Clarence Reserve open weekends

[Crim]

G'day - nearest fuel in Kaikoura - 25ks from entrance - 150 ks of tracks (max) in the reserve - if you need to maybe take a can in, fill up at sign in and leave it with the DOC staff (I am sure with a chocolate fish or two they may oblige) for use on way out, if needed.

[Fluffy Cat]

I'am keen will check if I have that weekend off...what date is it?.
This could be cool as I haven't crashed there yet.

I can now read 6th Feb...right?.

[Howie]

so....

which lower NI riders would be interested in heading down for the Feb one (apart from Howie)?

I don't think I can do the other dates

Well i'm still hoping to make it down for the feb dates

I'm innnnnnnnnnnnn

Me too.
I have to be in Wgtn on Sunday so after the ride would go thru to Picton to catch the Saturday 10pm ferry. But I can get leave the week before.

Friday - 8-9am ferry - molesworth - hamner
saturday - hamner - clarence river - hamner
sunday - hamner - rainbow - nelson - mungatapu - ferry -home or preferably

is this what you are planning on doing Mark? although it sounds like the Maungatapu is still closed!

I've stayed in Hanmer here serveral times and they are well proced with plenty of cabins etc

Is this your planned accomodation, as it looks fairly good, and seems to have something to suit most budgets. Plus we can have a soak in the hot pools after a days riding if we're not to worn out.


What are your guy's thoughts? and are any other North Island people planning on going down?

[helglen]

hi, yes im keen for the ride

[cooneyr]

hi, yes im keen for the ride

No worries. Assuming your going to bring your 450 you might want to get to the start of the track a bit earlier and get geared up i.e. 9am as we are leaving Kaikoura (we will be about 20 mins behind you). Check out the links in the first page for a map of where we leave from. Also a google map here.

Cheers R

[cynna]

baby sitter all sorted, bike still in one piece after the dusty so im all set for the 6th - just have to wake up in time

[bart]

OK northerners. What's the go. Anyone got any idea about ferry times, accomodation etc.

I need to book my leave from work.

[XF650]

I can't make the Feb dates so will be looking at March / April options, if anyone else is interested.

[Howie]

OK northerners. What's the go. Anyone got any idea about ferry times, accomodation etc.

I need to book my leave from work.

Tend to agree Bart that it's time we sorted out what we are doing, as like you I need to sort out my leave soon. Andy indicated above that he has to head home straight after the Clarence ride, so if we are going to extend the ride by a day or two does before hand suit the North islanders? or are we just going to go for a down and back ride? I would be quite happy to head south on the wed, or thur, and home on the sunday. What we do with the extra day/s I don't really mind as I haven't ridden many of the Adv routes in the south island.

Iideas for extra days that I have are any of the rides around reefton, or maybe a day in Canterbury, as plenty to do there as well. I would like to do at least the molesworth, or rainbow, or both if they can be fitted in.

Cheers

Paul

[marks]

sorry to dick all you NI guys around.

Its now highly likely that I won't be able to make the Feb date and probably won't make the March or April dates either. SHMBO wants to go on a south island holiday in March (in a car ) and that will most likely use up all my spare dosh.....

[bart]

sorry to dick all you NI guys around.

Its now highly likely that I won't be able to make the Feb date and probably won't make the March or April dates either. SHMBO wants to go on a south island holiday in March (in a car ) and that will most likely use up all my spare dosh.....

Poor bugger. You could always take the bike on a trailer.

[Padmei]

Poor bugger. You could always take the bike on a trailer.

Mate I bet that would go down like meat in a mosk.

Marks if you're passing thru Nelson on your trip you are welcome to borrow Gonzo for an outing if you get withdrawals.

[andy mac]

It looks just like Howie, Bart & me? Bad luck Marks & Straun. My suggestions for our itineary would be –
Tuesday – travel down on 9pm Bluebridge, travel time 3 hours 15 min, overnight in Picton. Or Bart can stay at my place & we catch 8am Wed ferry.
Wednesday – Picton, Queen Charlotte Dr, Maungatapu track, Nelson, St Arnauld, Porika, Braeburn, Murchison
Thursday – Murchison, New Creek/Denniston return, Reefton, Big River, Napoleon hill, Reefton
Friday – Reefton, Lewis Pass, Hanmer, Rainbow return, Hanmer
Saturday – Hanmer, Kaikoura, Clarence, Hanmer. I’m booked on the 10.30 ferry.
Sunday – Hanmer, Molesworth, catch 2pm or 2.25, 6.05, 7, 10.25 ferry.
What do you think?

[Padmei]

I would be a bit careful planning anything around rivers such as the Mackley etc due to the heavy rain we've been having. Unless you're bringing a compressor & a few truck size tubes of course (BTW do truck tyres still have tubes nowadays???)

[Howie]

sorry to dick all you NI guys around.

Its now highly likely that I won't be able to make the Feb date and probably won't make the March or April dates either. SHMBO wants to go on a south island holiday in March (in a car ) and that will most likely use up all my spare dosh.....

No worries Mark, I did the cage trip round the top of the south island in October last year, with my significant other, and a couple of teenagers. It was worth doing.

It looks just like Howie, Bart & me? Bad luck Marks & Straun. My suggestions for our itineary would be –
Tuesday – travel down on 9pm Bluebridge, travel time 3 hours 15 min, overnight in Picton. Or Bart can stay at my place & we catch 8am Wed ferry.
Wednesday – Picton, Queen Charlotte Dr, Maungatapu track, Nelson, St Arnauld, Porika, Braeburn, Murchison
Thursday – Murchison, New Creek/Denniston return, Reefton, Big River, Napoleon hill, Reefton
Friday – Reefton, Lewis Pass, Hanmer, Rainbow return, Hanmer
Saturday – Hanmer, Kaikoura, Clarence, Hanmer. I’m booked on the 10.30 ferry.
Sunday – Hanmer, Molesworth, catch 2pm or 2.25, 6.05, 7, 10.25 ferry.
What do you think?

I wasn't thinking of having Wednesday off, but can probably organise my leave and child care around that if necessary. I would however go south via the inter islander as I get a discount fare on it, but could arrange to meet somewhere in the south island, if the bluebridge suits your plans/cost better.
For Napoleans hill, and denniston we would have to ring about access before we head down, so would need to decide before then. I would also like to ride over the Maruia saddle road as I haven't been there yet.

However I am willing to wander off and do my own thing on less technical roads/tracks while you and Bart tackle the really challenging ones.

I would be a bit careful planning anything around rivers such as the Mackley etc due to the heavy rain we've been having. Unless you're bringing a compressor & a few truck size tubes of course (BTW do truck tyres still have tubes nowadays???)

I did the Denniston New creek ride 2 years ago, and we got through the Mackley River with ease, but it was probably a drier summer. What other interesting rides are there that don't involve large/deep river crossings. What is the road/track from Denniston to Mt Rochfort like, and isn't there another Plateau further up the coast towards Karamea that you can get up to as well?