Southern Cruise April 28th

[classicdat]

We have a new event on our Calendar, The long missed Southern Cruise.
This year we are Planning to meet at Benmore for Lunch, with Cruises hopefully Starting in the South, East and North (please feel free to organise a cruise from the coast to complete the points of the compass) converging on the Fantastic roads of the Central South Island.
This is your chance to get a cruise going from your area and be part of one of the most enjoyable Datsun Events of the year.

After lunch it will be cruise and Photo opportunities with a drive to Otematata and in to Lake Benmore. Cruise down the far side of Lake Aviemore, and More Photos along the way.

The Day will end up in Oamaru, where we will be hosted by the locals, (check the next post for some accommodation options kindly scoped out by Hayden).

Post you local cruise details and I will include them in this post, below are the Christchurch details.

Meet:
Rolly Inn, Brookside Road, Rolleston. 8 till 8.15am
Meet and greet etc.

Depart: 8.15am. (probably won't wait for latecomers, and let them catch up)
First we head south to Ashburton.

Meet:
We'll be stopping at the South end of the carpark on the main road thru town, (across from McDonalds) to meet up with anyone from that area who is meeting up with the group. (Approx 9:15am)

From there it is south to Rangitata and heading inland toward Tekapo and on to Omarama. If you are from Timaru or other areas along the way post and we'll schedule a meeting point. Planning to hit Fairlie as close to 10.30am as we can. Very short stop.

Meet:
(Open to Suggestions) in Omarama (then cruise to Otematata to meet the locals and on to Lake Benmore)for lunch about 1 - 1.30, where the cruise will start in Earnest.

Evening details to come: But will hopefully get some photos with the backdrop of the old town.

There are many interesting drives in the Oamaru area, there could be options for Sunday before we all cruise on home again, feel free to post your thoughts for Sunday, your Idea might be the winner everyone is looking for.


Expectations of cruise participants:
- If you know your vehicle to be inherently unsafe, please park up your vehicle and jump in with someone else

- Drivers please act responsibly and limit alcohol consumption

- Passengers please drink responsibly. Anyone found to be grossly intoxicated will be asked to leave the cruise

- Drivers are expected to obey road rules and traffic laws at all times.
- no dangerous overtaking
- no loss of traction
- no skids/wheelspins entering or exiting any of the stops
- no driving in such a way as to make/cause a nuisance of yourself

- No anti-social behaviour

- Please respect public property. Any damage caused to the recreation areas will result in immediate exclusion from the cruise, we will not be taking responsibility for your actions so details will be passed to Council and police


Persons who have expressed interest: Excellent response this early out!

Brnwgn
DJZ
classicdat
bent 1200
brocky41 & LUFDAT
Bartman
Brdflu
M spec
agallagher
LHD510
zips1
Datto_Princess & datsunboy
stiff12hundy
illusive
skdmrx
lewishorrell

[classicdat]

For those interested in looking at places to stay, from backpackers to nicer motels, here are a few suggestions.. (all within walking distance to main st pubs & restaurants)

Red Kettle Backpackers YHA
$28 - 5 bed dorm
$62 - Double Private
https://www.yha.co.nz/hostels/south-isl ... ha-oamaru/

Empire Backpackers BBH (main street of town, opposite Last Post Pub)
$30 - 6 Bed Dorm
$40 - Twin Dorm
$48 - Single
http://www.empirebackpackersoamaru.co.nz/

Top 10 Holiday Park
$34 - Tent Site
$40 - Power site
$65 - Standard Cabin (sleeps up to 4)
$80 - 2 Bedroom Unit
$105 - En suite Cabin
http://www.oamarutop10.co.nz/

Bella Vista and Midway Motel
$99 - Studio Unit
http://www.staybellavista.co.nz/bella-v ... aru-motel/
http://seanlee.co.nz/midway/index.htm

Oamaru Motor Lodge
$119 - Studio Unit
http://www.391oamarumotorlodge.co.nz/

Highfield Mews
$138 - Studio
http://www.highfieldmews.co.nz/

Another couple of nice motels are the North Star - which has a restaurant and Heritage Court. Both are a bit further out of town in the north end so aren't walking distance.

Hope this helps everyone out a bit...What are thoughts on the 19th May??

[Brnwgn]

sounds all very exciting whoooo!!! i reakon instead of lunch at omarama we push a little closer to the lakes, ie Benmore dam and park up and bbq or in a similar place and have some lunch photos etc. the reason i say this food at omarama is average at best. and im fairly sure at the campimng area there bbq's are avalilbe if no ones keen to haul one there..
and once we depart from there a nice criuse down around aviemore(Lake) and back to oamaru via tokaraki ngapara enfield and then into O town, its a nice road and not as boring as the state hwy back to town. what you's think????

[classicdat]

Enjoying the local Knowledge. BBQ sounds much better than bought, do we meet up at Otematata and you Guide us from there Hayden? Club can run a sausage sizzle and maybe have a prize giving with the proceeds. (Any prizes gratefully received)

[classicdat]

Doing the calculations it is 1 hour to Ashvegus
2.5 hours to Omarama
0.45 to Benmore
That's over 4 hours without stops.
This will take some commitment.
I'm thinking that the goal is for all the cruises to meet up for lunch to make the most of the day.
With that in mind lets revise the start earlier, I know that won't be favoured by all, but this is a BIG cruise, so lets make a day of it!
Meeting at 8am, planning to leave asap. Get an early night Friday and make the most of Saturday night!
Remember Members have been supporting cruises well away from their areas for years, often leaving home the night before!!!

[Brnwgn]

Doing the calculations it is 1 hour to Ashvegus
2.5 hours to Omarama
0.45 to Benmore
That's over 4 hours without stops.
This will take some commitment.
I'm thinking that the goal is for all the cruises to meet up for lunch to make the most of the day.
With that in mind lets revise the start earlier, I know that won't be favoured by all, but this is a BIG cruise, so lets make a day of it!
Meeting at 8am, planning to leave asap. Get an early night Friday and make the most of Saturday night!
Remember Members have been supporting cruises well away from their areas for years, often leaving home the night before!!!

its a fucken long way so a early start would be a great move, yea meet at otematata would be awesome!! might be able to arrange a prize or two will work on this

[Brnwgn]

Oamrama to benmore is more like twenty min so not as far to hold off for a feed

[LUFDAT]

sounds awesome we will def be there!

[DJZ]

Yeap, as long as I can get a warrant I'm down for this.

[Brdflu]

Im keen, I just have to fix my water leak.