Author Archives: laurence

Ghost Road Roundabout

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Effort: 5/5
Technical: 5/5
Scenery: 4/5
Surface
50% Singletrack
30% 4wd track
10% Sealed
10% Gravel Road

Possibly the best multi day mountain bike loop in New Zealand

Statistics
Total distance: 82.26 km
Max elevation: 1346 m
Min elevation: 27 m
Total climbing: 4526 m
Total descent: -4607 m
Moving Time: 08:20:17
Statistics
Total distance: 85.02 km
Max elevation: 714 m
Min elevation: 6 m
Total climbing: 2441 m
Total descent: -2428 m
Moving Time: 07:37:53

Rangitata Gorge

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Effort: 4/5
Technical: 3/5
Scenery: 4/5
Surface
30% Singletrack
30% 4wd
30% Unridable

Ride (mostly hike) through the gorge to a cow and matagouri covered valley.

Parking for the gorgeKind of exposed trackRangitata gorgeDead cow cornerSmall bit of decent track in the gorgeLeaving the gorgeOverly friendly cows are still scaryHutUp to Brown SaddleView from brown saddle

Statistics
Total distance: 26.05 km
Max elevation: 889 m
Min elevation: 365 m
Total climbing: 1660 m
Total descent: -1660 m
Moving Time: 03:18:43

Teetotal Flats

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Effort: 2/5
Technical: 3/5
Scenery: 3.5/5
Surface
95% Singletrack
5% 4wd

Mostly easy and intermediate tracks through lovely beech forest.

Icy in the shadeFrosty frostyRooty forest singletrackFlying Moa trackLink to the village

Statistics
Total distance: 18.38 km
Max elevation: 854 m
Min elevation: 566 m
Total climbing: 750 m
Total descent: -744 m
Moving Time: 01:45:47

Wairoa Gorge

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Effort: 1/5
Technical: 5/5
Scenery: 3.5/5
Surface
100% Singletrack

Private bike park run by Nelson Mountain Bike Club. Totally worth the expense of a shuttle day.

Snow on the irvine hut deck

Statistics
Total distance: 62.74 km
Max elevation: 995 m
Min elevation: 233 m
Total climbing: 7337 m
Total descent: -8026 m
Moving Time: 04:36:21

Cuckoo Creek

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Effort: 3/5
Technical: 4/5
Scenery: 4/5
Surface
50% Singletrack
50% Gravel road

Brilliant little downhill track, fairly tight and rooty through beech forest.

Statistics
Total distance: 12.1 km
Max elevation: 1178 m
Min elevation: 840 m
Total climbing: 1479 m
Total descent: -1532 m
Moving Time: 01:06:36

Mt Isobel – Addiction

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Effort: 4/5
Technical: 4.5/5
Scenery: 4.5/5
Surface
50% Singletrack
45% Gravel road
5% 4wd track

Loop round and down an old and overgrown track of Mt Isobel summit ridge

Track off the gravelUnrideable section of ridgeVery subtle cairn marking the start of the descentNot an obvious trackGetting less overgrownStill quite overgrownFinally into the trail area

Statistics
Total distance: 22.96 km
Max elevation: 959 m
Min elevation: 375 m
Total climbing: 1060 m
Total descent: -1045 m
Moving Time: 02:06:31

Halswell Quarry Park

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Effort: 2/5
Technical: 2.5/5
Scenery: 2.5/5
Surface
100% Singletrack

Great short, intermediate trails at the foot of the port hills.

Statistics
Total distance: 11.17 km
Max elevation: 114 m
Min elevation: 13 m
Total climbing: 522 m
Total descent: -524 m
Moving Time: 00:53:06

Hakatere – Mystery Clearwater connection

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Effort: 4/5
Technical: 2/5
Scenery: 4.7/5
Surface
50% Singletrack
50% 4wd

Good XC loop from dog stream taking in mystery and clearwater lakes.

Lake Clearwater in the backgroundFixing a broken brake leverFlooded track around mystery lakeDescent from Mystery LakeEasy goingShort carry sectionCruise back to the car

Statistics
Total distance: 41.85 km
Max elevation: 1128 m
Min elevation: 612 m
Total climbing: 1080 m
Total descent: -1082 m
Moving Time: 03:35:58

Ghost Lake run

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Morning run around ghost lake via a summit scramble

InversionGhost Lake HutScrambly ridge runEasy going summit ridge

Statistics
Total distance: 3.24 km
Max elevation: 1379 m
Min elevation: 1194 m
Total climbing: 285 m
Total descent: -284 m
Moving Time: 00:32:45

Old Ghost Road & Charming Creek

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Effort: 4/5
Technical: 4/5
Scenery: 4.8/5
Surface
100% Singletrack
Some sealed and unsealed road between the two tracks

Superb route through forests, along ridges, past huge drops, waterfalls, cosy huts, big views, dramatic gorges and an old railway line.

Climb to lyellExposed sectionGhost LakeStern Valley HutThe bone yardMokihinui ForksFinal gorgeOld mine workingsCharming creek waterfall-2048x648

Statistics
Total distance: 28.38 km
Max elevation: 1346 m
Min elevation: 103 m
Total climbing: 1690 m
Total descent: -580 m
Moving Time: 03:31:08
Statistics
Total distance: 34.95 km
Max elevation: 1234 m
Min elevation: 124 m
Total climbing: 1708 m
Total descent: -2814 m
Moving Time: 02:57:42
Statistics
Total distance: 38.29 km
Max elevation: 258 m
Min elevation: 16 m
Total climbing: 1388 m
Total descent: -1489 m
Moving Time: 02:40:43