Hanmer Springs to Picton | Time Out 2021-22 Drive

Robin Capper

27 Mar 2022 — 5 min read

Another relocation day, driving from Hanmer Springs to Picton. The route up Inland Rd (SH70) is a lovely drive which emerges on the coast near Kaikoura then I just follow SH1 up the coast, via Blenheim, to Picton.

Hanmer Springs to Picton

The first part of the drive, to Waiau, retraced yesterday's ride. North of there, near Mt. Lyford, Inland Rd passes by the impressive Rodin Cars complex. The earthworks (below) looked to be the latest extension of their manufacturing, workshop, and test track facility. If passing have a look in case they are testing something (very) exotic as some of the track is easily visible from the highway. The near F1 FZED & even faster FZERO cars they design/manufacture there are incredible.

THE OBSESSION OF A LIFETIME

The team at Rodin Cars are currently creating David Dicker’s vision of his ultimate track car, inspired by zero restrictions.

“The concept with the FZERO is to create a car that’s quicker than a current Formula 1. I wanted to build the lightest, most compact 4.0-litre 10-cylinder engine possible. We’ve achieved that.”

David Dicker | Founder, Rodin Cars

Aerial view of the Rodin Cars Facility | Photo courtesy of Rodin Cars

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Although a secondary route Inland Rd (SH70) became a main highway for a long time after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. The coastal SH1 main highway was destroyed and, although itself damaged, Inland Rd was used as a route in and out of Kaikoura and beyond. In addition to the earthquake, it got a hammering from increased traffic flows especially trucks. Since I last passed through noticed considerable remediation work has been done, but still more to do.

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Love driving and cycling this road, it's so flowing and every turn reveals another spectacular view.

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Scenic, and empty!

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Love driving the Bravo on this sort of road, it's made for GT style touring with a lovely five-cylinder soundtrack that varies from warble to howl across the rev range. Half the capacity of the Rodin FZERO V10 engine with just 1/8th of its output!

Love a Bravo 155 HGT on the Inland Rd (SH70)

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Stopped briefly at South Bay, Kaikoura. Lots of scenery and wildlife without venturing far from the carpark.

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The lovely tourist facilities had few visitors today, more birds than people.

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When I got over the hill to Kaikoura it was apparent the sun would soon be disappearing. A weird gloom descending from the mountain range that runs up the coast.

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The impressive rebuild on the Kaikoura Coast Rd (SH1) has created some nice visitor facilities and stretches of bike path. They are part of a planned 210km cycle path - The Whale Trail - from Picton to Kaikoura which is currently being constructed.

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Ohau Point Seal Colony, Kaikoura Coast

With the massive coastal changes from the 2016 earthquake, up to 6m (20ft) uplift in places, it was feared the Ohau Point Seal Colony might have been impacted. Seems seals are adaptable and, although the coast has changed, they still seem as happy as ever just a few metres from the highway.

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Short video below of the pups play squabbling, it's easy to spend ages here watching... :)

Pups play squabbling :) Ohau Point Seal Colony, Kaikoura Coast

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Picton

My Picton base, Harbour View Motel (beige building top centre) had a splendid view over the marina and sound. Have only previously passed through Picton but, as couldn't change my ferry booking (all full), have a few days here to explore the area by bike.