This weekend I did a trip with the NZ Land Rover Forums group up to Kaikoura. A dozen cars went on the trip an S1, 2xS3, a 110, a Defender 90, a Defender 110, 2xP38, an L322, a D1, a D4 and a Freelander
A real cross section of Landies. The weather was rather poor with quite a bit of rain, but it didn't scupper the enjoyment. The trip was put together to do our bit to put some cash into the coffers of the businesses affected by the quake back in November. Kaikoura is a tourist town and its been semi cut-off since the quake. It has 1 road in from the north, which has been closed due to slips and 2 roads from the south - so its now a 4 hour return trip rather than a town that is passed through on the tourist route. The main road south is also closed between 8pm and 7am.
We met up at 9am on Saturday in north Christchurch and headed north. First stop was the Waipara Hiils winery for a wine sampling or coffee...
From there is was through the Weka pass en route to Waiau. The Waiau Tavern was crippled by the quake and has been closed since. They are building a "temporary pub" that's not finished yet, but the publican was please to put a on a BBQ lunch and open a temporary bar for us...
After lunch we took the "Inland Road" up to Kaikoura. Its a lovely scenic road through the Kaikoura Ranges past the Mt Lyford village and ski field. There are at least 10 single lane bridges as the road criss-crosses streams and rivers. Some of the bridges were out and temporary bridges in place while they are rebuilt, lots of slips being rectified etc, but its still a leasure to drive the road...
Once into Kaikoura I pitched my accommodation, most had cabins on the site, the S1 couple slept in a made-up bed in the car and one guy had a tent on the back of his 110 flat-deck. Time for a few of the car to have a play on the Kowhai River. Fish an chip supper at the site, a few drinks and lots of chat among the group....
This video is best played with the sound turned down because of the wind, but the old girl does sound great
After breakfast at the camp and a coffee at the Encounter Cafe, we stopped off to see some of the local wildlife at the seal coloney and then on to Donegal House for lunch. After lunch we took a drive up to the harbour to see how work is getting on dredging it - the quake lifted the seabed and the boats can't use it fully until is been fixed up...
Then it was home along the coast road. The mountains run right up to the coast and there are sheer cliffs in places that the road (and railway) has somehow been cut into. Unfortunately, the quake bought large parts of the cliffs down and parts of the road that wasn't covered has slipped. There's lots of work going on with it and its only single lane under the control of lights in places, but it is passable. During bad weather it is closed as it brings down more rubble and huge chunks or rock...
