NZ here I come!!!

[johnniem]

Just had to report that I now have the dates for my sons rugby tour to NZ and Tonga. So I'll be in Christchurch (staying with my mother and half-sister) on 4th August 2007 and can't bloody wait! Will expect the CH CH Jaguar posse to be out in force! Just wish I could export mine to have something good to drive whilst I am there (Manual XJR6) See you guys soon!

[Kiwi XTR2]

Could you please bring me an Ultima in your carry-on luggage

There's some good driving to be had down in the South Island.

How far & wide is the tour?

Might be a Crusaders home match while you're in ChCh.

[johnniem]

Hey Kiwi, can't sleep?

arriving 4th Aug, son plays first match on 6th, second on 8th, flies out to either NI or Fiji on 9th to continue tour but I shall be hanging around with daughter and going up to Nelson to visit an old school pal of mine who has ditched the ego and settled in NZ and loves it! I wish I could do that but I have kids here in Blighty and my wife is close to her family. I guess that at least I know exactly where I'll end up if wifey dumps me for a younger model! Mum is a bit of a petrol head (yeah, I know...65 ish!) and runs a Mazda MX5 so I hope she'll hand over the keys to make the trip to Nelson more fun. How much do I need to bring for on the spot fines? ;-)

[Kiwi XTR2]

johnniem said:

Hey Kiwi, can't sleep?

morbid insomnia nervosa

johnniem said:

arriving 4th Aug. . . Mum is a bit of a petrol head (yeah, I know...65 ish!) and runs a Mazda MX5

One of the Cantab's will know better but I think August would be top-UP weather. Nelson and the surrounding district is a nice place

[GravelBen]

You never know what the weather will be like in Canterbury during august, could be fine and sunny but fairly cold, or could be snowing enough to close some of the roads.

As far as speeding fines goes, on an NZ license you're never expected to pay anything on the spot but I don't know if its the same for visitors, 40km/h over the limit is also an instant loss of licence, but again I don't know how that could apply to a non-NZ licence. Someone else may have more direct experience.

[robdickinson]

Take that MX5 and go get on the summit road, you'll be hardly able to break a hundred so no worries there, then drive it down into lyttleton, get the ferry over to Diamond harbour and have lunch in Godly head. Ace way to spend a day - if its nice in August.

If not go Skiing/snowboarding, I will be

[Esprit]

robdickinson said:

Take that MX5 and go get on the summit road, you'll be hardly able to break a hundred so no worries there, then drive it down into lyttleton, get the ferry over to Diamond harbour and have lunch in Godly head. Ace way to spend a day - if its nice in August.

If not go Skiing/snowboarding, I will be

Why Ferry to Diamond Harbour.... the road from Lyttleton to Diamond Harbour through governor's bay is awesome.... get some Nachos out at Godley house... they used to do the best ones in Christchurch..... with big chunks of hammmm yummm

[marksteamnz]

In a MX5 I'd got out through of CHCH via Tai Tapu to Little River (Cafe Art galley for morning tea, stunning muffins) Up the hill To the Hill Top (Stop for the view) Down to Duvauchelles (Check out the goodies at the Barry's Bay Cheese factory) on to Akaroa. Lunch then up out of town to the summit road (brilliant drive) and along to either Pigeon Bay (only if you like gravel roads) or Port Levy drive down and carry on over to Purau then round to Lyttelton (great cafes and pubs for late afternoon tea).
www.bankspeninsula.info/information/purau-portlevy/ has parts of this route described.
Views are fantastic on a clear day and the roads are great, minimal traffic, often good site lines so you can see a couple of bends ahead....bit unforgiving if you get it wrong.
Cheers
Mark Stacey
Remembering 1978, my white Lotus 7 GT633 going down into Pigeon bay counting the bends. 43? 47?

[robdickinson]

Sorry I meant Godly House not Godly head (which will provide little or no lunch unless you like grass, but worth a drive out to in any case.).

The drive round to Diamond harbour is as said realy good, but IMO not as good as the Summit road, and the ferry over is an experience in itself and well worth doing.


If I was to go to Little river/Akaroa I'd go via Lyttleton/Governors bay and the pass over to little river ratehr that as described above, its a better drive but I'm that side of the city anyhow, If I was in Halswell/Ricarton etc I'd go that way.

Banks Peninsula is a total outdoor playground, be it driving, walking, biking etc. Theres plenty to do there but August will limit your options possibly. I've hiked in a t-shirt in august (18degrees) or frozen at -15 at Mt Hutt :}