Weekend Road trip

[RobClubley]

I am currently sitting in a cheap motel in what seems like a dodgy area (hard to tell in the dark) so I thought I'd use up some of my 50MB internets voucher and post

Rob and Noodle's road trip part 1.

SWMBO and baby are currently in the UK so I decided to have a little explore of NZ's quieter state highways.

Currently in Hastings - just an overnight stay really before starting the trip proper.

I stopped once to take some quick snaps - this will look awesome once I process it properly.

Today's route:

Clicky

I got stuck in a queue near Wellington - someone had driven off a corner, through a fence and rolled down a hill. Car looked intact apart from smashed windows so hopefully they were okay. Ambulances had already left.

After that it was easy going until a few sets of roadworks slowed me down. I wish they wouldn't try to create an off-roading experience just to resurface a road!!

Driving in the dark here is something I haven't done much of - it gets VERY dark - no street lamps, state highways are basically small A roads, sometimes like B roads. Hardly anything near the roadside either. It's the most I've used my full beam in years.

So tomorrow's plan is: Get up early, find breakfast, meet up with a couple of local car club guys for coffee.

Then to Temata Peak if it's not raining.

Clicky

After that it's the main reason for the trip - a jaunt over the mountains to Ohakune via the old state highway. Apparently it has a 20km gravel section. Should be fun. Can't be much worse than the roadworks.

Anyway more later. Will take pics

[oil]

Rob,

Find some time to go into Napier - lovely at deco buildings after the '31 quake

In the area you are in you should be at the vinyards sampling the produce!

[banzaiman]

Ah man NZ looks soo amazing, have you been round the whole of it?

[RobClubley]

It is amazing!

I bypassed Napier this time but have been there several times.

Today's route:

Clicky

Driving this road was the main reason for this trip so I have been looking forward to it. I was quite worried about the gravel section in the centre as I'd heard it was a bit rough but it actually wasn't so bad.

Overall impression - wow! what a great road!

Lots of flowing bends, great visibility so you could safely take the racing line on corners, no traffic at all going my way in 130km, loads of up and down bits, mountains, clouds, falcons hovering by the roadside. Really great drive.

Temata Peak first thing

On the way back down

Start of the Hastings Taihape road

Quick photo stop. A bloke from my work drove past - weird!!

The gravel bit

Awesomeness

Tonight's stop

And a quick jaunt up Mt Ruapehu into the clouds

There were so many places with breathtaking views that I had to stop myself from pulling over all the time. I love this country!

[Allams Skoda]

Fantastic photos!

Are any Skoda garages looking for staff out there!?

[Reavenger]

Brilliant photos. Gravel looks like it kicked up a fair bit of dust on to the car :p

What's the furthest place you're going to?

Have fun

[RobClubley]

Heading an hour or so further North to Taumaranui then West across to New Plymouth via the smaller state highway.

Hoping to see Mt Taranaki but not holding my breath as it's chucking it down meaning it's probably in the clouds.

Then back home down South to Wellington via Wanganui.

[Captain Scarlet]

Man those roads look as good as your car does, which is superb by the way.

[Skodaboy1983]

Cracking pics Rob and your car is stunning fella.

Davy

[Buster]

Mt Taranaki is stunning (saw it from the air en route to Wellington from Auckland) and briefly as I headed from New Plymouth to Taupo. Have you also taught Noodle to map read?!

[RobClubley]

Wow! What a drive

Today I drove up to Taumaranui, down the Forgotten World Highway, up to the coast and around Mt Taranaki. Well I assume it was still there. Very low cloud.

I saw an awesome sunset and a double rainbow Didn't manage to photograph either of those.

And I picked up a hitch hiker from Wanganui to Wellington. She was from Singapore, very nice, and we had a long chat on the 3 hour drive.

Start of the Forgotten World Highway

The falling rocks signs in NZ are not kidding. Lots of this sort of thing

Single lane bridges

And 20km of ROUGH gravel - boneshaking

One lane tunnel

After a quick coffee and toastie I headed off again

Smelly sheep truck. He pulled over for me as soon as it was safe to pass. I caught up with the same truck 3 hours later - I went the long way round. He pulled over for me again!

The 35km after passing the sheep truck was just awesome. I was driving as fast as I wanted to, having a great time and only occasionally hitting the 100km/h speed limit.

Sweeping curves, "saddles" (i.e. over a biig hill in short distance with 15k and 25k limit tight bends and big drops at the side of the road. No barriers obviously), up and down bits. Really great driving.

[vrsadz]

good pics there

[matt_theforce]

Rob,

That looks amazing I can't believe your out in such a nice country driving such an excelent car while I'm stuck at work :'(

I wondered what the new mod was that I could see, then I realised it was dirt this must be the 1st picture I've ever seen of your car with dirt on

Matthew

[mdk1]

Looks like your having fun

[vRSLen]

Nice one Rob, thanks for that

[RobClubley]

By the way this was yesterday's route

Clicky

[Lady Elanore]

I am glad your trip is as good as you hoped. I only have one criticism..................it is a little Noodle light. More pics of my favourite Brisky dog please. Hope she isn't getting too bounced around

[RobClubley]

More pics here:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/198644-trip-this-weekend/

Noodle pics included

[Wardy]

Fantastic pictures Rob!

What a roadtrip....