Reefton Greymouth area route instructions please

[Howie]

Hi guys, i'm planning a few days in the top half of the south island in a couple of weeks. I noticed on my maps that the Ahaura-Kopara rd ends at the Ahaura river, with Haupiri road on the other side. Is this river reasonably easy to cross?
Google satellite shows it as a semi braided river with tracks leading to both sides.
NZ fishing shows both sides as access to the river here http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWate...AhauraTopo.htm

Has anyone attempted to cross it? as it would make a good loop with Lake Hochsetter.

cheers

Paul

[marks]

when are you heading down?

I will be in the area between 25th Feb & 1st Mar?

[Howie]

when are you heading down?

I will be in the area between 25th Feb & 1st Mar?

well those are the dates I'm aiming at heading down/coming home, Plan on going into the Clarence river reserve at least one of the open days toying with the idea of going in on the friday and camping the night, other than that I was just going to do some of the easier tracks/routes that I haven't ridden before.

[Monstaman]

Hi guys, i'm planning a few days in the top half of the south island in a couple of weeks. I noticed on my maps that the Ahaura-Kopara rd ends at the Ahaura river, with Haupiri road on the other side. Is this river reasonably easy to cross?
Google satellite shows it as a semi braided river with tracks leading to both sides.
NZ fishing shows both sides as access to the river here http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWate...AhauraTopo.htm

Has anyone attempted to cross it? as it would make a good loop with Lake Hochsetter.

cheers

Paul

Heya Paul, absolute no go there on a bike, you can cross from Flagstaff flat in The Hochstetter Forest in a 4wd if you pick your line but not a on a bike.

Same right at the top with Haupiri road, very rough and basically unfordable by bike, even in the truck it is a mission and soon as it starts to turn brown forget it.

Also at Christmas with the huge storm there is massive tree fell in Hochstetter and it still may not be cleared yet so you may not even get out to Flagstaff flat.

Worth the trip and the look but short of an Armageddon size drought it is not doable.

[JATZ]

Hi guys, i'm planning a few days in the top half of the south island in a couple of weeks. I noticed on my maps that the Ahaura-Kopara rd ends at the Ahaura river, with Haupiri road on the other side. Is this river reasonably easy to cross?
Google satellite shows it as a semi braided river with tracks leading to both sides.
NZ fishing shows both sides as access to the river here http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWate...AhauraTopo.htm

Has anyone attempted to cross it? as it would make a good loop with Lake Hochsetter.

cheers

Paul

We looked at going across and spoke to a farmer on the northern side, he didn't think we'd get bikes across as it's pretty bouldery, however we didn't actually get to the river. I think it would be worth a look, besides which the road into the river is a honey
Would be good to link the 2 roads up. Can I recomend heading into Hochsetter from the Nelson crk end and coming out on the Kopara rd, We did it last Labour weekend and the track was getting a bit washed out.

[Howie]

Heya Paul, absolute no go there on a bike, you can cross from Flagstaff flat in The Hochstetter Forest in a 4wd if you pick your line but not a on a bike.

Same right at the top with Haupiri road, very rough and basically unfordable by bike, even in the truck it is a mission and soon as it starts to turn brown forget it.

Also at Christmas with the huge storm there is massive tree fell in Hochstetter and it still may not be cleared yet so you may not even get out to Flagstaff flat.

Worth the trip and the look but short of an Armageddon size drought it is not doable.

We looked at going across and spoke to a farmer on the northern side, he didn't think we'd get bikes across as it's pretty bouldery, however we didn't actually get to the river. I think it would be worth a look, besides which the road into the river is a honey
Would be good to link the 2 roads up. Can I recomend heading into Hochsetter from the Nelson crk end and coming out on the Kopara rd, We did it last Labour weekend and the track was getting a bit washed out.

Thanks for the replies Monstaman, and JATZ. might do as you sugest Jatz, and maybe ride both roads but miss out the river crossing if it's a rough one. Apparently there is also an old logging road off the Ahaura-Kopara rd, heading north towards the Clarke river, so could poke my nose up that as well.

Cheers

Paul

[ADVGD]

Can I recomend heading into Hochsetter from the Nelson crk end and coming out on the Kopara rd, We did it last Labour weekend and the track was getting a bit washed out.

I'd agree with you there JATZ, did that about a month ago, a few sections certainly getting a bit washed out. A good ride

[ADVGD]

Got an article coming with details and photos on Ahaura-Kopara Road, in the meantime if you are heading that way and looking for a place to stay, Jims Flat Hut is a great option

Jims Flat Hut information



Jims Flat Hut information

[Howie]

Got an article coming with details and photos on Ahaura-Kopara Road, in the meantime if you are heading that way and looking for a place to stay, Jims Flat Hut is a great option

Thanks fot that, good information to have, think I'll have to go for a ride up that way.

Cheers

Paul

[Monstaman]

Thanks fot that, good information to have, think I'll have to go for a ride up that way.

Cheers

Paul

There is still plenty there Paul, doesn't matter not getting the loop as there is still plenty of beautiful country to look at and ride.

Shingle roads from Kotuku through to Notown with so cool off road stuff too, and from Just south of Ngahee through to the Nelson Creek road.

You won't get board, in fact you will run out of time, let me know if you want some specific info and I can help point you in the right direction

[NordieBoy]

Had a post up on youtube on the NOIITS Part 2 vid that says Waitahu River Road has been washed out and is impassable.

Impassable or even better?

[marks]

Had a post up on youtube on the NOIITS Part 2 vid that says Waitahu River Road has been washed out and is impassable.

Impassable or even better?

last time we went through late last year it was blocked by some big trees - but nothing a bit of 'track making' couldn't fix.

will hopefully be doing this track again on Sun 28th Feb or Mon 29th

[richyrich]

hey,3 or 4 0f us from dunedin are heading up that way on the 26th for a few days exploring,keen to check that area around hochstetter, also any other places that might be interesting.we will be on enduro bikes and always keen on a bit of track clearing if it means getting somewhere.
any info on some good track would be much appreciated as the coast is a whole new world for us.

[hayd3n]

it would be great to have access to a tractor and a decent trailer and cross that river!!!

[Howie]

hey,3 or 4 0f us from dunedin are heading up that way on the 26th for a few days exploring,keen to check that area around hochstetter, also any other places that might be interesting.we will be on enduro bikes and always keen on a bit of track clearing if it means getting somewhere.
any info on some good track would be much appreciated as the coast is a whole new world for us.

Hi, I was hoping someone that had ridden in that area more than myself would have replied. The tracks I know of down that way are Denniston to new creek (Denniston - Mackley), and Mt Rochfort a description of which can be found Here in the pdf files. Most of the other tracks on that site appear to be for mountain bikes only.

Other tracks in the area are Big river, Waitahu river, Lake Hochstetter, and Mount Greenland which is further south just out of Ross but have no idea what they are like. Are your bikes Road legal? as that probably affects the area's you can ride in.

Cheers

Paul