Cycle Touring on the South Island of New Zealand

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Wednesday, December 29th, 2004 - Christchurch to Invercargill by car

600km by car - 8am to 6pm
3km by bike

Wanting to begin our cycling trip in Invercargill, we opted to drive a rental car south. The road is flat on the Canterbury Plains, with more undulations and hills as one drives South.

The Bike Fridays proved convenient, as we folded them in half and plopped them into the hatchback of the rental.

We stopped at the Moeraki Boulders and took a walk on the Beach. The Boulders are big round rocks, some split open, looking for all the world like petrified dinosaur eggs. Jeff's theory was "volcano vomit". The truth is much more benign. You can read about them here.

Dinosaur eggs?

Hatchling?

Our accommodation for the evening was a "double" at Tuatara Lodge, a clean, comfortable hostel right on the main drag.

We dropped the car at the deserted Invercargill Airport, unfolded our bikes, and rode the 3k back to Tuatara. Forecast for tomorrow? Rain.

This might come in handy…

NEXT PAGE: Invercargill to Tuatapere