Maitai Rally Adventure Ride 3-5/11/06

[far queue]

The Maitai Rally near Nelson is on 3-5/11/06. My plans are as follows …

Friday 3/11
Leave Christchurch around 2pm on the Friday heading up on the seal via Lewis Pass with a 40km Gravel Rd excursion between Burnbrae (20km Nth of Maruia) and Murchison, and then back onto the seal to the site. All up around 438km with around 40km of gravel. See map 1 for the gravel section.

Saturday 4/11
After Friday night on the turps it’ll be a relaxed start to the day. Head off around 10ish up the Maungatapu Track to Pelorus Bridge, up to Rai Valley, then continue on the main road back towards Nelson and cut through the Hira Forest back to the rally site. All up around 90km made up of 34km of seal with the rest being a mixture of gravel road, 4wd track, and pylon track. The pace will be relaxed with stops for photos, and should only take a couple of hours as, not having been to this rally before, I want to get back to the site early afternoon to take it all in. See map 2 for the planned route.

Sunday 5/11
Leave the site, head south to Wakefield, then onto the gravel to St Arnaud, then continue on over the Rainbow Rd to Hanmer Springs, then back onto the seal to Christchurch. All up around 348km, made up of around 169km seal and 179km of gravel. I’ve arranged access for a group of bikes to travel Rainbow Rd, all that’s required now is for us to stop off at the homestead and pay $10 each to get through the locked gate.

There are 2 of us doing this trip – me, and a mate on a KLR650. If anyone else is interested in joining us for part or all of it just yell out.

Edit 02/10/06
Change of start time - meeting at BP Marshlands at 1230 Friday 03/11/06

[kro]

If the DR is sorted by then, I will set out with you on the Saturday, and take you over the Maungatapu, only as far as the bridge, as I am not road regd. It's not a long leg of the trip, but it's a bit of fun. If it wasn't too late in the day, I could wait at one of the roadside gates in the Hira, and lead you back into Central Nelson via the Hira, which is a magic ride.

If my brothers shift work coincides, we will both join you for these bits of your journey. I'll pm you my details later, so we can see if it all works closer to the date. I have done a fair bit of the Hira, it's worth taking the scenic long way home, the scenery is stunning.

[warewolf]

After the Burnbrae into Murch, TR at Longford, TL Tutaki, TR Braeburn Track to Rotoroa. Braeburn is real easy with 4 concrete-lined fords. The western-most one is the deepest, usually. From Rotoroa you can head north to SH6 on the seal (the easy, fast way), or keep heading east onto the Porika Track. This one is much like the Maungatapu Track. Then TL Howard Valley Rd, which spits you out on SH63. TR for St Arnaud or TL for SH6.

The Hira forest Central Rd that joins the Maitai Valley to the Whangamoa Saddle is currently closed for logging. That includes the Teal Saddle Rd out to the caretaker's cottage at the start of the Maungatapu. If anyone knows any different, please let me know - I'll be up there tomorrow if it's open! If there are other ways to join SH6 to the Maitai, I'm all ears.

Hopefully we can catch up. Don't know if I'm going to the rally yet.

Hmm, wonder if Matakitaki Station can be approached to access a through route from Burnbrae to Tutaki??

[miSTa]

Sounds like a plan, I'm keen.

It's a good rally (I've been to all of them - all two) and I like your idea for Saturday. I don't see the point in going all the way up there and not spend any time at the site.

As for the Friday I think it would be better to leave at 12:00 rather than 2:00 ...

[far queue]

If the DR is sorted by then, I will set out with you on the Saturday ... I have done a fair bit of the Hira, it's worth taking the scenic long way home, the scenery is stunning.

Sounds like a plan, it would be good to have some local knowledge along with us. I'd like to see the results of all your hard work too.

After the Burnbrae into Murch, TR at Longford, TL Tutaki, TR Braeburn Track to Rotoroa. Braeburn is real easy with 4 concrete-lined fords. The western-most one is the deepest, usually. From Rotoroa you can head north to SH6 on the seal (the easy, fast way), or keep heading east onto the Porika Track. This one is much like the Maungatapu Track. Then TL Howard Valley Rd, which spits you out on SH63. TR for St Arnaud or TL for SH6.

Thanks, I'll check it out on the topo maps at work tomorrow to see where you're talking about.

The Hira forest Central Rd that joins the Maitai Valley to the Whangamoa Saddle is currently closed for logging.

Hopefully it'll be opened up again by the time we get there.

Hopefully we can catch up. Don't know if I'm going to the rally yet.

Yep, be good to catch up.

Sounds like a plan, I'm keen.

It's a good rally (I've been to all of them - all two) and I like your idea for Saturday. I don't see the point in going all the way up there and not spend any time at the site.

Yes, I've heard good things about it and have tried to get there before - this year the timing finally worked out right.

As for the Friday I think it would be better to leave at 12:00 rather than 2:00 ...

I only finish work at 12, so figured on a 2pm start by the time I get home, feed, get changed and leave. If it was earlier, it wouldn't be by much.

[warewolf]

Hopefully it'll be opened up again by the time we get there.

Here's hoping, but it's been closed for more than a year. Spoke to some people about it just the other day, they said don't expect it to be open anytime soon.

I've done about half of it from the Maitai side. Internally the closures move around a bit - except for the Teal-Central-Wangamoa link. It is worth going in from the Maitai side for a look-see. Late Autumn I went up there on a gloomy overcast day, and managed to climb into the sunshine above the clouds. That was a nice ride!

Tell you what, I'll do a ride close to the event so you will know ahead of time what you're getting in to. It's not like I'm not there regularly anyway... Nelson-Pelorus via either SH6 or Maungatapu is my 'sanity ride' as a break from the office.

[cooneyr]

I'd be in but you know the story - unavoidable family commitments.

R

[far queue]

Tell you what, I'll do a ride close to the event so you will know ahead of time what you're getting in to.

That would be great if you could. Thanks.

I'd be in but you know the story - unavoidable family commitments.

Yeah, I know, bummer. I'll be sure to tell you what an awesome ride it was

[far queue]

After the Burnbrae into Murch, TR at Longford, TL Tutaki, TR Braeburn Track to Rotoroa. Braeburn is real easy with 4 concrete-lined fords. The western-most one is the deepest, usually. From Rotoroa you can head north to SH6 on the seal (the easy, fast way), or keep heading east onto the Porika Track. This one is much like the Maungatapu Track. Then TL Howard Valley Rd, which spits you out on SH63. TR for St Arnaud or TL for SH6.

OK, I’ve sussed it out – looks good. A question though – you say that Porika Track is much like Maungatapu Track, but what’s that like? I’ve not been on either, nor heard of them before planning this trip. Maungatapu looks OK for the Sat with a light bike, but what will Porika be like on the Friday with a fully loaded bike? The contour lines are very close together on the map, and the track appears to go straight up the ridge line. I have a mental picture of a steep, rutted, clay pylon track. Tell me I’m wrong.

As for the Friday I think it would be better to leave at 12:00 rather than 2:00 ...

OK, change of start time. Meeting at BP Marshlands at 1230 now. I’ll start work early and get away early to give us extra time to do the diversions suggested by Warewolf (depending on the Porika track condition) and still arrive with a reasonable amount of daylight left.

[cooneyr]

OK, I’ve sussed it out – looks good. A question though – you say that Porika Track is much like Maungatapu Track, but what’s that like? I’ve not been on either, nor heard of them before planning this trip. Maungatapu looks OK for the Sat with a light bike, but what will Porika be like on the Friday with a fully loaded bike? The contour lines are very close together on the map, and the track appears to go straight up the ridge line. I have a mental picture of a steep, rutted, clay pylon track. Tell me I’m wrong.

These are the two tracks I was trying to convince you to do. The Rotoiti side (northern) of the Porika track is reasonable gravel road that will be a piece of cake. The Rotora side is a series of very sharp switchbacks up a steep face.The road is gravel to rocky. Needed low gear in the 4x4 last time went through but only cause switchbacks are tight (turning circle of old cruiser is crap hence ended up cutting corner) and it is a little rocky. The steepness (go wide around corners) shouldnt be a problem the rockyness may be with gear on. I'd give it ago and I've never riden anywhere with gear on yet.

I'd say it was developed to allow ECNZ 4x4 trucks (old RM and MK bedfords maybe?) up when they put the power line though.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

OK, so going by what you say, and what the map shows, it's just the bit I've circled in red that's the dodgy bit? The contours spread out after that and then it's gravel rd. That 1st bit is 3km long with a 400m climb (1:7.5), sounds like it might be worth a crack.

The other map is our planned route home from Wakefield to Rainbow - what's that like? I know it's flattish - but gravel or seal? I'm hoping for gravel.

[cooneyr]

OK, so going by what you say, and what the map shows, it's just the bit I've circled in red that's the dodgy bit? The contours spread out after that and then it's gravel rd. That 1st bit is 3km long with a 400m climb (1:7.5), sounds like it might be worth a crack.

I'm guessing but I'd say that only about half (up to the north eastern of the two close pylons) is the rocky bit. From there on is the good gravel road through the bush.

The other map is our planned route home from Wakefield to Rainbow - what's that like? I know it's flattish - but gravel or seal? I'm hoping for gravel.

Most of that a sealed road however, the Eighty Eight Valley (from Wakefield to Wai iti Road) is mostly gravel (good gravel). Once you turn left onto the Wai iti Road (@ Hiwipaogo??? on your map) then it is seal all the way to Rainbow Skifield Road (turns off the Rainbow Road a little south of your map edge). From there good gravel all the way to Hamner.

Wish I was going You lucky lucky barsted (to quote Monty Python).

Cheers
R

[warewolf]

OK, so going by what you say, and what the map shows, it's just the bit I've circled in red that's the dodgy bit? The contours spread out after that and then it's gravel rd. That 1st bit is 3km long with a 400m climb (1:7.5), sounds like it might be worth a crack.

Yes, yes and yes! Umm, when I did it, it was in winter, on a road tyre, with a pillion, in misty rain. Rainbow skifield was closed due to the conditions.

It is very steep on the Rotoroa side, and down the other side some way. At times rocky and rough, others just steep and gravel. Not horribly rutted. The bulk of the distance on the Howard Valley side is a doddle, that is, where the map shows a gravel road not a track. My over-riding impression was the roughness. With a pillion I couldn't just stand up on the pegs and blast over everything. Had to slow right down, letting the bike roll through and over stuff that solo I'd just be floating over.

[Edit: Bugger it, will have to go do a reccy solo!]

You're into the worst straight off the bottom at Rotoroa. You could go have a look, if it seems too much, roll back down and proceed north on the tar seal. Would only cost you a couple of minutes, but I'd expect you'll come through.

Now you got me thinking I should scoot out there and meet you...ride back in to town with you. Hmm...Friday arvo drinks starts at 4pm...

The other map is our planned route home from Wakefield to Rainbow - what's that like? I know it's flattish - but gravel or seal? I'm hoping for gravel.

Glad you picked that up - didn't want to flood you with ideas. As already said, along Eighty Eight Valley Rd it's mostly tar seal with some good gravel: only the bit from Quail Valley Rd to Hiwipango. However, Quail Valley Rd itself is gravel. These are major gravel roads with corrugations from use.

Another option may be Tapawera-Glenhope Rd and/or Sherry River Rd. Haven't done those myself yet.

[warewolf]

you say that Porika Track is much like Maungatapu Track, but what’s that like? I’ve not been on either, nor heard of them before planning this trip.

Maungatapu was dealt to earlier this year when power work was done, so they could get the vehicles in easily. Ruts & greasy clay sections smoothed off and filled in with road rock.

Like the Porika, I rode it in winter with a pillion and road tyre. Same comments apply. This time no rain but all shaded puddles were solid with ice, and all puddles in the 4wd wheel tracks had smashed ice laying around them. Have also done it on the DR-Z250 with pure road tyres (ME33/ME55) without any dramas, just had to watch the speed into the corners along the fast gravel stuff at the Pelorus end.

Here's the description I sent to 4skins in Feb:

I've ridden it after the rain in recent months, and there were no boggy/slippery bits. Mostly it is rocky. Pelorus to the saddle would not be too much of a challenge for a novice in any weather. Gentle slopes, no deep loose rocky steep climbs that I remember.

From Nelson, the track starts at the caretakers cottage overlooking the dam, goes down a very well built road to a ford at the bottom. After the ford, the first main climb is very steep on hard-packed clay/gravel. After that, there are a couple of short, sharp, rough, loose rock descents. IIRC they are around sharp blind left handers, so be ready! Say 30m-ish long each; short enough that someone more experienced could ride those sections for the novice, without holding up the party much at all. Slowing the bike beyond walking pace results in locked wheels and little halt to progress! You need to be confident enough to roll through the bumps and not stop.

That will get you to the headwaters of the Maitai dam. From here, it is easy going along a bumpy, rocky track which can have big puddles after rain - good fun! The rocky sections have rock-bottomed puddles. There are a couple of gravel/clay sections which can have muddy puddles approaching the width of the road, but nothing too dramatic.

The next hazard would be a long-ish (100-200m) steep, loose rocky climb, finishing at a small wooden bridge. This could give your novice a hard time. It is the sort of climb where you have to work hard to balance the bike, and can lose traction often. Again, someone more experienced could assist if necessary. Getting going again mid-climb might be too difficult for a novice.

That is the worst of it. From there, the track winds its way up to the saddle. It can be steep, tight and loose but usually not at the same time! It is never as difficult as the earlier bits. Pleasant amongst the trees; real nice.

Be aware this road can be heavily trafficked, so at all times be prepared for 4wds to appear.

Off to the sides are tracks that are much more technical; they are access to the power pylons.

Overall it is a great track, even if we get rain before the end of the week you'll be fine. I'm sure riders of all abilities will find it a blast.

[miSTa]

OK, change of start time. Meeting at BP Marshlands at 1230 now. I’ll start work early and get away early to give us extra time to do the diversions suggested by Warewolf (depending on the Porika track condition) and still arrive with a reasonable amount of daylight left.

Duly noted, excellent.

Sounds like we are going to have some great diversions, looking forward to it.