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early start saw us leave Wellington and the North Island to reach Picton on the South Island around four hours later . The ferry ride itself is well worth the effort , passing through the Queen Charlotte Sound is an experience that should not be missed , even despite the occasional rough passage .
The first day on the bike would normally take this ride through the Awatere Valley via the Molesworth Track however , recent wildfires in the region meant the track was closed , never mind , we detoured through the Rainbow Station on the similarly named track . Pay a small fee and the rider is granted permission to use the iconic road which is included in a great system of public use private roads throughout the region , it was a great introduction to the gravel and dirt roads of New Zealand ’ s South Island , splendid vistas punctuated by numerous river crossings . And this was just day one .
It becomes a theme of Rumbling Adventures ’ entire nine-day ride , the further south you head the more unique the scenery and the riding becomes . Look anywhere and you ’ ll see horizons filled with snow capped peaks , glacial lakes so blue they seem to be iridescent , and vast valleys crafted by the immense power of nature . This is a unique land , the closest could be considered South America ’ s Patagonia however , a throw of Mongolia has been added along with a splash of the
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