I wasn’t going to go to NDR. I love my Streetfighter but don’t consider myself a brand frother, and wasn’t too bothered with the social aspect of attending a club event. Te Anau seemed like too many kilometres and nights away on a bike NOT made for touring.
Yet, as my regional Ducatista associates started talking about and planning for it, I began to reconsider what I was actually dismissing: the opportunity to ride my awesome bike around our scenic South Island’s quality roads/natural bike track, where I had yet to venture – I was a South Island motorbike virgin. What was I thinking? FOMO kicked in, so I jumped online and bought what turned out to be the last ticket to NDR. Then, I committed to this unknown thing called ‘Turismo’ – both firsts for me. I was going for the RIDING after all. What did I have to lose?
My adventure began on Monday, 4th March, with a wet and windy ride from Palmy to Wellington to catch the ferry to Picton and ride to Nelson to spend a couple of nights with my dad. I met a few known and new friendly Ducati riders in the “shelter” while waiting to board the ferry. A good start!
On Thursday, I connected with the Manawatu contingent, and we headed south to Te Anau over two days, taking in, most notably, the Upper Buller Gorge, Arthur's Pass, Lindis Pass, and the Crown Range to arrive at the stunning Te Anau location for NDR. Another first for me, as Te Anau was somewhere I’d never discovered.
NDR unfolded, and despite my initial indifference, I was blown away by the array of cool Ducati bikes, met many of their wonderful owners, and generally got swept up in the secret society of the Ducatisti! What a cool event, and not even slightly influenced by winning the Best in Show award. Still, I had the feeling that NDR was merely the appetizer and the main event was the Turismo. I had become seriously excited for the 6 days of riding ahead.
Goodbyes were said to the NDR, and hello to Turismo ‘24 – Giro del Sud – a smaller group of 50 riders and pillions heading off separately-together on a “not-a-group-ride” to predetermined destinations along carefully suggested routes, over 6 days and nights from Te Anau to Blenheim, staying in Dunedin, Cromwell, Franz Josef, Hanmer Springs, and Reefton along the way. Bring it on!
Day 1: Te Anau to Dunedin
Sunday 10 March
For the first day, our subgroup (being my roomie Mike and I) took an alternative route south to avoid the Ohai gravel trap and repeat of Saturday’s NDR route through Nightcaps. Instead, we opted to head directly south via Tuatapere and along the south coast past Colac Bay and Riverton, with an additional breakout to Bluff’s Sterling Point, since we were down that way.
Obligatory photo by the AA sign, then we skirted along the southern coast, the riding highlight being the Catlins Forest Park road, up to Balclutha, and ultimately into Dunedin before sunset. We could have taken 2 or 3 days to explore that leg of the journey! A seriously beautiful part of the country.
Day 2: Dunedin to Cromwell
Monday, 11 March
The day of the rocks! Inland on SH87 through Middlemarch, marvelling at the Pillar Rocks, we had morning tea with a group of friendly Southern Ducatisti. Then, we went up to Kyeburn and down SH85 to the other Palmy, marvelled at the Moeraki Boulders (is that really it? Underwhelming!), then up to Duntroon via Five Forks, where we marvelled at the Elephant Rocks (now that’s more like it!).
We continued up SH83 to Omarama via a detour around Lake Aviemore to Benmore, where we marvelled at the three dams and the vast number of caravans parked up. We smashed the Lindis Pass (huge riding highlight) and arrived at Cromwell without incident.
📸 Kent Murray
📸 Kent Murray
📸 Kent Murray
Day 3: Cromwell to Franz Josef
Tuesday, 12 March
The journey north begins with a fresh start, passing the Southern Lakes (Dunstan, Hawea, and Wanaka) and entering the unique Haast Pass, complete with cattle stops, which was the highlight of the day’s ride.
Today’s local tour guide and NDR photographer Kent led us to Haast, the gateway to the southern West Coast, where it started to rain for the first time since Wellington. We met up with some Canterbury Ducati riders and, at sensible wet-weather speeds, made our way up to Franz Josef. We couldn’t see much on account of the relentless rain, but we all arrived safely.
📸 Kent Murray
📸 Kent Murray
Day 4: Franz Josef to Hanmer Springs
Wednesday, 13 March
The rain continued overnight and was much the same in the morning as we geared up and headed off to Hokitika. Literally, as we turned off the coast to Kumara, the rain stopped!
A cold (7°C) and wet-gloved (I really need to get those heated hand grips activated) second go at Arthur’s Pass wasn’t quite as fun as the first time, but still beats working.
The road really is fantastic. I think I defrosted at some point between Springfield and Oxford, then soon became too hot again in Canterbury as we took the scenic inland route through Rangiora, Culverden, and ultimately to Hanmer. It was a day of all seasons, and the hot bath was well earned.
📸 Kent Murray
📸 Kent Murray
📸 Kent Murray
Day 5: Hanmer Springs to Reefton
Thursday, 14 March
A shorter day via the Lewis Pass to Reefton was on the agenda today, followed by a suggested loop up to Inangahua and back down to Springs Junction. Instead, looking at the forecast and huge final day, we decided to head back to the West Coast via Greymouth and check out the pancake rocks at Punakaiki. What a solid call that turned out to be.
The weather was warm and sunny, and the tide and swell were right, so the blowholes were pumping! The coastal ride was amazing and capped off with a great run through the Lower Buller Gorge (highlight), and back to Reefton for the night. It turned out to be one of the best days riding.
Day 6: Reefton to Blenheim
Friday, 15 March
The final day! Still patting ourselves on the back for yesterday’s decision, today we happily headed off through Inangahua, Upper Buller Gorge (highlight!) to Murchison.
We then decided to ride via St Arnaud and up the Wairau Valley instead of via Nelson, having taken that route south.
A comparatively early afternoon finish meant we could relax and unwind in Blenheim. Just one more dinner and a leisurely ferry sailing to catch the following morning.
Shenanigans on the last night of Turismo
Epilogue of a Turismo Virgin
My cup was overflowing with South Island bike riding goodness!
I’m grateful for this beautiful country we live in. The riding surpassed all of my expectations, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
However, I am delighted at how much I enjoyed the entire Ducati experience, from travelling to and being involved with the NDR, and then the epic Turismo. For me, it was really about the new friends made, existing friendships strengthened, and future plans laid.
What a wonderful group of varied and genuine people that make up the DOCNZ Ducatisti community.
I went for the riding, but left with so much more.
✍️ Duncan White
