Iron Bridge to Waimangaroa

[mememe]

Hi,
a group of us have been planning on riding through this track; from the Iron Bridge in the Buller Gorge across the Denniston plateau to the coast.
However we are getting conflicting reports on the suitability for bikes, in particular the Mackley and other rivers are extremely bouldery and too deep for bikes.
Any advice from someone who has been through would be appreciated.

Cheers and thanks.

[Racing Dave]

I've been down the track about a dozen times, but only crossed the Mackley four times. It's a really dangerous crossing when it's deep, and ordinarily dangerous when it's not. Bikes should always be walked with the engine running, and slipping the clutch. Using two or three riders per bike adds safety. The river rises very fast in wet weather. Also, permission (and a key) are required from the farm house where the track starts by Iron Bridge.

My advice is to ride in from the Denniston end (which is more fun and challenging), and then if you get to the Mackley and can't cross, you can head back, having had a good ride, anyway. If you can cross then you can ride quite a bit further before the private land starts. There are several pylon access tracks worth following, although all eventually finish at dead ends.

Good luck.

[Howie]

Hi, I did the ride from Iron bridge to denniston in early Feb with a couple of others the bikes we used were a KLR650, DR650, and a KTM940. the access at the Iron brige is now a honesty box system, we were told $10 each. It would probably still pay to ring the land owner, and let him know your plans. The track isn't that rough, but is steep in place's. It would pay to take a topo map of the area, eg we took the 1:50 000 Topomap L29 (Inangahua) with us and found it useful. The other guide we took was the route guide from the book 4WD South island, 77 off road adventures, which was excellent. There are a few turn offs on the track that lead to dead ends if you get them wrong.The Mackly river is Bouldery, but we all rode across unaided as the river level was quite low. attached are a few pictures of the track, and mackly river.

You should also have a read of these threads as they have info about the track as well http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=69702
and http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=42211

[cooneyr]

Yep - Clint did it just recienty and it is now a honesty box system. If you have a GPS I'd really like a track log of the route for my web site.

Defiantly recommend walking the bikes across the Mackley slipping the clutch.

Cheers R

[mememe]

Many thanks for the responses, very helpful.

Cheers

[cruza]

Yep - Clint did it just recienty and it is now a honesty box system. If you have a GPS I'd really like a track log of the route for my web site.

Defiantly recommend walking the bikes across the Mackley slipping the clutch.

Cheers R

So no locked gate at the start? still have to ring for permission and pay as you pass? those pics the river looks real low ,would make a lot easier trip

[cooneyr]

So no locked gate at the start? still have to ring for permission and pay as you pass? those pics the river looks real low ,would make a lot easier trip

Be polite to ring first even if they are relying on honesty box for payment. Doc Westport has the landowners details.

Agree about the river levels being low.

Cheers R

[Balrog]

That looks like a cool place to go

[Transalper]

Indeed, and now I have friends in Wesport I'd like to try that track soon..ish.

[Balrog]

I'm in, when are we going :)

[Transalper]

I'm in, when are we going :)
Well, PLUGs back on the road so .... cooneyr, oh cooneyr.... na, he's still waiting on parts and it would be good to have him along.
Doubt it will be before the CCA.
Other dates already booked on my calander are the CHCH rider training 24/25th May and Brass Monkey trip 30May-2nd June.

Other than that it's all down to gas money.

[cooneyr]

I'm in, when are we going :)

Not before I get my bike back!!!!!!


Well, PLUGs back on the road so .... cooneyr, oh cooneyr.... na, he's still waiting on parts and it would be good to have him along.
Doubt it will be before the CCA.
Other dates already booked on my calander are the CHCH rider training 24/25th May and Brass Monkey trip 30May-2nd June.

Other than that it's all down to gas money.

I've been thinking about west coast weekend away trip some time. Maybe mid May. We could meet in Murch, do the New Creek to Denniston Track, down the coast to Gremouth, stay the night then do Napleon Hill, Big River, and the Waitahu River and either back to Springs or Murch and home.

Cheers R

[Balrog]

Sounds like a plan to me :2thumbsup

[Dingledoo]

Want to have a go at this in November. We tried last November but the day we planned to it the Grey river was in flood and decided it wasn't a good idea.

Last November I spoke to the DOC Westport office and they advised that acces was open and a key wasn't required.

Has anyone ridden the track since last years flooding? What is the Mackley rice crossing access like now?

[puddytat]

I was told a few weeks back that the gate has been locked permanately at the New Creek Rd end (Iron Bridge) because of the Coal Mine :( & possibly the Denniston may also be a problem because they are worried supposedly about guerilla conservationists launching a terrorist attack...,)
Best bet would be to ring DOC at Westport.
The Mackley at the mo will be deep as , what with the shit weather & all, but Im not sure on the approaches to it. It will really be dependant on the weather in the weeks prior, but I can tell you now that the catchment is/will be topped right up at this time.
Good luck!!

[Woodman]

We went through about 6 months ago after deciding at the pub on the NIIS2 ride the night before. The Mackley was easily rideable and shallow. Its a great ride, but the main reason we did it I think was that we had heard so many rumours that it was closing permanently in 6 months so puddytat may well be right. There were a lot of DOC and mining company hiluxes parked on the sides of the roads which didn't boad well.

Like RD says, go in from the Westport end if you still can. The cool bits end at the Mackley anyway.

Possibly the best track I have ridden.

[Crim]

I have got a few staff up there - have always wanted to do it myslef - I will ask the question and see if they have heard anything, don't think they'll be able to check it out for the next wee while as the Mackley will be roaring - will come back when I hear anything

[pete-blen]

I have only been though when it was low , 12/18" deep
there are a few larger rocks.. but it is rideable when low..

Umpom
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/1654/ssa41876.jpg

Nordie paddleing
http://imageshack.us/a/img26/4746/ssa41877.jpg

& whats his name?
http://imageshack.us/a/img534/2026/ssa41878.jpg

[NordieBoy]

& whats his name?

Garrrrryyyy (must be said with Brummy accent).

Was going on that Patriarch snow ride with us the other year but chickened out by breaking his leg 40m before the start of the gravel...

Rigley... That's his handle...

[Dingledoo]

Thanks for all the comments.

I have just spoken to DOC and they confirmed that the gate at the New Creek end has been locked by the mining company. They said to call again nearer the time to see if this has changed as they said DOC would like to see it reopen.

[MXNUT]

I have just spoken to DOC and they confirmed that the gate at the New Creek end has been locked by the mining company.

Pretty dissapointed to hear that.Was planning on doing this after the Dusty Butt.:mad::mad::mad:
Have to rethink my plans now.:brick:

[Night Falcon]

Thanks for all the comments.

I have just spoken to DOC and they confirmed that the gate at the New Creek end has been locked by the mining company. They said to call again nearer the time to see if this has changed as they said DOC would like to see it reopen.

I know new creek pretty well, my wife grew up there on a dairy farm just along from the iron bridge. The farmers around there are pretty good value...if you ask you might just get access?

[NordieBoy]

I have just spoken to DOC and they confirmed that the gate at the New Creek end has been locked by the mining company. They said to call again nearer the time to see if this has changed as they said DOC would like to see it reopen.

Interesting.
Wonder if the mining company own the road?

It's 7km outside the Tasman area so I can't look up the road status...

[NordieBoy]

Hmmm...

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/west-coast/buller-hunting/where-to-hunt/mackley-orikaka-ngakawau/

Looks like the New Creek road crosses private land, but...

There is no private land within this area however permission is required to use the Orikaka access road at the New Creek end.

[ADVGD]

Hmmm...

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/hunting/where-to-hunt/west-coast/buller-hunting/where-to-hunt/mackley-orikaka-ngakawau/

Looks like the New Creek road crosses private land, but...

Unless ownership of the private land has changed the owner should still be Solid Energy, the information is at the bottom of this page and to the best of my knowledge is still true and correct.

http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/96/new-creek-denniston.php

DOC are more often than not very helpful and friendly when it comes to finding out about land access, unfortunately some of them have no idea and can pass on the wrong information. I have struck this a number of times

I am heading through there as part of my South Island loop this year so I will doing some homework re access this week. I'll update the website with any new info and also post an update here

[ADVGD]

After some phone tag I managed to track down and get hold of the owner of the New Creek end land. It is now owned by a coal company and the owner is a bloody nice guy, very happy to have 4X4, motorbikes, mountain bikers etc go through but has had gear and machinery vandalized recently and this may affect future access. Typical story, a few scum bag pieces of shit ruining it for us. But it is not all bad news, there are no coal operations at the moment so the gate is open and will remain open all January so the public can use it without issue. In the future operations will start and gear/machinery will be there however he is still aiming to find a feasible option to allow access but looking for a solution to avoid vandals. So good news overall, especially for you norfies lot who wanted to add this to your route!

Adventure Guide (http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/96/new-creek-denniston.php) website has been updated

[Woodman]

Hmmmm,Nelson, Porika etc, New Creek, Coast road , Arthurs, Lake Coleridge? road to Rakai gorge, Fairlie.

Do-able in a day if not too much messing around. Who else is keen?

[Padmei]

Hmmmm,Nelson, Porika etc, New Creek, Coast road , Arthurs, Lake Coleridge? road to Rakai gorge, Fairlie.

Do-able in a day if not too much messing around. Who else is keen?

I'm keen on doing a day trip or overnighter soon thru there?

[Woodman]

I'm keen on doing a day trip or overnighter soon thru there?

Yea sounds good, my first suggestion may be a bit too ambitious ffor a day ride, especially if something goes pearshaped.

[ADVGD]

The New creek to Denniston GPS file on Adventure Guide has just been updated. I used the original file on my recent trip through and there was a stray waypoint, not that it would have caused major issues navigating the route but the new one is now bang on:

http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/96/new-creek-denniston.php

http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/280/images/xmas-trip-2012-8.jpg
A swollen Mackley River

[Padmei]

Is there an easy way to check what height the river is before saddling up & heading out?

[cooneyr]

Is there an easy way to check what height the river is before saddling up & heading out?

Short of knowing a local to call another option is to look at the West Coast Regional Council river flow website here http://www.wcrc.govt.nz/river_level_rainfall/24_hour/river_level_rainfall_site_map.htm

probably the best site is the lower Buller but it will be a bit delayed and not a great correlation as buller could be high from rain up the lakes etc.
http://www.wcrc.govt.nz/river_level_rainfall/24_hour/river_level_rainfall_site_map.htm

suggest there isn't an easy reliable way to know.

cheers r

[NordieBoy]

A swollen Mackley sounds painful...

[GMcC]

Did the Mackley through to Denniston two weeks back !
Im on the Transalp fully loaded and 2 others fully loaded on
their Beems 650s....................
Certainly worth it - river was low
Alp did take exception to the 2 steep shale downhillers though !
Front n top heavy bitch !
Kept it uprite !
Brilliant !
Near miss with power company 4x4 stopping to chat with Paul saw him and
bike slide under the ute in a rut - no dramas - all stationary !
3 weeks down south - fanatastic weather - magic gravel !
5550 kms from Hawkes Bay and back - TKC 80 buggered now !
Did the ususal -
Port Underwood area, Tadmor Vly, Upper Stanley Brook, Sunday Creek,Taylor Pass,
Molesworth ( last day before closure - tho did reopen at Easter )
Leader Vly / Mendip / Kaiwara, Okuku Lees Vly, Clarance Res Quail Flat - got permission and code, Rainbow, Braeburn Track, Maruia Saddle, West Bank Rd / Palmer Rd, Blackwater, Waiuta,
Ahaura - Kopara Rds, No - Name Rd, Incbonnie Loop, Bell Hill - Kotuku, Nelson Creek, Deep Creek,
Lake Lyndon / Coleridge, Hakatere Vly / Lakes Clearwater and Heron,
Waratah Rd / Mackenzies Pass / Hakataramea Vly, Danseys Pass, Omarama Saddle, Ahuriri Vly,
Thompsons Gorge, Lake Onslow, Waikaia Bush Rd, Poolburn Dam, Old Dunstan Rds,
Lake Mahinerangi, Nevis Crossing, Mavora Lakes Rds....................................

Great trip
Gaz

[GMcC]

Pics.......................
280941280942280943

Gaz

[NordieBoy]

Looks boring.

Don't wish I was there at all :weep:

[GMcC]

A few more pics - this time the Clarence Reserve Quail Flat

[GMcC]

Haha - Youve probably done it in ya sleep !

We were going to attempt the Maungatapu but thought better of it !