.  

Ash, Bryan, Mario and myself headed out towards Oamaru, Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Dunedin to Port Chalmers  and met the other group at  The Buffalo Lodge.

Before we got to the beautiful Oamaru, we went over the Benmore Power Station in Otematata.  Wow what a view!

 

Otemata Power Station New Zealand

Otemata Power Station

Construction on this power station began in 1958 and was opened in 1965.  It is also “the power source for the high voltage direct current link to the North Island.”

How impressive was The Power Station and dam?  There was no-one else there and it was huge!

Then we arrived at Oamaru.  I am so glad that Ash was able to show us a bit of this quaint little town.  This is another place I need to explore more of.

 

Steam Punk HQ-OAMARU

Steam Punk HQ’s

 

Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand and is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin.

There is the Steam Punk HQ and a beautiful Victorian Precinct with beautiful heritage buildings.  Of course there are many more things here but we were only passing through.

Lonely Planet dubbed Oamaru, New Zealand’s coolest town and I am definitely coming back to explore this funky place.  

After a quick visit we were off to Dunedin and through to The Buffalo Lodge in Port Chalmers!

 

Buffalo Lodge

Buffalo Lodge – Port Chalmers 

 

The place was huge!  There was only thing that was weird about the place and that was that the two toilets and two showers were in two of the bedrooms so we all had to traipse through the bedrooms to use them.  But in the greater scheme of it all…. nobody cared. 

 

Buffalo Lodge New Zealand

Buffalo Lodge – Port Chalmers

 

The place was comfortable, there was parking right out the front, the view was brilliant, was reasonable priced and had everything we needed.  Happy campers!

5.2.19

Today was still pretty damp and we made our way to Te Anau via, Milton, Lawrence, Gore and Lumsden.

We found the  YHA Te Anau Backpacker Hostel which is 4-star,  extremely comfortable and very, very affordable.

This relaxed hostel is a 4-minute walk from Lake Te Anau, 1 km from Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and 6 km from Kepler Track Trail Head.

4.5/5 for my review.

6.2.19

After a comfy night, we were off to Milford Sound. It was decided to reduce the amounts of bikes as there were so many tourists.  So Sue and myself played pillion on the back of Jase’s and Ash’s bike –  to save time.

I HAVEN’T BEEN PILLION FOR 8 YEARS! 

 

Now, I had to shout that cos that’s just to let you know where my head space was.  I trust Ashley with my life, which is just as well.  There were hair pin corners, long straights and lots of tourists. (who didn’t know how to drive!)

Once I got my head into pillion mode, I was able to check out the scenery on the way there…stunning!  Babbling brooks and rain forests and waterfalls etc etc…..boring!  Ho hum!  NO WAY!

 

Milford Sound New Zealand

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fiord on the west coast of the South Island.  You cannot go to the South Island and not go and see Milford Sound.  There are so many natural attractions in New Zealand and this is just incredible (OMG moment and that wasn’t just the ride in!).  A must see on everyone’s itinery.

We took a day cruise up Milford Sound which was quite calm until the fiord opened to the Tasman Sea, but fortunately it wasn’t too choppy. 

Good job as we had one member who gets quite sea sick, but she was fine.  More info about tours and cruises here…….

The fiord is known for being the home of fur seal colonies (which we saw sunbaking), penguins and dolphins.  There is actually Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory  to check out. 

 

Milfor Sound Snow Peaks

Milford Sound

 

Oh and I forgot to mention the Homer Tunnel!  

Homer Tunnel New Zealand

Homer Tunnel

 

Yes….Homer Tunnel.  1270 m long, 970 m above sea level, leaks water and made of solid granite.  It has passing bays but during busy/avalanche season they have the traffic lights.  As a WHS person….I shuddered!  But it was pretty cool going through.

I made a little video to show you what riding through Homer Tunnel is like. 

Check it out here: 

 

Then it was back on the bike as a pillion to Te Anau for another night. It was nice not to have to pack up and unpack again, even for just one night!

 Not sure I can get used to being a pillion…..but we did get there quicker and less bikes to find parking.

7.2.19

Today was the day we were arriving in Invercargill and meeting up with Ash’s friend Deb (who has now become a life long friend of mine)  and to watch the Burt Munro Hill Climb . 

Ash went and met with Deb whilst we carried on to watch the Hill Climb.  It was amazing!  So many people, so many awesome bikes!  I can’t explain to you the feeling!  And Invercargill weather certainly turned it on for us.  All I can say is PERFECT!

Ok…I can’t believe I thought I could write our Motorcycle trip through New Zealand blog in one post.

But I now have to leave it here until Part 4 as I have so many pics of the Burt Munro Challenge that I can’t fit it in this post without some issues.

I promise in the next post, we are actually there! lol

 

Motorcycle travel through South Island of New Zealand

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/new-zealand/south-island/

To read the final Motorcycle Trip through New Zealand to the Burt Munro Challenge PART 4 – February 2019, click here….


Cheers and Stay upright.

LJ

 

 

 

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