TransAlpine 2024
1-4 November
West Coast
Vice-president Grant Harman looks back on the 2024 event.
The annual Lotus pilgrimage across the South Island was on again from Friday 1st through to Monday 4th November, with some folk heading home on the Sunday. Once again we availed ourselves of the good coffee and enjoyed our usual pre-run get together at the Pegasus Golf Club Café – our starting point for the much awaited trip. Biggest discussion of course was the weather, with it looking like rain on the first day. The turnout saw a good cross section of cars with 7's, Elise's, Evora's, Emira’s, an Elan, Exige, MX5 and a Cortina. Approximately 22 cars packed and ready for a weekend of great driving and friendship.
First stop was a morning drink in Culverden and of course the obligatory restroom visits with the weather holding and still fine. Then on to Reefton, where it absolutely bucketed down but we still managed to get a great photo of all the cars together – check out the great selection of photos. I can recommend the food in the bakery, it was a great lunch!
Then a rather wet drive through to Westport for our first night. Whilst the rain prevented our traditional outdoor pre-dinner drinks, two rooms were filled to the brim with happy people sharing the day’s stories, drinks and food and the chatter and laughter appeared never ending until the call for dinner went out!
Dinner saw us head to the Quarry Restaurant and Bar for a fabulous meal – their great organisation saw us fill out our orders for the dinner the following evening – not that everyone actually remembered what they’d ordered! A great social evening enjoyed by all.
First stop was a morning drink in Culverden and of course the obligatory restroom visits with the weather holding and still fine. Then on to Reefton, where it absolutely bucketed down but we still managed to get a great photo of all the cars together – check out the great selection of photos. I can recommend the food in the bakery, it was a great lunch!
Then a rather wet drive through to Westport for our first night. Whilst the rain prevented our traditional outdoor pre-dinner drinks, two rooms were filled to the brim with happy people sharing the day’s stories, drinks and food and the chatter and laughter appeared never ending until the call for dinner went out!
Dinner saw us head to the Quarry Restaurant and Bar for a fabulous meal – their great organisation saw us fill out our orders for the dinner the following evening – not that everyone actually remembered what they’d ordered! A great social evening enjoyed by all.
Saturday dawned fine and we were off to Karamea, stopping for coffee in Waimangaroa at a road side cafe with excellent freshly made scones, some quirky outdoor art and some very friendly Tui in the bushes outside, then off for the quick run up the hill to the Denniston Mine. It’s been 10 years since I was last there and there have been many changes i.e. the road is now two lane and tour buses can now go up. A lot of work has gone into the mine’s history and preserving what is left. An amazing glimpse into the past! Next was an exciting piece of road over the hill to Karamea, tight and twisting through native bush with a couple of road works thrown in!
Lunch in the Karamea hotel was as I expected with fabulous Whitebait Fritters, chips and salad. A quieter trip back to Westport with the rain starting again around Granity, but I was ok as I'd just hopped into a late model MX5 with an electric hardtop for a change of ride! Fortunately the rain was just passing and it soon cleared again.
Pre-dinner drinks again in the rooms before the walk to the Quarry for dinner and the themed fancy dress. Best male went to Zane Purdom and best female to Marg Hawthorne, both dressed as Beetlejuice. Best couple went to Malcolm and Amanda James, as Wayne's World. Top Gun was very popular as well. Great costumes everyone!
Lunch in the Karamea hotel was as I expected with fabulous Whitebait Fritters, chips and salad. A quieter trip back to Westport with the rain starting again around Granity, but I was ok as I'd just hopped into a late model MX5 with an electric hardtop for a change of ride! Fortunately the rain was just passing and it soon cleared again.
Pre-dinner drinks again in the rooms before the walk to the Quarry for dinner and the themed fancy dress. Best male went to Zane Purdom and best female to Marg Hawthorne, both dressed as Beetlejuice. Best couple went to Malcolm and Amanda James, as Wayne's World. Top Gun was very popular as well. Great costumes everyone!
Sunday morning rose with sunshine and the onward trip to Greymouth and Hokitika. Some folk left from Westport back to Christchurch via the Lewis Pass others followed through to Greymouth and went home Via Arthurs Pass. Our first stop was Fox River for coffee at their market that runs from Nov 1 through to April – what an amazing find in the middle of nowhere! Then on to Punakaiki, you could see it was going to be spectacular at the blowholes by the size of the waves on the coast road before Punakaiki. Then it was on to Barrytown to a gentleman who teaches knife-making - but that's not all, he has a collection of cars which is well worth the stop on its own! A number of members also had a go at axe throwing with some interesting styles on display and a number of axes having to be retrieved from the bush!
Lunch was in Greymouth and we were lucky to find something as nearly the whole town was closed, like back in 1963 for those old enough to remember! Beachfront hotel in Hokitika was our accommodation for Sunday night but the Kiwi House was first port of call. As always with Kiwi's you have to be patient to see one, but then it’s rewarding. We were in time for feeding the eels and many of our members got into the hand feeding of these huge fish, some up to 100 years old. A visit that was worth the time. Dinner was in the hotel in the conference room with a kaleidoscope of fabulous photos taken on the trip so far by Erin Oakley, being shown throughout the evening – thanks Erin!
Lunch was in Greymouth and we were lucky to find something as nearly the whole town was closed, like back in 1963 for those old enough to remember! Beachfront hotel in Hokitika was our accommodation for Sunday night but the Kiwi House was first port of call. As always with Kiwi's you have to be patient to see one, but then it’s rewarding. We were in time for feeding the eels and many of our members got into the hand feeding of these huge fish, some up to 100 years old. A visit that was worth the time. Dinner was in the hotel in the conference room with a kaleidoscope of fabulous photos taken on the trip so far by Erin Oakley, being shown throughout the evening – thanks Erin!
Monday morning, last day of the run was a short trip south to Lake Mahinapua to say final farewells before the trip home. A beautiful spot on the West Coast to finish a fantastic weekend run on the best roads in New Zealand, with very special scenery and a group of very special people.
Thank you to the organizing group and to the people that came. I'm sure next year will be as good, so plan for it and book it in your calendars now!
Thank you to the organizing group and to the people that came. I'm sure next year will be as good, so plan for it and book it in your calendars now!
