20% Gravel Road
20% Sealed Road
60% 4WD Track
Description
The track starts from the car park on the Ashburton Gorge Road at the Stour River. From here a very well made track across private land takes you to the Hakatere Conservation Area. The next 12kms are on easy 4WD tracks with a few small river crossings until you reach a sign for the Manuka hut. The track to the hut is a little less well worn, but is still easy and fast. The Manuka hut is a basic corrugated metal hut with a fireplace and bunks.
On the way back from the hut to Lake Emily there is a sign that looks like it points towards a shortcut up a steep hillside. This route is not suitable for bikes, it is at first steep, and then it’s through thick matagari and spear grass. Your tyres and lower legs will not thank you for dragging your bike through. Instead carry on back to the main junction. Back on the main track the route is good and fast past lake Emily for a couple of kilometers. Although the last bit down to the gravel road can be extremely muddy.
All that is left once you’re on the road is an easy pedal back to the car, first on gravel then on tarmac.