Inland Kaikoura route past Mt Lyford

[KiwiBirkin]

I drove this route to Kaikoura last week with 2 other Sevens and it was fantastic, Easter weekend we used it going and coming back and on Easter Monday we encounterd 5 cars while State Hwy 1 was chocka. From Kaiapoi its 183km to Kaikoura so 15kms longer then State Hwy 1 but its much more fun in a Seven and the sceanery is fantastic the road is in great condition with a few damp spots where the road didnt get any sun, but I would watch it winter though as it has lots of damp spots that will be icey.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Christchurch+Northern+Motorway%2FState+Highway+1&daddr=-42.8443976,172.791717+to:Kaikoura,+Canterbury,+New+Zealand&hl=en&ll=-43.072901,172.948151&spn=0.741347,1.229095&sll=-43.016697,172.942657&sspn=0.742027,1.229095&geocode=FX4zav0d5mVKCg%3BFRM_cv0dpZdMCilBVNSXGVEwbTGQxTdMhu8AEw%3BFc8Def0d6ipaCil1fJE0OiA6bTE2mXmEhu8ABQ&oq=Culverden&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10

[7ish]

Just did the inland road to Kaikoura (not in the phoenix)....road is a bit rough and down to 1 lane in many places. Not a 7 road at the moment.
A great alternative is Christchurch to Waiau, then through to Cheviot, back on SH1. 50 km through from Waiau to Cheviot is an awesome blast..