Mountain biking in Canterbury CANTERBURY CONTENTS Hanmer Forest Park Woodland Walk 7 Upper Dog Stream Track, Jolliffe Saddle Track to Timberland Trail 7 Foothill forests Mt Richardson via Blowhard Track 8 Wharfedale Track 9 Port Hills and Banks Peninsula Godley Head Scenic Reserve 10 Motukarara to Little River Rail Trail 10 Craigieburn Forest Park Lyndon Saddle Loop 11 Craigieburn Valley Loop 12 Broken River ski field road 12 Broken River ski field road to Camp Saddle 12 Dracophyllum Flat Track 13 Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park Starvation Gully to Trig M 14 Trig M to Coach Stream 14 Avoca Homestead 15 National parks Tasman Glacier Road, Aoraki/Mt Cook 16 Mt White Road, Arthur’s Pass 16 Poulter Valley—mountain-bike trial 17 Map 18 Published by Department of Conservation Hakatere Conservation Park Canterbury Conservancy Private Bag 4715 Christchurch, New Zealand Lake Emma to Lake Camp 21 © Copyright 2008 Lake Emma to Balmacaan Saddle 22 New Zealand Department of Conservation ISBN 978-0-478-14387-4 (hardcopy) Double Hill via Turtons Saddle–Comyns Hut 22 ISBN 978-0-478-14388-1 (web PDF) 978 2 3 Lake Heron 22 Mountain biking on Lake Clearwater 23 conservation land in Canterbury North Opuha Conservation Area Opportunities for mountain biking on public conservation land are steadily growing. This brochure outlines many North Opuha Hut 23 tracks that have been made available for bikers on land Tenahaun Conservation Area managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) from Twizel to Hanmer. Most of these are shared or multi-use Rangitata Gorge to track junction 24 tracks. There is something here for most riding abilities. Track junction to Brown Saddle 25 In some areas, DOC has encouraged the use of some Track junction to Moorhouse Stream 25 trails over others, to reduce the impacts on other users. These are trails that are sufficiently wide and well formed to Track junction to Rangitata River 25 withstand multi-use, and have good visibility. Hinds River 25 In other places, riders may travel along public access easements through private freehold land. All these tracks Godley/Macaulay area are well-marked with signs and orange marker poles. Macaulay Hut 26 Please keep to the public easement track, leave gates as you find them, and do not disturb stock. Red Stag Hut 26 Mountain bikers are one of many groups of visitors to our Tekapo/Twizel region conservation lands. Please be aware of the effects of your activities on others and follow the mountain bikers code Lake George Scott 27 of conduct. Contact your local DOC office for updates on Simons Hill 27 track conditions and access before heading out on a ride. Twizel River Trail 28 Note: times given are approximate and one way unless a round trip (loop) is described. Ruataniwha Conservation Park Dusky Trail 29 Track grades Baikie Hut 30 Grade 1: Fairly flat, wide, smooth track or gravel road. Darts Bush Stream 30 Parsons MTB Track 31 Grade 2: Mostly flat with some gentle climbs on Monument Hut 32 smooth track with easily avoidable obstacles such as rocks and potholes. Ahuriri Conservation Park Grade 3: Steep slopes and/or avoidable Shamrock Hut 33 obstacles possibly on narrow track and/or poor Hagens Hut 33 traction. There may be exposure at the track’s outside edge. Omarama surrounds Grade 4: A mixture of long, steep climbs, Wairepo Kettleholes 34 narrow track, poor traction and obstacles that Otamatakou Scenic Reserve 34 are difficult to avoid or jump over. Generally exposed at the track’s outer edge. Most riders will find some sections easier to walk. 4 5 Woodland Walk Hanmer Forest Park 1 Grade: 1 Hanmer Springs is 135 kilometres north of Christchurch, off Lewis Pass Highway (SH 7). Distance: 2.8 km loop Time: 20 minutes The Hanmer area is considered to be the family-friendly Other users: walkers, picnickers mountain-biking capital of the South Island. It offers a range of short to long tracks suitable for beginners and This ride is suitable for beginners and can be accessed young families through to more experienced riders. from either Torquay Terrace or the DOC Jollies Pass car Mountain bikes for the whole family can also be hired in the park. It passes through typical woodland, meadowland Hanmer township. and stands of exotic trees including Douglas fir, poplar and redwood trees. It is a pleasant ride, passing over a stream The mountain-biking tracks are provided and maintained and by flax wetlands and ponds where one can stop and by a range of different organisations. This brochure only picnic. covers the tracks managed by DOC. There are at least 15 other mountain-biking tracks and routes in Hanmer, with Upper Dog Stream Track, Jolliffe Saddle Track more being developed/upgraded. A more comprehensive 2 to Timberland Trail mountain-bike map listing all rides in the area is available from the Hanmer Springs i-SITE Visitor Centre. Grades: From Upper Dog Stream to Jolliffe Saddle – Grade 2 Mountain bikers can also use some forestry roads. Those forestry roads used by heavy vehicles on a regular basis From Jolliffe Saddle to Jolliffe Road – Grade 4 are unsafe for cycling. Please respect signage and locked gates. From Timberland Trail to Woodland Walk – Grade 2 Please note that the two DOC tracks listed below are Distance: 5 km loop dual-use tracks that were initially for walking only. Mountain Time: 1–2 hours biking is now encouraged on these two tracks. Please Other users: walkers watch out for other users, especially children and be aware that mountain bikers must give way to walkers on these Mountain-bike access to this track begins at the DOC tracks. Jollies Pass car park where you follow the first section The footbridge leading of Woodland Walk to Pawsons Road. Once the track from the car park, by crosses Pawsons Road, it follows Upper Dog Stream the DOC office, to the through commercially-managed forest land. About 200 ponds and Woodland metres after crossing Jolliffe Road the track joins a forestry Walk was designed road for about 600 metres before turning left to join up for pedestrians with Jolliffe Saddle Track. A short 600-m section passes and is planned to through mountain beech on conservation land before be replaced. In the entering commercial forestry land again at the saddle. This meantime, if cyclists particular section is steep in places and suitable for more wish to use this bridge experienced riders. they are asked to push Follow the track back to Jolliffe Road, where it joins the their bikes over the downhill Timberland Trail to return to Pawsons Rd and bridge one at a time. connect with Woodland Walk to take you back to the DOC Note: In periods car park. of extreme fire risk tracks will be closed, with signposts by each track and red flags flying in the village. 6 7 Foothill forests 4 Wharfedale Track Grade: 3 The following mountain bike tracks are historic stock routes of reasonable width and gradient and therefore are suitable Distance: 15 km as dual-purpose tracks for both cycling and walking. Time: 3 hours Cyclists please give way to walkers. Other users: walkers Note: The foothill forests are predominately black and Getting there: This track through beech forest starts at mountain beech. Cyclical tree fall and regeneration is a View Hill car park, Oxford Forest. The forest is about 56 km natural characteristic of these forests, particularly after northwest of Christchurch. From the township of Oxford heavy winter snowfalls followed by strong nor-westerlies drive west on State Highway 72 for about 3 km, then turn in the spring. Mountain bikers should be prepared for off along Woodstock Road. After about 10 km turn right up windfalls across tracks at any time. Ingrams Road which then turns into Perhams Road. An AA signpost indicates the turn-off to the start of Wharfedale Wasps are common in beech forests from January to Track. In times of heavy rain two fords on Perhams Road March. It is recommended to carry anti-histamines. may become impassable. 3 Mt Richardson via Blowhard Track The track was formed originally as a stock route, with the Grade: 4 intention of eventually becoming a road. The track sidles and climbs gradually through beech forests to Wharfedale Distance: 10.5 km Saddle (approximately 2 hours ride). It is then downhill Time: 3 hours uphill to Wharfedale Hut. From the car park to the hut is 15 Other users: walkers, horse riders kilometres. Wharfedale Hut is close to Dobson Stream and is a standard 10-bunk hut with mattresses and heating Getting there: Located in the Glentui catchment of Mt (one hut ticket/night). Thomas Forest, the area is about 60 km northwest of Christchurch, and is reached via either Oxford or Loburn. Through the forest the track surface provides technical riding over roots and rocks and bikes need to be carried Blowhard Track starts at the end of Maori Reserve Road over a few small creeks, but the majority is easily ridden. near the Boys Brigade Camp. The track begins as a 4WD track and narrows to a single track as it climbs steeply to A further 2 km from the hut, a bridge crosses Townsend the summit of Mt Richardson (1047 m).There are excellent River and a 4WD track leads through farmland to Lees views of both Lees Valley and the Canterbury Plains along Valley Road (8.5 km). Note: This 4WD track crosses the ridgeline. Return the same way with a fast downhill ride. Townsend River twice and may be impassable if river levels are high.