Day 6. Manapouri – Milford Sound – Te Anau

With the Burt Munro Challenge done and dusted our attention turned to a bit of serious sightseeing.

The road to Milford Sound from Te Anau is one of our all time favourites, partly for the ride and partly for the amazing, epic landscape.

We set off reasonably early and headed North along route 94 into the World Heritage Listed Fiordland National Park.

From the first glimpse of the towering, snow capped Alps beyond Te Anau Downs the terrain becomes more and more spectacular and the road does likewise.

Beautiful tunnels of native bush snake along the fringes of the escarpments occasionally opening out to a narrow plain, with the road hugging the valley floor, between the Earl and Livingston Mountains. The scene is awe inspiring.

Past Lake Gunn the road climbs toward the Homer tunnel with Mt Christina (2502m) looming on the right.

Through the kilometer or so of rough hewn Tunnel, and on to the descent of switchbacks on the Milford side, the big Victory really was a delight.

It’s not a sportsbike, but it handled the conditions admirably and I still haven’t scraped anything or had anything touch down on tour so far.

Admittedly the place and the scenery make going through it at rapid pace a bit of a waste anyway, but as a grand tourer we’re both very impressed. It hooked into the corners nicely when asked and it was like sitting back in a favourite lounge and watching a true natural wonder roll past.

Conditions were overcast for most of the day and the temperature climbed to 17c on the Valley floor and dropped to 5c in the high country.

We had a quick look around and shot a few pics out at the Sound, (Mitre Peak – 1692m – close to a mile – and the Fiord is a mile deep too!) but with the grey skies (and a stunning motorcycle waiting) we decided against the Boat cruise as we’ve done it before in better conditions. It costs around $NZ75 for a 2-hour cruise (Gilligaaannn!) and if you haven’t done it – do so.
We concentrated harder on the photo shoots and had a few relaxing stops on the way back to base chatting with a number of bikers on the way.

Our new theme for the ride is ‘you’re never alone with a Nessie’ as we’ve been swamped with questions and new friends every time we have stopped the bike.
‘One of two hundred – only one in NZ – around 1700cc – Cruise control – etc etc etc’. We love telling it too and have me some great characters along the way. Like Darren from Custom Shadez and his mate the ‘The Albatross’.

Darren makes a range of custom Stainless steel motorcycle components (www.customshadez.co.nz) and we hooked up several time during the ride. When last we saw them, their bikes were parked beside the road and they were headed for a beautiful babbling stream – fishing poles in hand.
We got back to Te Anau mid afternoon and settled in to very amenable accommodation at the Lakeside Motel and stared to process some of the images.

The Motel is very good with separate living spaces, kitchen and amenities but the highlight is watching the sun set over Lake Te Anau and Flat Mountain in the distance. Co-pilot says ‘ Definitely recommended – thumbs up’.
What a day.
Tomorrow were off to see NZ’ s tallest peak - Mount Cook.
More soon.
BD.

You're never alone with Nessie!