Te Anau via Invercargill
Today would be one of the longest rides of the holiday, with a 200Km ride to Invercargill before taking scenic route north again to Te Anau. I’ll be staying on a farm at Te Anua for next couple of days, and navigation without a satnav could prove interesting in the very rural areas.
I left the Kinross Cottages early, with the intention to avoid most of the traffic heading through Queenstown. The sun was breaking through the mountains as I picked up highway 6 heading south towards Lumsden.
I felt confident the weather was going to be on my side as I headed south, and kept the waterproofs packed away for the southbound leg of my trip. This was a stark contrast to only a few days ago where I was beaten back by snow, the song “Four seasons in one day” by Crowded house comes to mind whenever I think of New Zealand.
In addition to the amazing riding I was also excited to be heading to Invercargill, the hometown of Burt Munro who held multiple motorcycle land speed records on his shed built Indian Scout.
Invercargill
Invercargill is a bustling town, with plenty of shops and restaurants to pass the time. A short ride further south is the town of Bluff, which is world renowned for their oysters.
Invercargill provides two superb places for motorcycle enthusiasts to visit. There is so much to talk about when discussing Burt Munro and motorcycle history, so I’ve create another article here which provides a deeper look at the character and story of “The World’s Fastest Indian” and Motorcycle Mecca.
After spending a lovely afternoon in Invercargill it was time to head north again towards Te Anau. I decided to take the longer scenic route via highway 99.
The afternoon sun felt really good, along with the cooling breeze from the ocean as I passed through Riverton.
The weather started to turn overcast and cooler as I pushed further north, and decided to unpack the waterproofs for the final leg towards Te Anau. The scenery was still amazing, and although it was now raining I was still buzzing from an amazing day riding.
Te Anau
I reach Te Anua during the late afternoon, and managed to navigate to my farm stay accommodation using good fortune and my phone shouting directions through my jacket. My hosts were very welcoming and friendly, and with the unpacking complete it was time for a hearty dinner and a beer!
Tomorrow would my day trip to Milford Sound, and an amazing cruise through the fjord.