Map isn't quite complete as Gmaps strikes on the last bit. Extend the southern end of the route to around Otematata, then a little to the east to Kurow, end of day.
The missing bit is a private toll road, the Blackforest Station Track or Lake Benmore Track, depending on who one talks to.
"Te Aka Rd" is the latest, official name that just about nobody uses.
Anyone for a lift to Breakfast?
Yo, Mt. Hutt, Christchurch's home ski-mountain is just up the road.
Not an hour later....the Grand Nickelodeon in Geraldine
It's time to get out of the Canterbury Plains and into the hills. I can already small Otago, the bare hills, the crazy and bizarre rocks strewn all over the High Country, the snow across the Alpine Tops....not far now.
Dodging the SH79 highway to Fairlie (itself a sweet, curvy 45km long affair), there is better to be had. Greatly unknown and traffic-free, too.
Scenery and views by the bucketload nearly along the entire length....the ~20km of ridge-coasting makes Spur Rd. a rare find.
tinyurl.com
The northern end near Fairlie
Fairlie is jam-packed with all those tourists that got wind of the WestCoast route being blocked....let's grab lunch at the bakery and get out of here, back into the countryside, farms and gravel.
MacKenzies Pass
MacKenzies Basin....and the Southern Alps Main Ridge in all its glory....ohhh maan!!
The promise of one hell of an afternoon to come!!
...another quick look back....
Haldon Station School....still in use by the looks of it.
The pollen of the trees covers the road 2" deep.
Did the phone call and got the ok and code for the gate on the other side earlier, road fees are in the honesty-box....
this is IT, SHOWTIME!!
Even as someone who's done this stretch in both directions time and again over the years....this thing makes the hair stand up every time.
Anything small going wrong here...
