An endless motorcycling bliss in the South Island of New Zealand
Day-4 18 December (Queenstown to Coronet’s Peak to Queenstown)
Assorted ride videos from Day 4
The original plan today was to do a long ride to Tea Anau and visit the 12000 year old caves and the view the luminous shimmer of the thousands of ‘glow-worms’ that reside inside. If time permits also planned to ride further to Milford Sound. HOWEVER, all plans were paralyzed as we learnt from a tourist guide that the road in that direction has been temporarily closed due to falling debris/small landslide. Ofcourse, with another glorious sunny day awaiting us, after a ‘handsome’ breakfast at the Mercure, armed with a backpack, drinking water and other stuff we decide to turn regular ‘tourists’ and first take a gondola (cable car) ride up the mountain for some breathtaking views of Queenstown that is nestled between mountains on one side and the massive Lake Wakatipu on the other.
Going up on the Gondola
The standard curios shop on the peak
Replica Gondola…
For some more serious adventure
We then visit the adjacent bird park to view the local NZ birds. The star attraction is the famed Kiwi bird, but being a nocturnal creature its under a dim red light in a dark enclosure we get to see it (seems they are blind to the color red!). Naturally no photography allowed. With a variety of other birds, we also get to see the dreaded Kea parrot that has an innocent look but a famous reputation in the NZ Alpine region for tearing up motorcycle seats & car wiper blades etc....I was forewarned normal motorcycle insurance does not cover this winged hooligan’s destructive hobby!
Tearing up motorcycle seats is his favourite hobby- The Kea Parrot.
After our fun with nature, we return back to Queenstown city center for a nice lunch of Turkish kebabs in one of the malls there. A relatively busy mall in NZ, forgot the name.
Making full use of the ‘Reserved Parking’ for our sweet Naomi close to a Police Station
After lunch we were planning to do the nice ride to Arrowtown, when Farzana surprisingly locates “Coronet’s Peak” on the map which is on the same route and asks me why not go there. Although she is frightened of heights the biker in me said shhhh if she missed thinking about the consequences of the ride, I better not remind her now!!! Wicked me… So I instantly accepted her wonderful offer. Mr GPS however seemed unhappy and would just not recognize such a place. I said, lets do it the old fashioned way and followed the map heading on the scenic route 6 we pass the high adventure jetboat ride spot and a few kms later deviate left to Coronets Peak. The road starts to slowly wind and climb thru thick foliage, but gradually the tree canopy vanishes and the real beauty of the ride begins with beautiful vistas of the valley below to the right.
Another rider on the S10
The crazy jet boat that does 360 deg turns during its blasting run thru the river
A magical ride down from Coronet’s Peak
As the pics & video here are evident, with each twist and curve the ride just got better & better. I was lost in an absolutely marvelous bit of interaction between man & machine, while the picturesque mountain road provided the all inviting playground. Leaning & weaving back & forth with each curve, counter-steering, down shifting, high revving, curve after curve, switchbacks, the RT was simply like aladin’s lamp eagerly waiting for my every command. It was an electrifying ride on a beautiful sunny day. Suddenly I realized the intercom had gone silent….oh oh I knew someone must be feeling why she went and voluntarily became the sacrificial lamb! As we reached the top, the large look out is not paved and hence I had to ride the RT carefully on the lose gravel and park it. Being a ski-resort, the place is deserted in summer. As we are enjoying the spectacular views of the plains below, I asked my lieutenant about the ride, and she softly replies, I knew it would be tough for me but I did not want that to hinder your enjoyment factor. Now isn’t that an understanding wife….Thank you dear.
After spending some time there we start our return journey downwards. The ride is again a delight to the senses but one has to be careful due to the general nature of NZ tarmac which is loosely compacted, thereby leaving small debris on curves & switchbacks which can take away the much needed traction. We come down and merge onto the Rte 6 and head to Arrowtown, built on the banks of the Arrow river, which was a gold mining town back in the day with a rich historic past, but now is a quaint & charming hamlet. We visit the local Lakes District Museum that is packed full of intriguing information revealing the early social & cultural history of the Wakatipu region. At the basement studio, Mrs & Mr Adventure also have ourselves snapped in the bygone era!
This nice lady sold some of the best ever tasting garden fresh cherries
We head back to Queenstown thru Arthers Point on some wonderfully well manicured tarmac of Rte 6 with nice curves & long sweepers. End the day with a mouth watering veggie dinner at a nice Indian restaurant called Tandoori Palace in downtown.
With 3 million people & 60 million sheep in NZ, another obligatory pic
