000. First stop, South of Taupo

My god do I need to go to NZ. NorCal (in non-drought years) looks like this for about a month. Nice 7th too.

... the roads are lying idle, just waiting for you ...

I have seen these landscapes in person back in 2006, stunning! Sure would like to visit NZ once again, but longer than last stay that was just 3 weeks.

The Gentle Annie is a nice road in the North Island with virtually zero traffic but the South Island is amazing. On the road from Christchurch to Queenstown the scenery changes beyond belief every hour. Flat plains then rolling hills, then weird aquamarine glacial lakes in front of snowy peaks, high country tussock, then limestone canyons and finally an alpine valley with blue lakes and craggy mountains.

You might be interested in this ride report from a UK bike mag:

http://www.vfrnewzealand.com/pdf/Bike.pdf

Thanks Parksey, a great article, I have not done all the "almosts" of the author but he is spot on. The Lindis Pass for example ....

"The blat out of Omarama took me through the imposing Lindis Range along the very twisty Interstate 8, cutting through the towering rockscape like a black snake, twisting back on itself, dropping down, climbing up, all in second and third gear."

Whilst it is rare to see Hobbits, you will always find a good road!