destination for the afternoon. I’d never ridden
the Glenorchy road before and to say it was
a treat is an understatement. This road is
twisty, turny, uppy and downy, often all at the
same time – it’s a roller-coaster of a road,
with stunning views across Lake Wakatipu,
a real beaut. There’s something compelling
about cruising along to your favourite music
with crisp air, bright blue skies and some
of the most beautiful scenery on earth.
The ride out to the Dart river was a sight-
seeing cruise but as the sun started to dip
behind the mountains, our pace started to
rise – the rapidly dropping air temperature
may have had something to do with it. While
autumn might well bring golden hues, it also
brings a distinct chill when the sun dips below
the horizon. The pace upped and it was only
at this point I gave any thought to the tyres
fitted to the bike. ME888 Marathon Ultra is
a mouthful of a name, but they’re grippy
and feel confident from upright to peg-
scraping angles. If the name relates to the
characteristics, they should last a while too.
ADVENTURE TOURING
The following morning was riding adventure
bikes, and I have to admit to this having
been the part of the trip I’d really been
looking forward to. Adventure biking around
Queenstown, now that’s a real bucket list trip
for most adventure-oriented riders. And, as
was to find out, if it’s not... it should be.
Leaving Queenstown we took a moment
to stop on a hill looking over the Lake where
Lochhy Columb did the tour-guide thing,
telling us some of the history of the area and
its people, adding welcome cultural element
to the ride. After a detour up the Coronet Peak
road to the viewpoint at Skippers Road, we
follow the main route along the Kawarau Gorge
through to Cromwell and up to Bannockburn,
brought back to a slightly more sedate pace
following the sight of a Police cruiser up ahead.
This is another great road. Yep, ok, it’s the main
road but it’s still something of a beauty.
Fitted with the new Karoo Street tyres,
a mixed road and trail tyre, the Yamaha
Super Tenere I’d been riding acquitted
34 KIWI RIDER
itself well as a twisty road scratcher – they
hang on like a street tyre on the tar seal.
But the best was yet to come. From Bannockburn
we took the Nevis Road, up and over the Nevis
Range. This is stunning scenery, and we had it to
ourselves. The road is a mix of gravel and dirt, with
plenty of opportunity to have a play on the adventure
bikes. Kilometre after kilometre of beautiful views
and gravel roads, just waiting to be explored.