Mountain Mountain bike biking in track grades Mackenzie / Waitaki Grade 1 Fairly flat, wide, smooth track or gravel road. • Protect plants and animals SOUTH CANTERBURY / OTAGO • Remove rubbish Grade 2 • Bury toilet waste Mostly flat with some gentle climbs on smooth • Keep streams track with easily avoidable obstacles such as and lakes clean rocks and potholes. • Take care with fires • Camp carefully Grade 3 • Keep to the track Steep slopes and/or avoidable obstacles possibly on narrow track and/or with poor traction. There • Consider others may be exposure at the track’s outside edge. • Respect our cultural heritage • Enjoy your visit Grade 4 A mixture of long, steep climbs, narrow track, poor • Toitu te whenua traction and difficult obstacles to avoid or jump (Leave the land undisturbed) over. Generally exposed at the track outside edge. Most riders will find some sections easier to walk. Grade 5 Technically challenging. Giant climbs, narrow track and numerous hazards including dangerous drop-offs, sharp corners and difficult obstacles. Expect walking and possibly bike carrying. Published by: Department of Conservation Canterbury Conservancy Private Bag 4715 Christchurch Mail Centre Christchurch 8140 June 2013 Editing and design: Publishing Team, DOC National Office Cover image: Dave Mitchell am tre S tion Separa A N A O M E T O I see IR Aoraki/Mt Cook IT page 5 IR T Ā r K G e v / o i d R S l P e y y L a l A R u a i N v c a R e r M E H T Aoraki/Mount Cook U T O a S s m see a see n page 8 R page 6 i v e D r o A / p O T a R e k e A T w a e K k W a N A h L Lake B a Y k see L Alexandrina I o a H L a m t o a page 8 p O u k / i n r s e v R i i R v e n r o Lake Tekapo / 80 s T b see e o D A page 7 w Lake a Ā r Pukaki 8 u h e Burkes r Pass see e v T i w R i page 13 z e l o R p iv a e k see r e see page 10 T page Lake Lake Pukaki see 20 P u Ohau k a page 9 k see i R page 12 Twizel iv e T r w iz e L l A R K E iv O e H see r AU RO page 14 AD T Q see H U Lake A E A IL page B Benmore h U B u R 15 H IR r N ir U C i R H O N W R A O D T O iv D e E r R R Omarama O S A D D H R I UT see L see H L N S 8 E page 15 page 18 K O 83 R B Lake Lindis Otematata Aviemore Pass see page 16 Kurow D A O R S r N e U v i R R N a i U k i D r Public conservation land K e h W u A n St Bathans H a Information centre M N 0 8 kilometres 85 Public conservation land General information This brochure provides information on places where you can mountain bike on public land or public access easements managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). There are opportunities for all riding capabilities. Remember to follow the mountain bikers code (left) when biking. Public access easements Some of the following mountain bike rides travel along public access easements through private land. All easements are well marked with orange PVC marker poles. Please: • stay on the public easement track • leave gates as you find them • do not disturb stock—cycle slowly through livestock areas What to take The climate in Mackenzie and Waitaki Basins is traditionally very hot in summer and extremely cold in winter. New Zealand weather can change very rapidly so mountain bikers need to be prepared for a range of conditions. In addition to the items mentioned in the mountain bikers code, take sun block, sunglasses, and raincoat. Padded shorts and padded gloves Legend will reduce the effects of jarring on dry, bumpy tracks. Wear a helmet if you are going backcountry and take a topographic Car park Track map with a compass and GPS. Camping area Walking track Te Araroa Huts Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail Te Araroa is a walking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. 4WD track Parts of the trail are suitable for mountain biking. See www.teararoa.org.nz for more information. Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail This new cycle trail goes from Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to Oamaru. Parts of the trail travel through public conservation land and are profiled in this brochure. The trail from Aoraki/Mount Cook through to Omarama was officially opened in 2013. Go to www.alps2ocean.com for further details. 2 3 Lake Tekapo The following two rides travel along river valleys north of Lake Tekapo. Both trips require a crossing of the Macaulay River which can be difficult to negotiate in periods of high rainfall and snowmelt. Mountain bikers can leave their car at the designated parking area at the end of Lilybank Road (prior to crossing Macaulay River). Maps: Topo50 BW17, BX17 Macaulay valley to Macaulay Hut Grade 2 Distance: 18 km one way, 200 m vertical A 4WD track travels along the Macaulay riverbed and tussock flats to Macaulay Hut. This hut is run by the Mackenzie Alpine Trust and sleeps 14 people. Donations are appreciated. Godley valley to Red Stag Hut Grade 2 Distance: 25 km one way, 160 m vertical A formed 4WD track travels along the eastern side of the Godley River valley. Follow a public road which is marked through Lilybank Station and then continue up the Godley valley on stony river flats. Red Stag Hut is run by the NZ Deer Stalkers Association ($5 p/p). Mountain bikers can continue up the Godley valley as far as Separation Stream, which is where the 4WD track finishes. 4 Track to Red Stag Hut 5 Te Kahui Kaupeka Cowans Hill Conservation Park – Richmond Trail Grade 2 Distance: 3.2 km circuit Grade 4 Distance: 13 km one way This well-formed track is signposted off State Richmond Trail is a fantastic mountain bike Highway 8 on the outskirts of Tekapo, just past Lilybank Road. ride and is part of Te Araroa. The track starts It is a short circuit track and is also well used by walkers. at a signposted car park on Roundhill Ski Area road. Ride 3 km up the gravel road to the start of Richmond Trail which is well marked. The track meanders along an old glacial terrace with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Tekapo. The descent back down to Lilybank Road is technical but these sections can be walked. The actual Richmond Trail is 13 km long, however, for bikers to return to the car park it is a distance of approximately 26 km. 6 7 Lake Pukaki area Twizel area Tasman River Track Pukaki Flats Conservation Area Grade 2 Distance: 10 km one way Grade 2 Various options exist You reach this track from Pukaki Flats Conservation Area is 1.5 km north Braemar Mount Cook Station Road. of Twizel township. It is an open, expansive This is a gravel road and you may block of hard tussock grasslands with sweeping encounter logging vehicles so drive views towards Aoraki/Mount Cook on a glorious carefully (stock may also be grazing day. This conservation area certainly provides a the road verges). The track starts at sense of the vastness of Mackenzie Basin! Both Jollie River car park and finishes at Te Araroa and Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail travel Tasman Point near Chop Creek. Return through here. the same way. Large glacial erratics (boulders) and rocky bluffs provide interest along with stunning views of the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana. This track is part of Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. Twizel River Trail Braemar Road to Landslip Creek Grade 2 Distance: 12 km one way, 90 m vertical Grade 2 Distance: 10 km one way Twizel River Trail is a great ride for the whole family. Look out for the DOC sign It runs parallel to the Twizel River and provides plenty of on Braemar Road for the shady rest stops and opportunities for swimming along the car parking area. Ride on way. At the trail end, riders can either retrace the same route the marked public access or, alternatively, follow a well-formed track beside Ohau River easement along the top of Road back to the start. Wash-outs can affect this track during what is an ancient glacial periods of heavy rainfall. terrace. This track leads to Landslip Creek and public conservation land. Return the same way. 8 9 Ruataniwha Dusky Trail Grade 2 Distance: 23 km circuit Conservation Park Dusky Trail ride is signposted on Glen Lyon Road. Baikie Hut Bikers travel up beside Fraser Stream and then traverse along Grade 2 Distance: 9 km one way, 200 m vertical the tussock flats below Ben Ohau This is a short mountain bike ride from the Range. A descent down Gladstone Ruataniwha Conservation Park car park on Aoraki/Mount valley leads to a crossing of Twizel Cook highway (SH80).