2026 - Thu 26th

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Good evening reader,

I set off in good time this morning, found some fuel and traffic near the airport.   A very chilled and pleasant ride today, overcast and chilly.   Later past through fog or low cloud and then sunshine.  This part of NZ is very agricultural but still has those fabulous lakes and mountains.

I think I have found Mordor or even the mountains of Toblorone.   

I stopped a couple of times for a cup of tea and a pie/sausage roll.  Tea stops and petrol stations are far apart here and you have to get it when you find it.   You also have to try and beat the Japanese camera clicking tourists to the next stop!

Found the next motel in Te Anau (very nice) and will walk about once I have finished this diatribe.

It’s a 2 hour ride to Milford Sound in the morning, and the motel manager recommended an early start.  I have my waterproofs, bug spray and camera ready.   It will be good to ride without panniers for a change.

2026 - Wed 25th

 

Good evening Reader,

After yesterday’s long day, I had a hot shower and a cup of tea, and I thought I would read up on the next leg of the tour !!!  hey presto I have a ride free day in Queenstown.

I had a brief walk down the road and it was a warm evening and then I discovered that the town is built on steep hills…. I thought it was too much bother tonight so I returned to the motel and ordered an Uber-eat pizza.

So, this morning I hiked into town and found breakfast at the Golden Arches and then explored Queenstown.

What to do first?

Jet boat, parasailing, jet ski, gentle cruise, paragliding, shark boat, skydive, helicopter flight, bungy jump, swing, ski lift, indoor sky diving or another cup of tea !!!!  The tea won out.

So much going on - they do love their outdoors and activities.   I did notice the cable car climbing up the mountain and thought “that’s for me”.  I enjoyed the one I took in Sarajevo. 

I took loads of photos, had lunch at the top and then faced the steep hill walk back to the Motel.

Tomorrow is a short ride of just 2.5 hours and a two night stop, with the second day spent riding up to Milford Sound and back and taking a trip on boat around the Sound !!

Lots of photo to bore you with below…..

2026 - Tue 24th

 

Well that was a long ride… started a 8:30 and arrived at 16:30….   With a couple of fuel stops (getting paranoid about that) and a stop for breakfast at Fox Glacier (tea and two sausage rolls)… just like Greggs?!

The ride, the roads and the scenery were all fantastic.  Lots of beautiful mountains and lakes.   Find a great view and there’s no lay-by - find a lay-by and there’s no view!!!! Plus most of the lay-by and deep gravel aarrggghh.

I was getting a bit tired towards the end as I approached Queenstown - and it was a very slow ride behind so many slow drivers and then even slower coming off the top of the mountain…. Endless hair pins and the smell of cooking brakes!!!

Managed to locate the motel… very well appointed - it’s the first with a/c.   I’ll finish this and then wander into town to find supper…

Tomorrows route

2026 - Mon 23rd

Good evening,

Last night I met up with Carl and Isabel who are two and a half years into a RTW trip.  We had a few beers and a meal (as usual I picked Fish and Chips) but did not expect the size of the portion of fish!

With a full stomach I was an early night.  I am still waking up at about 3am! and watched some awful films and some dubious Australian Ruled football.

I met up with Carl and Isabel as I was packing to leave the hotel, and was on the road by 9am and stopped for fuel in the town before heading of the town on Franz Joseph.

Miles and miles of excellent roads (not one pot hole) along the coast and into the hills - I can see why the “Fern” is their emblem, the roads are lined with them - it was like riding through a tropical wonderland.  Very few cars, a few motorcyclists and very few petrol stations. 

I stopped for breakfast at Hari Hari (tea and a pie).  Then rode on to Franz Joseph.   A few eateries, bars and many helicopter outfits given flights over the Glaciers.  

I brought an old helmet with me with the intention of dumping it at the end of the trip.  It’s is now starting to fall apart on the inside but it may last.   The SatNav is still misbehaving - still no voice directions, sometimes it lets me play music and strangest of all it has started a give crap details of destination distances and times.  It needs a reset I think….

It’s nearly time to walk into town and find some supper!

Nite nite