We thought we should complete the last portion of the Kawitiri trail, the part that ends at Charleston, then follow the road as far as we could, to the lagoon nearly, so we’ve covered the route. We also went up the Nile River and hiked along the trail to the Te Ananui Cave which can only be entered with a guided tour.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQ4NLRJMv
Total distance: 27.18 km Max elevation: 52 m Min elevation: -5 m Total climbing: 479 m Total descent: -476 m Total time: 04:21:43
A little trip up to a large Golden Delicious apple tree, and another “first local electricity generating plant in NZ”. The road carries onto the Maruia Pass Rd which is very highly rated, but it would have been too far for a return trip.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqXBrgZ5LO
Total distance: 43.64 km Max elevation: 288 m Min elevation: 168 m Total climbing: 526 m Total descent: -524 m Total time: 03:25:32
While staying up at Seddonville in the very charming ex-school camping ground so we could do the first section of the Old Ghost Rd, we decided to see if we could bike the Charming Creek Walkway. Unfortunately the bike track was washed out too much at one stream so we walked the rest, probably for the best because the track is very rough with old sleepers all the way.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vwq1RVzmWBv
Total distance: 24.21 km Max elevation: 256 m Min elevation: 9 m Total climbing: 636 m Total descent: -637 m Total time: 10:31:37
I’ve often thought the OGR was not my cup of tea and this ride, through the section rated “easy” by the real heroes who do this track, proves me right. As I may have mentioned, I don’t really enjoy Grade 4, so while the scenery might be great, who would know because you have to concentrate so hard on staying alive.
A bonus was meeting Maddy, a fellow travelling biker who was staying at the wonderful Gentle Annie camping ground further down the road, and who posted a request while we were setting up camp that if anyone was contemplating doing this ride in the next day or so to please get in touch. So we did and it was great
https://www.relive.cc/view/vXvLP7dKD1v
Total distance: 48.43 km Max elevation: 179 m Min elevation: 16 m Total climbing: 1152 m Total descent: -1145 m Total time: 07:28:01
There’s been a bit of a buzz about the Oparara Arches over the last few years. When we were up this way 25 – 30 years ago we heard about the caves from a local who told us where to go and I don’t recall there being any signposts or DOC safety fences anywhere, but I will always remember having to duck as 3 or 4 whio flew close over over us. It’s a bit more organised now, with a information centre and signposts but it’s not really that accessible. The 15km, 400m climb then 200m down again is single lane and very rough, no motor homes allowed, and it won’t ever get crowded as long as they keep it that way. And they will because of the Honeycomb Tunnels here which are seriously protected.
I was impressed by the sign at the bottom of the hill where we had to park the Egg which threatened dog owners with a $100,000 fine for bringing a dog in, even inside your car. Mostly they threaten $200, or even $800.
And it’s a lovely ride through recovering bush, with a lovely short walks to unspoilt caves and a lot of very gratifying comments from the hardy souls who had driven along the road and were seriously impressed by our athleticism.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vdOR49dL1Kq
Total distance: 31.68 km Max elevation: 428 m Min elevation: 16 m Total climbing: 965 m Total descent: -964 m Total time: 05:46:30
Date: 26 Feb 2023
Grade: 2, maybe 3 in small sections
After yesterday’s effort we decided to reward ourselves with a small flat ride on wide , well-groomed paths. 55km, 760m gain with a lot of ups and downs, with a bonus of a Very Good burger at The Shed in Arrowtown for only $12 – cash or bank transfer only.
65% battery used
https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvr3jnLJxO
Total distance: 54.62 km Max elevation: 449 m Min elevation: 311 m Total climbing: 1046 m Total descent: -1043 m Total time: 05:08:56
Welcome Rock is a private trail around a peak south of Garston, Southland. It starts at the old Garston Ski Hut and quickly enters the “nationally protected 200 hectare high country hill station” – https://www.welcomerock.co.nz/ – owned by 4th generation farmers Tom and Katie
It usually a $20 fee, so I called Tom the day before we came here to check in and to see if we would be able to drive the Egg to the old ski hut, the starting point up the hill. He advised us not to try so we said “No worries, we’ll bike up”, whereupon he told us that tomorrow was going to be the annual Brew Chop Day, and we could join in. It used to be an annual event but it got too big so it’s now more something that he sets up by request, and he had 10 or so people booked in for it so we could join in. It starts from his farm house at the bottom of the hill, not far in from Garston, and the deal was that instead of the usual $20 fee, all we had to do was bring a cold chop and a warm beer, and at the end of the ride we would get a hot chop and a cold beer.
It starts with Up, and Up and more Up for more than 700m in 7km with no relief. Then it’s mostly flat around the contour line but most of that is on a very narrow and dished single track that traces the edge of an old water race winding in and out of steep valleys, fine if you fall to the left where, in my experience, you roll gently onto your back under your bike, to the right, however, is a near vertical pastureland with nothing to stop you tumbling to the valley floor. The rest of the gung ho real MTBers took off ahead of us and we slowly walked and rode and stopped to enjoy the view – a lot.
And we arrived back at the farm after a very well deserved rapid descent down a gravel road just as the chops were being served, with the other very well rested riders promising us that they had arrived only 10 minutes before us, bless them. I still don’t enjoy grade 4 though
49km,
Total distance: 47 km Max elevation: 1121 m Min elevation: 361 m Total climbing: 1428 m Total descent: -1392 m Total time: 06:47:34
Just down the Hollyford Rd off the Milford Rd – “It’s only a 3.5km walk” turned into a 2 hour clamber up mostly unformed rocky steep tracks, but well worth the effort and I’ll never go there again.
The photos include a quickie of Milford because we wee only there for an hour, it was a murky day but the carpark was jammed full and the tourist buses were beginning to arrive. We were very happy to stay at a DOC camp just the other side of the tunnel so we could get in and out before the worst of it. There is a nicely done walkway beside a Mirror lake further down the road too.
Te Anau – Manapouri
Date: 23 Feb 2023
We did this ride both ways last time we were down here, so Jill met me at Manapouri this time to make it an easy day. It’s mostly a very easy track with a couple of stretches of grade 3 and a 4 km section on the road still.
31.6km, a surprising 460m of climbing | 36% battery use.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvr3oMmmLO
Total distance: 31.13 km Max elevation: 240 m Min elevation: 190 m Total climbing: 461 m Total descent: -465 m Total time: 01:46:24
Having just done the Upper Clutha, for example, with its isolation being one of the main attractions, the thought that you are seeing something that can only be seen by walkers or cyclists adds a je sais quoi absolutement quality that has to there for a Perfect Trail. This one scores 8/10 for me for great scenic fun with just a bit of exercise and a touch of grade 3 to keep an old man on his toes, but the road within earshot along the other side lake, marks the experience down just a little.
A much-hyped feature, along with the cantilevered pathway, is the halfway floating cafe. We had to stop for a burger and coffee, if only to encourage other people to set up small bars and cafes along all the cycling routes, and if we thought that the profits were going to upkeep the trail we would be happy to pay $26 for a burger (!). I was anyway – it was a great burger although bested by the $12 one in Arrowtown. There’s great biking for burger lovers around here.
We thought up a brilliant, ie cheap, scheme for doing the trail one way. We parked in Cromwell and booked a fare on the Intercity bus at 5:30pm from Clyde so that one of us could go back to pick up the Egg while the other waited with the bikes. DON’T TRY THIS! The bus, which was 1 1/2 hrs late, only stops at the Otago Rail Trailhead which is just too far out of town to be able to wait in a friendly bar, the scenario I had in mind. Serves us right for being cheap.
Total distance: 53.7 km Max elevation: 339 m Min elevation: 144 m Total climbing: 1109 m Total descent: -1157 m Total time: 06:19:38
Feb 12 2023
Grade 3+
A local favourite and not much publicised, but this was one of the best one day rides we have done anywhere. There are plans afoot to make the Upper Clutha track a much more family-friendly Grade 2 track, and possibly extend it to Cromwell
https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvxpMyZe9v
Total distance: 37.62 km Max elevation: 315 m Min elevation: 250 m Total climbing: 629 m Total descent: -634 m Total time: 03:58:45
They say “Intermediate” on the sign but it is definitely G4 most of the way, and I have to concentrate too much at that level to enjoy the ride – it’s more like achieving than having fun.
There are beautiful views of Wanaka that can’t be had any other way and we enjoyed it so much we took the road home. I’ve since heard from quite a few other riders that they did the same.
https://www.relive.cc/view/v26Mr52XNEq
Total distance: 44.31 km Max elevation: 351 m Min elevation: 281 m Total climbing: 698 m Total descent: -701 m Total time: 03:40:42