Motorbike Tours, Travel New Zealand South Island

Unlimited Ford Crossing

Leave a comment

The Nevis Valley is in central Otago, I took the main road to Bannockburn. From there it took only few minutes to get to the main gate into the valley. Then the road ascents for 1370 M to the Nevis Pass therefore the highest public road in New Zealand. There are many photo stops on Carrick Range, to take a look back to Lake Dunstan and Cromwell. It is much better to travel on dry road than the wet one as it could get very slippery. After Nevis Crossing, there are sections with bigger rocks on the road while other sections are very loose with dust. After heavy rainfall the fords rise very fast and results the crossing difficult or impossible from fast current.

 

On the day I did the Nevis road it was not for a week and very dry, which is perfect to travel on this road. A few fords were still half wheel deep, up to 60m wide. The splashing water was very refreshing, in the intense heat. I loved each crossing! There are a few gates close to Ben Nevis Station which are usually closed but not locked up therefore easy to open and pass with the bike. The valley is divided by steep rocky gorge, the lower and upper Nevis whereby the upper Nevis is very isolated but with breathtaking beauty of the valley. There are numerous remainders of history are on both sides of the road which is worth to take a look at the old cemeteries, or old Nevis Village. They are the remaining foundations and former settlement. As usual it will be very hot during summer time while winter months are very harsh with thick snow in the valley.

 

Around 40km before Garston, the road is very rocky and very difficult to ride with a full loaded Adventure Bike of mine. However, it is a very good work out. It is worth to have enough time on this trip as there are numerous camp spots beside the road which are welcomed to pitch up the tent and to stay with the most beautiful scenery of Otago.

 

I recommend traveling in a group on this trip just in case there is something goes wrong and there is always a support behind. Otherwise, it will be difficult as there is no mobile phone coverage in the whole valley.

 

The Nevis Valley section from Cromwell to Garston is around 90km long of journey. It took me around 7h to travel included the photo stops and lunch break. If you get on the Sh 6 by Garston, there is a Pub which offers welcoming refreshments. Of course, I will do it again for 2 to 3 days on my next day off. There is too much of the gold mining history to explore!

 

Motorbike Tours, Travel New Zealand South Island

My dangerous tires

Leave a comment

My dangerous tires through Danseys Pass

 

Today, it takes me a while to consider whether or not to continue the tour from Oamaru to Alexandra via Danseys Pass. Both of my tires are nearly worn out and the road I chose is mainly gravel. I thought the remaining depth of my profile is not enough and not safe for this trip. There was a heavy rain shower the day before, I thought the dirt road may be slippery and the gravel would use up my last bits of the profile. I hesitated until early morning to observe the weather. Fortunately the sun came out, the sky cleared up, then I decided to continue my adventure ride over Danseys Pass Road despite the worn out tires.

 

Danseys Pass is located in the Kakanui Mountains between Central Otago and North Otago. The road was very important in the gold mining times in 1880 to supply the miners with food and liquor from Naseby or Ranfurly. After the gold fields were exhausted then the settlement went into a ghost town, but Danseys Pass Road kept well maintained until today. It is a public road but is not recommended for camper van and heavy vehicles.

 

I camped at Duntroon at the sport field which is located on the right hand side if you travel from Oamaru behind the bridge. Camping is permitted however with a little fee. Next morning I went to Livingstone Street which is not far away from the camp ground, by the turn off point is a sign post of Danseys Pass. For the first 14 km the road is tarmac and easy rolling. The scenery is awesome with so many greenery fields alongside of the road. I came across Pukeraro on the way. The campsite at Pukeraro is an idyllic site but fully equipped with all comfort for the travelers. If I would have known this camp earlier then I would have stayed there for my first night.

 

It was a hot roasting day as there was no rain and that explains to the dry and dusty road. The further I traveled the narrower the road got. The road follows the river flow sometimes the mountain got straight up beside the road; the vegetation is all the time green with many different flowers and bushes. I loved the scenery all the time because it changes many times that helps for my eyes and keeps me awake.

 

As I arrived at Kyeburn Diggings, I stopped by a historic Hotel which was built in 1880 and is opened for public. Danseys Pass Coach Inn is very isolated whereby the only place that I get to meet up some people in my tour so far. When I entered the lobby I realized very quickly that it is a place with a special harmony in between the gold rush history and the modern life style today. Sorry, please don’t get too much excited yet as there is no mobile reception. Otherwise it is a hidden treasure, where you can find good food, all local drinks and even fresh baked cakes are available too. Next time I will do the tour again. I will stop by and stay overnight for sure. But I have had not enough time to stay longer so I continued my tour to Alexandra.

 

As I have used to travel on SH85, I remember there is a signpost to Blue Lake and St. Bathans which is an old gold town with only a few well maintained houses to accommodate visitors. I drove down to the blue lake located in between white sandstone with a few lonely standing green trees. This time I cooked some food and had a warm coffee. I enjoyed my meal next to the lake under a big tree which provides me a good shade in the blazing hot afternoon. Then I continued my journey to Alexandra and fitted my new tire of Michelin Anakee 2. I have been very lucky to be in time to Alexandra as the gravel has already taken up all my tire profile. Big thanks to the staff in the workshop at Davidson Honda, for helping me to change to new tire. I deeply need a rescue at the last moment.

Uncategorized

Motorbike tour 4 days around Queenstown

Leave a comment

Exploring Queenstown the back country, Lake Moke, Skippers Canyon and Branch Road

I started my trip again but this time in pouring rain in Milford Sound, the forecast does not look good for the upcoming days ahead. As soon as I passed the Devide the rain ceased and the road got drier after I passed Eglington Flats, the sky cleared up and for the first time the sun came through. As usual, I stopped at Te Anau for a coffee break at Pop In café which also provides free WIFI. Before I continued my trip, I stocked up my food supplies at Fresh Choice for the next 4 days.

I planned for my first stop as Mavora Lakes. I traveled for about 45km on SH94 towards Moosburn and there is a left turning to Mavora lakes Rd. The road changes from sealed to gravel for the next 90 km all the way up to Walter Peak Station. The gravel road can be challenging with rocky surfaces and potholes. For a safer ride, then the normal sealed road would be suggested in order to get to destination quicker. There are a few beautiful lakes in Mavora Lakes. Personally, I prefer the 2nd lake. I think the camp site there is much better and the view to the mountains is much more spectacular.

Day 2

Next day morning, I woke up early and found the misty lake as if in paradise. It is a norm to find chilliness in the morning of summer time until the sun comes.

I had to cross the magnificent Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown and the only way is through the TSS Earnslaw Steamboat. From Mavora Lakes, I rode towards Walter Peak Station for the steamboat. On the way there are two river crossings which are easy due to the low water level. It is usually up till the mid wheel. I had done it for a couple of times and never fail to do it on my bike. In the summer season, the temperature can reach 40 deg C in the valley and the air is standing without any circulation. Therefore, a kind reminder for whoever traveling in summer time to bring along sufficient water like a filled camel back.

Just in case you travel in last minute, the ticket for the transport back to Queenstown can be purchased at the Main deck of the steamboat. Transporting a motorbike through steamboat could be daunting. There is

limited storage for the big motorbike so it is better to check with Skipper before bringing the bike on board. When you have secured your bike on board, then it is time to sit back and relax, enjoy the relaxing moments of the crossing through Lake Wakatipu with refreshments, and bakery.

After I disembarked from Earnslaw, I continued my journey to Kinloch via Glenorchy. Kinloch is located 35 km outside Glenorchy and the last 15 km are unsealed. It is very dusty in the summer time or dry months. In Kinloch, there is a DOC camp ground. The fee can be paid in the Restaurant or honesty box. Both are acceptable. Another option for a stay in Kinloch is YHCA Hostel. There are bar and restaurant available.

Day 3

Next day morning, I had a healthy breakfast in the restaurant with scrambled eggs comes with home baked beans, and not forgotten my favorite long black. Then I went to Lake Moke for camping. The camping spot is surrounded by Bobs Peak, Ben Lomand and Wedge Peak which is located next to the entrance to Ben Lomand Station. There is a warden appointed by DOC to look after this camp ground in summer season.

Day 4

I started early at 8.00am, riding my bike into Skippers Canyon. I worried if I started too late then the temperature gets unbearable in the valley. Actually, the Skippers Road and the Branches Road belong to the top 10 most dangerous roads in the world!

The road is dry therefore easier to ride on. Sometimes it can get a bit challenging when the driver gets very close to the cliff of the road. Skippers Canyon is a historic and scenic gorge. This is not a recommended route to whoever with Acrophobia whereby driver has no confidence with height. Skippers Road is mostly one-way, narrow and steep with sheer drops of several hundred metres. There are only enough lots to pull over to let the oncoming traffic passes. The scenery gets better as I got nearer into the valley. I liked the whole driving on my BMW Sertao, it is just PERFECT on that road!

Once a busy gold mining area, Skippers Canyon was accessed by Skippers Road which is today one of New Zealand’s better known scenic roads. There are traces of gold mining history along the road when gold first discovered in year 1862. At the beginning of gold rush, no track or road was present in Skippers Canyon. As the gold miners travelled

through the canyon with their horses, tracks were formed. The remnants of the Welcome Hotel are still visible. It was used to be a happening place for miners and travelers from Queenstown dated back in year 1862 till 1927. By the time, the gold rush was basically over, the hotel got dismantled and the wood was used to build a shed at Lake Hayes. I traveled to the Township Skippers Canyon for a camp ground. There, some historical buildings were found like a school was in use way before year 1927 (that is 86 years ago).

On my way back I chose to travel on the Branches Road which are connected to Skippers Canyon Rd. The road is much more spectacular than Skippers Rd. At least it has no oncoming traffic. The view is marvelous, but road is narrow, steep with sheer drops. It is a one way gravel road with maybe 8 river crossings (who cares as I stopped counting at the end). About 3.5 km to the end of the road, it gets harder to ride as the rocks get bigger and the traction is not as good as before. By the last river crossing, there is a lot of sand on the bottom of the road with big rocks covering on top. It could be difficult to cross the river without slipping on the sand.

At the end I rode my bike for nearly 7.5h and covered 70km’s on all kinds of gravel, sand river crossings and under extreme temperatures of around 40 deg C at mid day. I have been covered completely in dust owing to the oncoming traffic when I drove back on Skippers Rd.
My water supply was just enough. They are 3Litres in total.

After all, It was a great experience of Adventure Riding and I can only recommend this extreme journey to anyone who loves different kinds of travel, with no Acrophobia and not afraid of crazy bus drivers. Whoever is interested to take up this challenge on Skippers Canyon, beware of oncoming traffic in opposite direction! I would advise to watch out for dust clouds from afar to check out the next passing lot to let the traffic passes as it is much safer than to wait at the last minute.

Day 4

Finally, this is my day to ride back Milford Sound for my10 days of shift. I am already looking forward for more Adventure Rides in South Island as well as overseas trips in my next days off. Keep the wheel spinning!

 

Holiday, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Leave a comment

2D1N in Kuala Lumpur

After about 10 hours of flight with Malaysia Airlines, finally I reached in Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Auckland. It was 830pm by then and time to hunt for dinner. It took about 45minutes to drive from airport to Sunway Pyramid.

Malaysia is a multi-racial country with so many races living together harmoniously. The food therefore affected by cultures and there are so much varieties here. We looked for dinner around Sunway town and decided to go for Murni Discovery Restaurant, Dataran Mentari. It is one of the only restaurants in town that serves fusion, custom-made food (Indian-Malay-Chinese-Western-Italian). Murni Discovery Restaurant is an Indian Muslim restaurant. We ordered the recommended dishes which are Nasi Lemak Murni Discovery, Roti Hawaii and 3 Layer Tea. There was a big projector screen located outside the restaurant showing the football match. At night there are many tables and chairs located next to road to accommodate more customers. This is a typical night life of Malaysians which is called “Mamak” (Indian-Muslim eatery). To locals, “mamak” is a popular term that also means to have late dinner at Indian Muslim restaurant with group of friends.

After dinner, we walked around Sunway Pyramid mall which is just next to Hotel Sunway Pyramid. Sunway Pyramid is located in the heart of Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya. It was opened in July 1997. One of the mall’s most easily recognized designs is the Egyptian-inspired Pyramid with a lion “standing guard” at the entrance. The rest of the building is embellished in the monumental style, complete with pseudo-hieroglyphics decorating facades, along with numerous Pharonic statuaries. Then we went for a drink at Overtime bar outside Sunway Pyramid mall and ordered local well known beer, Tiger.

Next day, after breakfast then we had a walk around Sunway Pyramid mall. The mall was fully decorated in conjunction with Indian festival celebrated on previous day. It was Deepavali festival, a festival celebrated by all Hindus to commemorate Lord Rama and his wife, Sita’s return to Ayodhya after his 14 years exile. It was a dark night when they first returned hence his people lit their houses with little lamps (diyas) so that Rama and Sita could find their way.

Then we proceed to next destination, Batu Caves which is about 20km away from Sunway Pyramid. Batu Caves is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and Indian cave temples in the Gombak district, 13km north of Kuala Lumpur. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River which flows past the hill. When we arrived at destination, the 140 foot tall concrete statue of Murugan is clearly seen at the foot of 272 stairs which leads to the temple caves. The caves are home to colonies of long-tailed mazaque monkeys which roam the stairs and the caves. After getting up to the temple caves, we could see small openings letting in natural light and there is a smaller gallery up another flight of stairs, mostly open to the sky. There are many natural formations cave features like stalactites and stalagmites which are precipitated from mineralized water solutions. As we walked towards temple, there are water droplets from caves ceiling and the floor is wet.

Before leaving, I tried on the Fortune-Telling Bird. I was asked for my name at the start then a bird was let out to pluck a fortune card from a pile in front of the cage. The Hindu priest would then open up the card and tell about your life with a book in hand. Personally I think it is pretty accurate.

 

Next, we visited a Tamil Muslim operated store in a portable van. It has been there for years and getting more customers nowadays. We ordered a dessert named Cendol and well known Indian food, Rojak. Cendol is a traditional dessert made with brown sugar, coconut milk and green worm-like jelly. It is very refreshing to have during a warm day. Whereas Rojak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish and it means mixture in Malay language. Our next stop is a well known Durian stall located at SS2. Durian is the King of the Fruits with strong putrid odors. Its shape ranges from oblong to round. There are many hybrids of Durian; we had the popular one called ‘Mao Shan Wang’. The price is expensive due to its non-seasonal price with RM35 per Kilogram. After Durian tasting then we went to the nearby night market. There are even more local dishes offered by various hawker stalls, ranging from traditional Malay snacks, Keropok, Chinese Dumplings etc. You name it and you can find them all in the market.

As the night falls, we drove into Kuala Lumpur city centre for Petronas Twin Towers. Soaring for a height of 451.9 metres, the 88-storey twin structure is Kuala Lumpur’s crown jewel. The towers are connected with Skybridge which is the world’s highest 2-storey bridge. Even though we were trapped in traffic jam but we were lucky to be in time for the water fountain light show outside the Petronas Towers. The KLCC Lake Symphony is a new attraction in the form of light and music fountain whose virtuosic performances of lights and water “dancing” to music fire the imagination and illuminate the night. The water shows scheduled 8pm daily. We waited about 40 minutes for the show and it is worthwhile.

After the Lake Symphony show, we headed to another happening place in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang Street which is the last stop of the day. The whole stretch of street is full of bars alongside and usually is crowded at night. There are many shopping malls around the area like Fahrenheit, Lot 10, Pavilion, Bukit Bintang mall and etc. You may name it as the shopping paradise. About 10pm we bid farewell to Kuala Lumpur and headed to airport.

 

 

 

 

 

Motorbike Tours, Travel New Zealand South Island

Invading southern part of South Island in 4 days

Leave a comment

4/10/2013 to Tuatapere

First day we headed towards Tuatapere from Milford Sound through State Highway 94. We departed about 330pm. On the way we stopped at Red Cliff Wetland Reserve developed in year 1977. It is a good stop for a panoramic view of the wetlands from top. It is a picturesque area combining Winding River and forest. Our second stop at Clifden Suspension Bridge. It is spanning 111.5m above once the mighty Waiau River remains as a memorial to those involved in the design and construction from 1896-1899. It claimed fame as having the longest span of any suspension bridge in NZ. This bridge is made from concrete mixed by hand and poured inside boxing by bucket and windglass as height grew. We spent the night at Last Light Lodge Café and Backpacker. We were surprised to know that we are the second guest of the lodge.

5/10/2013 to Surat Bay

Second day, we had a breakfast at Yesteryears Museum and Café which is just few kilometers away. This is a privately owned museum of rural Southland history, set in a warm café atmosphere. We were greeted by Helen, the café manager and enjoyed listening to some familiar songs played on old back disc player. In the café aka museum, you will get to see Helen’s collection of green glass and kitchen goods from four families who lived in Tuatapere area, as well as artifacts from the town’s schools, churches and business. After that, we continued journey down towards Invercargill using State Highway 99. On the way we stopped by McCracken’s Rest near Orepuki. It is a rest area that provides spectacular panoramic coastal views from Pahia to the Waiau River mouth and further around to the former timber town of Port Craig. Our next stop is Monkey Island which is not far from McCracken’s Rest. It is a small island and mini lagoon off the southern end of the beach. It is also accessible during low tide, with a small walking track. This rocky knob, which becomes an island at high tide, has great significance to Maori as the anchorstone of the legendary Takitimu waka/canoe which was wrecked in Te Waewae Bay. Monkey Island was a traditional Maori lookout for whales too.

Driving on Orepuki Riverton Highway, we stopped by Cosy Nook. It is a delightful area, including Garden Bay is well worth the visit as the road in reveals a very picturesque craggy cove that today shelters several fishing coats & holiday cribs. Then we moved on to Invercargill town. There, we found “Indian” in Hammer Hardware shop. There are many old motorbikes displayed in the store apart from hardware selling as the main business. We are proud to behold the well known motorbike which is developed by the late H.J Burt Munro from a 1920 600cc Indian Scout. It was officially timed at 308 km/h reputed to have exceeded 322km/h therefore it is claimed to be the world’s fastest Indian.

We proceed to the southern-most town in New Zealand, Bluff through State Highway 1. We visited Stirling Point which is named after Captain William Stirling who established a whaling station for Johnny Jones in 1836. Standing like a sentinel at the entrance to the harbor is the Stirling Point pilot station built in 1912. The world famous Stirling Point signpost attracts many thousands of visitors each year. It was originally built of timber. Due to repeated vandalism it was replaced in metal and cemented in place. Today’s version gived directions to 12 locations including Invercargill’s sister city Kumagaya, Japan. After that, we continued journey towards Surat Bay using Chaslands Highway. On the way we stopped by Florence Hill lookout, Catlins. It is near the top of hill on the other side of Arno River. You may view the coastal golden beaches from top. We stayed at Surat Bay Lodge which is right on the beach in the bayside hamlet of Surat.

 

7/10/2013 to Dunedin

Next day, we woke up early morning to watch sea lion at the nearby beach. According to the lodge owner, there is a specific time to watch sea lion that is about 9am. You may try your luck in the bushes just in case you cannot find them on the beach. Surat Bay offers a rare opportunity to observe sea lions in a natural mainland environment. Sea lions use the sandy beaches to rest, sleep, pup, mate and play. They interact socially each other while ashore. Unlike fur seals, sea lions are not afraid of people. They can move quickly on land and can be playful in the water. However, sometimes they can be aggressive if provoked. We were lucky to observe a sea lion that was resting on the beach before giving up to find one. It was a heavy downpour right after the stroll on the beach. We waited in the lodge for about 30min before continuing.

Our next stop is Nugget Point which is located at the northern end of Catlins coast down the road from Kaka Point. This steep headland has a lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets aka The Nuggets. The bike ride is a tough one due to the strong crossing wind. The whole bike was shaking wildly before able to stabilizing it. It took us about 3 hours ride to reach Nugget Point. The walking track to light house and viewpoint is about 600m of distance. On the way, we passed the viewpoint of fur seals’ nurseries. The tracks took us about 15 min to reach the light house where the “nuggets” scattered around the sea. It was about 4pm, we continued our journey towards Dunedin (which is known as student city) through State Highway 1. After checking in Elm Lodge, we went to Otago peninsular for sunset. Then we continued to check out blue penguins nearby then noticed it needs admission fee and the same to Albatross watching.

8/10/2013 to Queenstown

On the fourth day, we started the journey with the first stop at the world’s steepest residential street at Baldwin Street, Dunedin. The street runs up the northern side of Signal Hill, a prominent hill overlooking Otago Harbour at slopes of up to 1:2.86 (for 2.86m horizontal distance, a rise of 1m). The steepness was unintentional as grids were laid out by surveyor without proper regard for the terrain. Our next stop is Dunedin Railway Station which is set in Flemish renaissance style. We were amazed by the conservation of the architectural. The booking hall features a mosaic floor of millions of Minton tiles. From there we proceed to the next stop at Flat Top Hill, central Otago. Due to its geographical location, it is in a “rain shadow” with less than 350mm of rain falls each year. Summers are hot (up to 39 deg C) and very dry. The area includes historical evidence of European and Chinese settlement. At the end of walking track, there is a Butcher’s Dam. The dam is now private owned who have kindly allowed public access across the dam to the Flat Top Hill conservation area. We left and continued on a long winding road by State Highway 8. On the way to Queeenstown, we stopped by Bruce Jackson Lookout whereby there is a signpost pointing out to many different directions like Milford Sound, Christchurch, Invercargill, Mount Cook and etc. About 30min of ride, we stopped at Cromwell lookout. There is a dam named the Roaring Meg which is the turbulent stream that both drives this hydro electric power station and merges with Kawarau River. The weather is just right for a ride down to Gibbston Valley. It is a home of Winery, restaurant as well as the largest wine cave in New Zealand. Opposite the restaurant is a cheesery which sells good cheeses. Then we continued our journey all the way down to Queenstown and checked in Heartland Hotel for the 99th stay.

Motorbike Tours, Travel New Zealand North Island, Travel New Zealand South Island

Adventure Ride from Auckland to Milford Sound in 8 days

2 Comments

17th Sep 2013, Tuesday  (Before starting the Journey)

 

We went for a ride up to Mount Eden, Auckland after getting Sertao BMW bike from Experience Motorcycle handed over and we were just in time for our first sunset.

 

Day 1 – 18th Sep 2013, Wed (from Auckland to Tongariro National Park)

 

It was an exceptional sunny day for a good start of bike riding. After breakfast at Olaf Restaurant, Mount Eden, Auckland we started our adventure riding at 1030am. From Auckland, we took state highway 1 towards Hamilton. We were looking for Highway 22 route on the way. It took us quite some time to find out before giving up. We asked for direction at petrol station and we were lucky to meet friendly bikers to show us the direction. We started the off road riding at Pukekohe.

 

Highway 22 is indeed a recommended unsung scenic route to explore the true beauty of North Island. There is about 30km of adventurous gravel road in the journey. It was a slow and careful ride due to the bad surface, full of potholes and animals’ crossing. From highway 22, it leads back to main road and heading towards Tongariro National Park. Mount Ruapehu is looming in front of us as we were approaching the destination. The total journey takes about 435km and 9 hours of ride included breaks in between. It gets darker and colder as we reached at destination at 7pm. We were totally exhausted after this ride due to the weather. We checked in Plateu Lodge for a good rest.

 

 

Day 2 – 19th Sep 2013, Wed (from Tongariro National Park to New Plymouth)

 

At 730am, we continued our journey after packing. It was a cloudy day. We took Forgotten World Highway towards New Plymouth. 12km of the highway is unsealed road and there is no petrol station on the way. Therefore we filled up the tank before moving. The total 155km of adventure begins at Taumarunui and ends at Stratford. It follows ancient Maori trade routes and pioneering farm tracks, through ambitious historic settlements, untamed native bush and stunning natural scenery.

 

On the way, there is a detour along Moki Road leads to a 20 minutes walk to Mt Damper Falls. It is the North Island’s second highest waterfall and is the spectacular sight. Shortly after that, there is a single lane 180m long Moki Tunnel that was built in 1936 and is known locally as the Hobbit’s Hole.

From Forgotten World Highway, it merges to state highway towards New Plymouth.  On the way, we stopped at White Cliff for a short break

Walkway map at the entrance of White Cliff

 

The whole journey took about 380km and 6 hours to reach at destination. It was a heavy downpour when we reached at 6pm. We were lucky to have checked in Duck and Drakes Lodge by then. Following is the route map of Forgotten World Highway from Taumarunui to Stratford:

 

 

Day 3 – 20th Sep 2013, Thu (from New Plymouth to Wellington)

 

We departed at 9am for another 350km journey down to Wellington. When we left New Plymouth, it was foggy on the road. We have difficult vision and missed out some of the great views on the way such as Mount Taranaki.  However, the sky clears up in the afternoon. We were riding along the coastal route, taking state highway 3 towards Wellington passing Opunake and Wanganui on the way. We stopped at Wainui Beach for a break.

 

It was an easy ride and took us about 6 hours to reach at destination. It was windy and heavy downpour in Wellington as we reached. We checked in Kingsgate Hotel at 7pm.

 

Day 4 – 21st Sep 2013, Fri (From Wellington to Kaikoura)

 

We left the accommodation at 8am to catch ferry Interislander at 830am. It was drizzling in the morning. We checked in the bike at Deck 3 then chilled out at Deck 7.

 

There are lounges around which allow passengers to have rest and to dine while enjoying the views outside the ferry. It passes through Marborough Sound but it was a bad weather therefore vague visibility to behold the magnificent view around the islands. The journey took about 2 hours from Wellington to Picton.

After checking out the bike, we continued our journey and drove past Blenheim through state highway 1. It was a sunny day for a good start in South island. We stopped at Half Moon Bay for pictures.

 

It took about 5 hours from Picton to Kaikoura. At about 6pm, we reached and checked in Dolphin Lodge.

 

 

View from Balcony at Dolphin Lodge

Before night falls, we had a stroll along Kaikoura Peninsular and a walk around Kaikoura town center then discovered that there is a vintage car rally.

 

Day 5 – 22nd Sep 2013, Sat (From Kaikoura to Christchurch)

 

We departed to Christchurch at 10am and no back road this time. We drove past Cheviot and Waipara along the shoreline. We reached about 6pm just in time before the rain started. We checked in Jailhouse Lodge. This lodge used to be a female prison, which was built because of the overcrowding at Lyttelton.

 

Day 6 – 23rd Sep 2013, Sun (From Christchurch to Queenstown)

 

It was a great day to continue to the last town before heading to Milford Sound. We spent about 2 hours on bike service before continuing as it reaches about 1500km by then. From Christchurch, we drove down to Rangitata then taking highway 79 passing Geraldine towards Lake Tekapo.

Lake Tekapo is located at 42km west of Fairlie, with an altitude of 710m. The most striking thing about Lake Tekapo is its extraordinary colour in which the light reflected from microscopic rock particles suspended in glacial meltwater lends the water an ethereal opaque-aqua hue. We stopped at the well-known Church of the Good Shepherd, an enchanting little stone church built in 1935 as a memorial to the Mackenzie Country pioneers.

 

We also photographed the Collie Dog Monument that is about 100m to the east of the church. It was erected in 1968 by local sheep farmers to honour the dogs that make it possible to graze this harsh terrain. We reached at Lake Pukaki after about 20min from Lake Tekapo. It is just located next to each other but it is an unsung destination with no sign of tourist.

 

 

From there we continued towards Twizel and Omarama then Lindis Pass. It was getting dark as we arrived in Wanaka and had a break at Lake Wanaka for sunset.

From there we drove towards Queenstown through the back road. It was about 8pm when we reached at A-Line Heartland Hotel.

 

Day 7 – 24th Sep 2013, Mon (Queenstown)

 

We stayed another one more night in Queenstown to explore further. We had breakfast at Post Office Café.

 

After that, the first stop is Glenorchy, at the head of Lake Wakatipu 50km northwest of Queenstown. The scenic drive along Lake Wakatipu takes about 30km to The Wharf Shed. The lakeside drive passes Bob’s Cove, the best place to observe the lake’s seiche, a phenomenon which causes the lake level to fluctuate by around 150mm every five minutes.

 

The whole journey along the lakeside drive takes about 30minutes to reach The Wharf shed. The shed is originally built by NZ railway department as a goods shed for freight carried on the steamers between Queenstown and Glenorchy. There is a well-trained dog ready to play with tourists around the shed. The dog is smart to understand human, as it would play until you bid farewell. We manage to relax at the abandoned wharf under the sun. Then we proceeded to Moke Lake. The access is along the way but the it is about 20km gravel road.

 

We were in Arrowtown for sunset. The town still has the feel of an old gold town and retains the spirit of a living community with grocers’ shops, pubs and post office. After the short walk in Arrowtown, we proceeded for a dinner at Skyline by Gondola.

Day 8 – 25th Sep 2013, Tue (From Queenstown to Milford Sound)

 

From Queenstown, we took the steamboat, TSS Earnslaw to transport the bike across Lake Wakatipu to historic working station of Walter Peak. TSS Earnslaw is a magnificent vintage steamship believed to be the only coal-fired passenger- carrying vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere.

From there we continued on the Mount Nicholas gravel back-country road along the Western Shores of Lake Wakatipu with few ups and downs all the way through to Mavora Lake with 2 river crossings. There is no other food or drink along the way or petrol station. 20km after the second river crossing, we reached at Mavora Lake where we had a break.

Then we continued our journey towards Te Anau after Mavora Lake on state highway that took us about 30minutes of ride. It was about 6pm when we reached at Te Anau and had a break at Pop In Café next to Te Anau Lake.

 

The journey towards Milford Sound from Te Anau took us another 1 hour of ride. It is a scenic route along the way through Homer Tunnel passes Mirror Lake, the Chasm, Milford Sound National Park and water falls.

 

Finally, the adventurous riding ended at 730pm at Southern Discoveries accommodation!

 

New Adventures will follow, for sure, If the Adventure bug hugged you, you are hooked, it will be difficult to relax

China, Holiday, Uncategorized

Peng Chau

Leave a comment

Peng Chau

Peng Chau is a small island located north eastern coast of Lantau Island., Hong Kong, which as a n area of 0.99km2.

Peng Chau is well known for his isolated island life style, accessibility to fresh seafood. Several temples are located on different locations of the Island, the most important one is the Tin Hau Temple build in 1792 and is on the highest point of the Island, Fingers Hill which is 95m.

 

Transportation

 

The main mode of transportation on the Island is the bicycle, there are no cars on the island apart from small construction, and emergency cars.

Peng Chau is accessible by ferry from Hong Kong ferry terminal, Central or Kowloon, or from Mui Wo, Chi Ma Wan, and Cheung Chau. Kai to  ferries is operating from Discovery Bay from Lantau Island.

Peng Chau is linked to Tai Lei Island by a bride. The bridge is a popular fishing spot by the locals.

 

External links

Peng Chau

Green Peng Chau Association

 

China, Holiday

Lamma Island

1 Comment

 

 

Lamma Island

Lamma Island also known as Pok Liu Chau, is the third largest Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Island District.

Lamma was named after the shape of the island that looks like a fork of a tree.

The original name of the island is Pok Liu. The island is shaped like two Y in opposite direction. When the British came first to the island, they used the colloquial pronunciation of Lam Ah (Lamma) as the name of the island. Another folk say that the name came from a former Lamaist monastery of the island.

 

Geography

Lamma Island is located to the southwest of Hong Kong. It has an area of 13.55km2 and is 7km in length. The northern village is called Yung Shue Wan, and the eastern village is called Sok Kwu Wan. Not many people live on Lamma Island, there is a hiking track going from Yung Shue Wan to the other side of the island Sok Kwu Wan, both villages get served by Ferry from Hong Kong. Sham Wan is a important breeding colonies for sea turtles.

 

About the island

Lamma Island is in contrast of Hong Kong Island, peaceful and isolated, with relatively natural scenery. The island has no air pollution. There are no buildings higher than three story’s allowed on the Island. The only cars that are allowed are for police force, ambulance and construction vehicles.

The community only transport is the bicycle or walk on foot. Property and rent is in comparison to Hong Kong very cheap and affordable. Lamma Island is very popular with young people and musicians.

 

Transportation

There are regular ferry services to Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan from Central on Hong Kong, as well as from Yung Shue Wan via Pak Kok, and to Sok Kwu Wan via Mo Tat Wan, from Aberdeen. It takes about 25 minutes by ferry between Yung Shue Wan to Central at Hong Kong.

External links

Lammazine

 

Holiday, Turkey

Istanbul

Leave a comment

Istanbul

Istanbul is the larges city in turkey, constituting to the country’s economic, culture, and history. Meanwhile Istanbul reached a population of 14 million people in the city, and make the city the largest one in Europe.

Istanbul is a transparent city that is build on both side of the Bosporus, the worlds most busiest motorway. The Bosporus waterway divides Istanbul into Europe part, as soon you cross on the Bosporus Bridge or the second bridge Faith Sultan Mehmet Bridge to the other side of Istanbul, Asia start. It is important to know if you going to hire cars, some rental companies have a clause with restrictions on the Asian side of Istanbul. The City had a strong position along the historic Silk Road network to Europe and the Middle East, and the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Approximately 11.6 million people visitors arrived in the City in 2012 after it was named a European Capital of Culture. Making the city the world’s 5th most popular tourist destination. Although the Republic of Turkey established capital in Ankara, places and imperial Mosques still line Istanbul’s hills as visible remainder of the city’s previous roll.

History

However the history of Istanbul begins around 660 BC, when the Greek settlers from Megara start to build Byzantium of the European side of the Bosporus. The settlers proceeded to build an acropolis adjacent to the Golden Horn on the site of the early Thracian settlements, fuelling the nascent city’s economy. The City experienced a short period of Persian rule at the turn of the 5th century BC. But the Greek recaptured it during the Greco Persian War.  Byzantium then continued as part of the Athenian League and its successor, the second Athenian Empire, before ultimately became independent in 355 BC. Long allied with the Romans, Byzantium officially became a part of the Roman Empire in 73 AD.

Geography

Istanbul is located in north western Turkey in the Marmara Region in a total of 5.343 square kilometres. The Bosporus connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. Istanbul is located near the North Anatolian Fault, close to the boundary between the African and Eurasian Plates. This fault zone, which runs from northern Anatolia to the Sea of Marmara, has been responsible for several deadly earthquakes through the city’s history. Between the most devastating of this tragic seismic activity was in 1509 earthquake, which caused a Tsunami that broke over the wall of the city and killed more than 10.000 people. More recently, in 1999, an earthquake with its epicentre in zmit left 18.000 people dead. The people of Istanbul stay concerned that an even more catastrophic seismic event may be in the near City future, as thousands of structures recently build to accommodate Istanbul’s rapidity increasing population may not have been constructed properly.

Climate

Istanbul has a border line Mediterranean Climate and humid subtropical climate. Since it has only two warm summer month with less than 40mm of rain fall, the city can not be classified as solely Mediterranean or humid subtropical. Due its size and location Istanbul has a microclimate. Northern part of the City expresses characteristics of oceanic climate because of the humidity of the Black Sea. The climate to the more populated areas of the city of the south is warmer and less affected by humidity.

Winter are colder in Istanbul than in most other cities around the Mediterranean Basin, with low temperatures averaging 4-5°C. Spring and autumn are mild but often wet and unpredictable; chilly winds from the north west and warm guts from the south, it could happen on the same day. The highest and lowest temperature ever recorded in the city are 40°C and -16.1°C.

Culture

Istanbul was known as cultural hub, but its cultural scene stagnated after the Turkish Republic shifted its focus towards Ankara. The new national Turkish Government established programs that served the oriental Turks towards music traditions, speciality those originating in Europe.

Coinciding with this cultural reemergence was the establishment of the Istanbul Festival, which began showcasing a variety of art from Turkey and around the world in 1973. From this flagship festival came the International Istanbul Film Festival and the Istanbul International Jazz Festival in the early 1980s. With its focus now solely on music and dance, the Istanbul Festival has been known as the Istanbul International Music Festival since 1994. The most prominent of the festivals that evolved from the original Istanbul Festival is the Istanbul Biennial, held every two years since 1987. While its early incarnations were aimed at showcasing Turkish visual art, it has since opened to international artists and risen in prestige to become among the elite biennales, alongside the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Art Biennial.

 

External link

Official website of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Istanbul

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality: Istanbul Bulteni Magazine official website

For more information I refer to:

Wikipedia

 

My travel experience

 

When I arrived in Istanbul at the Airport I have have been very surprised that German was widely spoken, and English too. At the airport are many Taxi stands who offer transport into the city and to your booked accommodation, before you take the first deal you have to check the prices with different companies usually the first offer is to high and the price is coming down if you compare. The town has a lot of history to offer such as the Sultans Palace, or the Blue Mosk is only few ot the attractions, definitely you should visit one of the historic Souk’s, I went to one in the historic part of Istanbul.

Portfolio of the Photographer Frank Widmer