Good 1/2 day trip ex Hanmer
If your visiting this part of the world and looking for a nice ride take a trip out to lake Tennyson. Travel over Jacks or Jollies Pass into the Clarence Valley hook a left and travel for around 40k's on a good shingle road to Lake Tennyson. The lake is low at the moment as is The Clarence River where it flows out of the lake. Ride across the river at this point and take the old 4x4 track/beach around to the beech forest where it is sheltered from the N/West wind. This is as far as you can ride but for a nice walk to the head of the lake with awesome scenery look for the old stock track.
For a little more challenge after the top of Jollies Pass comming from Hanmer look out for the old Pylon track on the right about 1 or 2 k's down from the top. This goes in a loop through the tussock/scrub faces above Jollies Pass Rd. Its an old overgrown 4x4 track with some big ruts, steep sections and loose shingle. Don't attempt it after rain unless you've got a really good set of knobblies as it has a lot of clay areas.
Its also possible to carry on past Lake Tennyson to Nelson lakes 105k's, returning via the Lewis pass (check with DOC re access beyond the Molesworth boundary with the Rainbow Station) this is a great ride providing the creeks aren't running high. You travel over Island saddle the highest legal road in NZ at 1437mtrs before decending through 'Hells Gates' a natural break in the Southern Alps. The ride consists of high mountain passes, big scree slopes, river valleys and bush on a good metal road with a few creek crossings.
When the Molesworth Rd is open it is possible to do the loop through Molesworth and back this way.
Enjoy!
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Originally Posted by Padmei
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