Pork Chops Posted 28May, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 28May, 2017 Pukaki and the road out to Mount Cook .. you will love Also get yourself in a glider at Twizel.. im not a big flyer but that is a spectacle not to be missed.But also try going further down to Invercargill Keep the suggestions coming as this is as much about non driving adventures too. Gliding is a great idea - http://www.glideomarama.com/ Would love to give this a go, though not sure my neck is up to the Gs! We only made it as far south as Queenstown last time I was touring around so would love to check out Inverargill etchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv0pI_9JqaU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 28May, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 28May, 2017 Wellington to Picton ferry is about $200 with a car and takes 3 hours. I note the sailing route goes all through the small islands at the top of the south island.https://www.interislander.co.nz/Photos below from a 2005 trip. Very small dirt road from the main road to the winery resulted in this sign! Needless to say Central Otago wineries are on the list of places to visit.And back to driving these were taken on the same day....from our campervan...No wonder I swore to return in something better one day. symsy and ANF 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstone Posted 29May, 2017 Report Share Posted 29May, 2017 Choice brew.Any more of this and I'll be moving over there. sandy468 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symsy Posted 29May, 2017 Report Share Posted 29May, 2017 Keep the suggestions coming as this is as much about non driving adventures too. Gliding is a great idea - http://www.glideomarama.com/ Would love to give this a go, though not sure my neck is up to the Gs! We only made it as far south as Queenstown last time I was touring around so would love to check out Inverargill etchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv0pI_9JqaU For Jet boating , at Hawea there seems to be a lot of action ..but its a few years .. since I drowned the EX wife in the lake there.. she was boxster driver too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 29May, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 29May, 2017 Thought I'd do a little test of my 10 years since last used boots and got ten steps down the hall and .... it's off the Ray Tent City. grantmr, LeeM and symsy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 5June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 5June, 2017 So, drive down to New Plymouth today. Drove 50/50 with a mate and it was a long drive. Lots of twisty roads but as it's the main road it's trafficked. Luckily the locals know how to drive and it flows OK. As a result of my plane being late we drove into darkness just as things got really twisty and the heavens opened up too, making driving conditions worthy of concentration! Roads were really rough in surface texture so the road noise in the convertible was high too. Because we had to get to our destination I've barely stopped to look at the car but it's in really good condition. The 2.9l is a nice unit. Revs nicely and is smooth and has enough torque, if not torque rich. Brake pedal is long and soft for my tastes but it pulls up well. Steering is nice and clutch and gear change are light and sweet. Comfy seats, but no Bluetooth hands free or cruise control are a let down. Oh well. New zorst isn't that loud so along with the way the engine revs happily I often found I wasn't sure what gear I was in. Overall not as engaging than the GT3 but what do you expect?Looks are iffy as with all Boxsters but that's not what this car is about, but hopefully some lowering and OZ wheels will sort some of that.Radar detector worked well but there was little cause for using it as the law was mostly absent. We had some good stretches where we were holding decent speeds through straights and sweepers, occasionally becoming indecent.Drove past Hampton Downs and it appears to have a lot of elevation changes so would make an interesting change to AU tracks. Roll on August.Overall very happy. Tomorrow and Weds we're expecting sun and dry weather so good for Taranaki and for exploring the handling of the car as we drive the Taranaki surrounds and head back to Auckland.Only photo of the day below. Parked up outside the hotel in New Plymouth. ANF, MFX, grantmr and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmr Posted 5June, 2017 Report Share Posted 5June, 2017 I think I can see Pork Chops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 6June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Fantastic blue skies greeted us this morning. With the day light New Plymouth it revealed its self as a charming place. Breakfast at Emmalou was up there with the best I've ever had. Try cinnamon on your coffee next time you have one. grantmr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy468 Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Try cinnamon on your coffee next time you have one. First a Boxster and now cinnamon on ya coffee - Be careful be very careful, a Coxster can turn you..... Top photo by the way! firstone, LeeM and grantmr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 6June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 First a Boxster and now cinnamon on ya coffee - Be careful be very careful, a Coxster can turn you..... Top photo by the way!Funny you should say that. This is me and my flamboyant friend Steve in the Coxster boulevarding with the top down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFX Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 (edited) Try cinnamon on your coffee next time you have one.no no No No NO!! Crazy kiwis with their Cappuccinos. 'Do you want chocolate or cinnaomon'..... NO!!Next you will be coming back here and asking for a 'pottle' of yogurt. P.S. maybe being married to a Kiwi has made me a little sensitive.... Edited 6June, 2017 by MFX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 6June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 MFX, firstone, Scott930 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFX Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Wow! What a view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 6June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 (edited) Edited 7June, 2017 by Pork Chops firstone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 6June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Snickers milkshake. Best thing I've ever ingested, and in a diner that made me feel like the Fonze. Pork Chops in the house. Tips, Scott930, Mike-S and 9 others 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 What an amazing view that would be to see up close. Great pics fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewW Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 so mr. Chops, this job of yours is it up for grabs. I could come out of my sabbatical to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsujack Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Isn't this meant to be a work trip Nick? If so, I'll put my hand up for it too... Great pics, I need to plan another driving holiday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tit Posted 6June, 2017 Report Share Posted 6June, 2017 Wellington to Picton ferry is about $200 with a car and takes 3 hours. I note the sailing route goes all through the small islands at the top of the south island.https://www.interislander.co.nz/Photos below from a 2005 trip. Very small dirt road from the main road to the winery resulted in this sign! Needless to say Central Otago wineries are on the list of places to visit.And back to driving these were taken on the same day....from our campervan...No wonder I swore to return in something better one day.My wife and I got engaged at Chard Farm. Nice little winery. Pork Chops 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumble Posted 7June, 2017 Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 You can actually see Mt Egmont (Taranaki)? - amazing! I lived in New Plymouth and it was generally acknowledged that if you could see the mountain it was going to rain. If you couldn't see it, it was already raining. The weather gods are smiling - or maybe climate change has made things better since I lived thereNZ driving is great, but not as benign as it was. 'Certain' tourists are known to cause problems - often with fatal results. I recently rounded a blind corner only to be confronted with a camper van abandoned in the middle of the road with its occupants snapping happily away, so I would urge caution.There is also a nasty little habit the locals have implemented where anyone who observes 'anti-social' driving can call a number (555 IIRC - maybe wrong) and the police will hunt down the perps, so be careful...You might want to consider doing a Targa NZ tour later in the year - great fun. IIRC this year they're running all the way down to Wellington. The tour now has two classes - one where helmets are required (but no cage) with a 160km/hr limit. Faster and more flowing than Targa Tas - Great fun!I have my 944 Turbo holed up in Christchurch to do precisely what you're doing. Looks like you guys are having a fantastic time - thanks for the great commentary and photos! grantmr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 7June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 so mr. Chops, this job of yours is it up for grabs. I could come out of my sabbatical to do itI like my job Mr W . Isn't this meant to be a work trip Nick? If so, I'll put my hand up for it too... Great pics, I need to plan another driving holiday... Kimda what my wife said. But work was done. We hired a Project manager for Queensland out of New Plymouth, and inspected our job at the stadium, did some training with out NZ PM, inspected some Auckland jobs did some, erm, team building. Hard work but someone's got to do it. And yes driving holidays are what we work for. You can actually see Mt Egmont (Taranaki)? - amazing! I lived in New Plymouth and it was generally acknowledged that if you could see the mountain it was going to rain. If you couldn't see it, it was already raining. The weather gods are smiling - or maybe climate change has made things better since I lived thereNZ driving is great, but not as benign as it was. 'Certain' tourists are known to cause problems - often with fatal results. I recently rounded a blind corner only to be confronted with a camper van abandoned in the middle of the road with its occupants snapping happily away, so I would urge caution.There is also a nasty little habit the locals have implemented where anyone who observes 'anti-social' driving can call a number (555 IIRC - maybe wrong) and the police will hunt down the perps, so be careful...You might want to consider doing a Targa NZ tour later in the year - great fun. IIRC this year they're running all the way down to Wellington. The tour now has two classes - one where helmets are required (but no cage) with a 160km/hr limit. Faster and more flowing than Targa Tas - Great fun!I have my 944 Turbo holed up in Christchurch to do precisely what you're doing. Looks like you guys are having a fantastic time - thanks for the great commentary and photos!Great to hear from you. It's interesting that most folks we talk to say the same about Taranaki. Seems we were very fortunate indeed.Re driving shenanigans, as always it's about managing risk. You drive like a fool and you'll get burnt. Drive appropriately fast and you're mostly OK. So far so good.Targa NZ is an awesome idea and I rang them after seeing your post and indeed it's Hampton Downs to Wellington and 160 limit in the tour if you're helmeted. I've got an info pack to read through but at first glance it looks cheaper faster better than Tassie. Just got to get the dates lined up.When will you get the 944T out for a run?Cheers. itsujack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 7June, 2017 Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 Great journey! If I didn't live in Tassy I'd live in NZ. Roads are superb too and the people are nice and by & large , normal. grantmr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmr Posted 7June, 2017 Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 Great journey! If I didn't live in Tassy I'd live in NZ. Roads are superb too and the people are nice and by & large , normal.There's a joke in here, I'm sure of it. sandy468 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pork Chops Posted 7June, 2017 Author Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 Here's a shot taken by my mate on a proper camera. More to come of these once he's tidied them all up. LeeM and P-Kay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre Posted 7June, 2017 Report Share Posted 7June, 2017 Great shot, the beer says it all. Or is that an L& P? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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