| Date | Location | Altitude | Length | Attractions |
|---|
| Feb 11 | Christchurch | 32 | - | |
| Feb 12 | West
Melton | 325 | 12 | The
flat Canterbury Plains from Christchurch all the way to Springfield |
| Darfield | 650 | 18 |
Sheffield | 975 | 6 | Springfield | 1,268 | 8 | Feb
13 | Porter's
Pass | 3,071 | 8 | Very
steep 4km climb to the top of the pass. | Lake
Lyndon | 2,762 | 6 | An
undulating descent from Porter's Pass. Steep drops and climbs to cross streams
after passing Lyndon Lake. Apectacular scenery through open tussock country surrounded
by high bare mountains. Pearson & Lyndon, Lakes Grasmere, Castle Hill limestone
outcrops, Broken River, Cave Stream, Craigieburn are some opoints of interest. | | Bealey | 2,064 | 32 | | Feb
14 | Arthur's Pass Village | 2,372 | 6 | More
spectacular scenery of beech forests and high bare mountains. Rolling climb to
Arthur's Pass village. | | Arthur's
Pass | 2,996 | 4 | | Otira | 1,365 | 4 | Exciting
descent from the pass to Pegleg Creek, followed by a short climb. Steep decline
with switch-backs passing a Lookout before reaching Otira.The descent continues
passed Otira River to Aickens. Jackson's tavern is the last remaining of
five coaching inns that catered to traverlers before the railway went through. Eventually
reach Kumara which is hte site of teh first gold rush on the west coast, once
having 46 hotels. A few scenic reserveds dot the foothills of teh Southern Alps
with steep bush clat mountain dominating the scene. Small settlements nestle in
the shadow of a wall of mountains. Gray by name, gray by nature - especially
on cold, wed days, Graymouth is the largest town on the West Coast. See the Great
Wall of Graymouth, built to stop the Gray River from flooding the town centre
and ruining shop keepers' merchandise. | | Jacksons | 650 | 13 | | Moana | 569 | 21 | | Stillwater | 162 | 13 | | Greymouth | 32 | 10 | | Feb
15 | Hokitika | 32 | 25 | Hokitaka
has the last banks until Wanaka. It is famous for greenstone (jadeO where local
factories process the raw material. Enjoy the road/rail bridges. Fertile farmlands
gradually give way to native bush as Hokitika nears. | | Ross | 130 | 16 | Ross
owes its origins to gold and has a large working mine behind the town. Pan for
gold on a historical walkway starting near the museum. Here the Honourable Roddy
was discovered, at 99 oz it is/was the biggest nugget found in NZ. As large as
a man's hand, it eventually became tableware at Buckingham Palace. | | Pukekura | 195 | 14 | | | Harihari | 292 | 15 | | | Feb
16 | Wataroa | 228 | 19 | Moderate
gradient to the tourist town of Franz Josef. | | Franz
Josef | 488 | 20 | | Fox
Glacier | 569 | 14 | Between
Franz Josef and Fox there are three major hills of the Omoeroa (320 m), Waikukupa
(405 m) and Cook (410 m) Saddles. The highway is often steep, narrow and winding
with an occasional rest area. | | Feb 17 | Fox
Glacier | 569 | - | Base
for exploring Westland National Park. Activities include visits to the glaciers,
numerous walks, glow worm grottoes and Lake Matheson with the View of Views. Guided
glacier walks, helicopter rides, scenic flights, horse treks and rafting are the
main fee paying activities. | | Feb 18 | Fox
Glacier | 569 | - | | Feb
19 | Lake Paringa | 325 | 44 | Travel
down the narrow corridor of teh West Cost, see to the west, the mountains always
backdrop to the east. Go throught dense rain forests, passing river flats, dark
still lakes, isolated farms and tiny settlements. Occasionally touch the coast
with the seascapes of Knight's Point no exception. Pass the forest fringed lakes
of Parininga and Moeraki. | | Haast
Junction | 32 | 31 | | Feb
20 | Pleasant Flat | 325 | 30 | After
a flat undulation section, begin a steep ascent for 4 km passed Thunder Creek
Falls and the Gates of Haast. The climb is then quite gentle for 5 km before the
final 1 km section to Haast Pass (563 m), the lowest pass on the Main Divide. After
reaching the pass, there are many scenic reserves, som eincluding short walks
such as Roaring Billing, Fantail Falls, Bridal Track, Blue Pools. The brooding
steep-sided, bush-clad mountains are ever present. Makorora is the base
for exploring the northern regions of Aspiring National Park, with jet boats and
scenisc flights operating. | | Makarora | 1,008 | 20 | | Feb
21 | Hawea | 1,138 | 31 | This
part of the route features rolling hills, but there are some substantial stretches
link Net (405 m) and Hawea Lookour (470 m). Along the way there are many natural
splendours to feast the eyes on, swift flowing rivers, snow capped mountins, alpine
meadows, beautiful lakes and beech forests. Albert Town Recreation Reserve is
a historical site, once having a large population. | | Wanaka | 894 | 9 | | Feb
22 | Cromwell | 715 | 33 | With
the hard climb behind, continue through vineyards and orchards. | | Arrowtown | 1,365 | 32 | | Queenstown | 1,008 | 12 |
|
