Wairau River Northbank Road

[cooneyr]

Bit of back ground. Looking pretty likely that the Molesworth wont be opening this year so need a Plan B for the Dusty Butt (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=59894). It has been suggested we might be able to go up the north bank (true left) of the Wairau river and cross the Wairau back to SH 63 then carry on to the Rainbow etc. We need to check this route out first though as none of us have done it (or done it recently at least).

El Scooto (not so little bro), Wifey and I will be traveling from Hanmer Springs to Nelson on the 29th of Dec and were going to do the Molesworth up and the Rainbow back down on the 30th (to drop of ES). If the Molesworth is closed then this doesnt work and if it is open we will just do it in reverse.

Plan for this ride though is that anybody who wants to have ago at traveling down the Wairau meet ES, Wifey and I at the Nelson end of the Rainbow at around 1300 on the 29th. From there we will go down to the Branch river and try to cross the Wairau and ride the Northbank down to Kaituna (map attached). If we cant cross the Wairau then it will be a sealed road run down to Renwick. ES, Wifey and I will then head to NN, with ES and I doing the Mangatapu and Wifey going over the Wangamoas.

Things to be aware of with this ride - ES is new to Adv riding and on a TTR250 raid. He is doing pretty bloody well at this stage but the ride on the 29th will be his first long distance ride. Other thing is that Wifey will be with us in our Suzuki Vitara and may cross the Wairau and travel down the north bank with us. We will make every effort to get through the Rainbow and meet people by 1300 but no promises.

Cheers R

[deanohit]

Mate, I won't have my bike, but I'd be keen to tag along in my Vitara as well as I will be down at my mums in Picton. Sounds like it would be a good daytrip and chance to meet some of the southern KBers.

this time of year, the Waiau should be low and easily cross able.

[cooneyr]

Mate, I won't have my bike, but I'd be keen to tag along in my Vitara as well as I will be down at my mums in Picton. Sounds like it would be a good daytrip and chance to meet some of the southern KBers.

this time of year, the Waiau should be low and easily cross able.

Unless the river crossing is really easy Wifey probably wont drive across (I'll have to run back an forward across the river) but she will drive down the Northbank road. Most welcome to come along as long as you don't mind eating bike dust :D

Cheers R

[deanohit]

Most welcome to come along as long as you don't mind eating bike dust :D

Cheers R
Well, I have 2 options, my brothers 50cc scooter (not likely) or me and my mate in my Vitara, so yea, I got no problem being TEC and making sure your wife gets through it all fine. :niceone:

As to the river crossing, if the bikes can do it, the 4x4s can, and I could ferry you back across if needed, nothing worse than riding wet.

[zeRax]

sounds good, ill meet up with you lot from down south, keen to meet you all before the DB1k.

off work atm cause of my eye, :\ cant see very well, its like wearing someones glasses

[cooneyr]

Well, I have 2 options, my brothers 50cc scooter (not likely) or me and my mate in my Vitara, so yea, I got no problem being TEC and making sure your wife gets through it all fine. :niceone:

As to the river crossing, if the bikes can do it, the 4x4s can, and I could ferry you back across if needed, nothing worse than riding wet.

Given current temps riding wet might be bloody nice. I suspect we'd be dry by the time we go to Kaituna anyway.


sounds good, ill meet up with you lot from down south, keen to meet you all before the DB1k.

off work atm cause of my eye, :\ cant see very well, its like wearing someones glasses

Would be good to meet before the DB. Hope that eye heals up well.

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

I should be there, put me down for a sticker. Ta. If all else fails bring a tractor tube, usually makes for a civilised afternoons boating

[deanohit]

I should be there, put me down for a sticker. Ta. If all else fails bring a tractor tube, usually makes for a civilised afternoons boating

Haha, I remember going down the Waiau river in a car tube when I was like 8. :niceone:

[deanohit]

Well, after seeing the Wairau yesterday, I think we'll be struggling to cross unless the level drops, my grandad said it was dry as and very low 2 weeks back, but with the recent they've had, it is quite high at the moment.
I'm still keen though.

[deanohit]

Well, after seeing the Wairau yesterday, I think we'll be struggling to cross, it is quite high with the recent rain.
I'm still keen to do it if we can find a safe place to ford it.

[cooneyr]

No harm in having a look. Looks like there will be more rain between today and the 27th with the 28th and 29th dry so likely the river levels will be up.

We have to pass through the area anyway but if any of you dont want to come up then let me know cause I'll go down to NN via Wakefield etc if you all decided to bail.

Cheers R

[deanohit]

No harm in having a look. We have to pass through the area anyway but if any of you dont want to come up then let me know cause I'll go down to NN via Wakefield etc if you all decided to bail.

Yea man, I'll still come along and check it out, it's a nice drive up the highway anyway.

[Lugzy23]

Hi guys, dont know if Ill be able to make it on the 29th to the meeting point. Am down the sounds today and not sure when I will be back. Any Blenheim riders keen for a ride at some stage PM me. failing that see you night before DB

[JATZ]

No harm in having a look. Looks like there will be more rain between today and the 27th with the 28th and 29th dry so likely the river levels will be up.

We have to pass through the area anyway but if any of you dont want to come up then let me know cause I'll go down to NN via Wakefield etc if you all decided to bail.

Cheers R
See you there about 13:00 sat if its still all go

[buggsubique]

Sorry lads, although I'm in Blenheim now (and I can taste the dust) the wife is working full time already and kids blah blah blah. Best i can do is short outings, maybe half a day on the weekends till mid jan. Always up for a hoon in the evenings though, so sing out. Lugzy, you got my number so sing out if you want to have a prowl around the Wairau or wherever while you're here.

Good luck to all for the DB!

[cooneyr]

Hi all, in hanmer at the moment and given the amount of rain we have had I'n not sure that the river will be low enough. We will still meet anybody at the Nelson end of the Rianbow at around 1300 tomorrow.

Cheers R

[deanohit]

Sounds good mate, will be there.

[lb99]

its been quite wet in the last few days, judging by the river this morning, it would be a bit risky to try crossing it, its deeper than usual for this time of year.

[warewolf]

We had a lot of rain overnight in Kaikoura, on the trip home today the sun came out on the top of the Richmond Range - Yay, Nelson! :bleh:

After the rain on Boxing Day as well, all the rivers looked a lot more "up" than on the trip south last weekend.

[cooneyr]

Went and had a look and was definatly a no go. Water was about knee deep and flowing very fast. Also the stones were about 20mm diameter and bigger so rather hard to ride on. We all bailed back down through Golden Downs.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

But only one of us fell over...

[cooneyr]

But only one of us fell over...

And only one of use tried to get out to the river over the big stones. I had a big trials bike that day and I suck as a trials rider.

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

:woohoo: Was fun to watch the mighty DR throwing those big rocks out of the way going back up the bank :D

Wonder if Warren Laugesson would be able to bounce from rock to rock on the back wheel of a DR?

[cooneyr]

:woohoo: Was fun to watch the mighty DR throwing those big rocks out of the way going back up the bank :D

Wonder if Warren Laugesson would be able to bounce from rock to rock on the back wheel of a DR?

Deno - where is the vid?

Cheers R

[deanohit]

Deno - where is the vid?

Cheers R

Should be up next week mate when I get back up North.