Is it possible to get from Ch-Ch to West Coast off road?

[KX500]

Pref Ch-Ch Arthurs pass way - know can use the waimak to get to sheffield. Even a mix of seal and off road.

Cheerz

[Hitcher]

Unless you're a tramper, the answer is no. All of the roadways through the Great Dividing Range are sealed.

[Waihou Thumper]

Pref Ch-Ch Arthurs pass way - know can use the waimak to get to sheffield. Even a mix of seal and off road.
Cheerz

You live down that way....Explore mate....
I know you can Tramp from Lewis Pass through to the West Coast.....

[cooneyr]

There are four routes over/through the alps that are accessible to private vehicles, the Rainbow, Lewis, Arthurs, Haast and Homer Tunnel. Only one off these is not sealed (rainbow). If you want to chance your hand riding on a tamping track in a national park then there are a few more options but you might want a trials bike and you'd better be bloody good on one. Arthurs Pass National Park extends either side of the highway for quite distance.

Best option is to go north to Hanmer, through the rainbow, back down through Porika, Breaburn, Maruia Saddle, Springs, Reefton then down the Grey valley picking up some of the old forest roads (Nobels Creek, Lake Hoschetter etc). When the 4x4 coast to coast adventures were run 5 or more years back this roughly is the route they took.

If you must go over the Arthurs pass you have to get on seal between Lake Lyndon and roughly Lake Brunner.

Cheers R

[Waihou Thumper]

If you want to chance your hand riding on a tramping track in a national park then there are a few more options but you might want a trials bike and you'd better be bloody good on one.

Don't do this, don't even think about it......

Best option is to go north to Hanmer, through the rainbow, back down through Porika, Breaburn, Maruia Saddle, Springs, Reefton then down the Grey valley picking up some of the old forest roads (Nobels Creek, Lake Hoschetter etc). When the 4x4 coast to coast adventures were run 5 or more years back this roughly is the route they took.

This sounds great Ryan....Nice ADV ride maybe...

[Woodman]

how far up the braided rivers can you ride? They look quite smooth from the road.

surely you can get further than sheffield, maybe as far as honeymoon bridge? on a trials bike? or something light anyway with good rivercrossing ability.

[cromagnon]

Is a train track considered off road?

[ADVGD]

Don't do this, don't even think about it......

I'm glad you said something, I didn't want to be the first in fear he wouldn't take kindly to my objection to this horrendously unethical suggestion and would crash his bike into my car that is parked out on the roadside, he seems to be doing this a lot lately

[far queue]

Pref Ch-Ch Arthurs pass way - know can use the waimak to get to sheffield. Even a mix of seal and off road.

Cheerz

I take it riding the grass verge all the way is out of the question

[monchopper]

There is a some kind of road reserve or marginal strip over Harpers Pass on my Cadastral map. But I'm sure you either aren't allowed to or Can't ride it. If you could then I reckon you could do it easierly?

SkinnyB-Man come in

[cooneyr]

Don't do this, don't even think about it......

That comment about tramping tracks was meant very tongue in cheek. I spend all of my Uni years in the Nat Park and there are no actual tramping tracks that would suit, all are routes along riverbeds. The heads of the rivers on the West Coast side of the passes are all so steep and rough that you really would have to be a pro trials rider to ride them.

how far up the braided rivers can you ride? They look quite smooth from the road.

surely you can get further than sheffield, maybe as far as honeymoon bridge? on a trials bike? or something light anyway with good rivercrossing ability.

Nup. Between the Honeymoon bridge (I assume you mean the Bealey) and the upper Waimak Bridge (Oxford to Sheffield) is the gorge. Grade 2 (I think) rapids that the Coast to Coast Kayakers have to be rated for.

There is a some kind of road reserve or marginal strip over Harpers Pass on my Cadastral map. But I'm sure you either aren't allowed to or Can't ride it. If you could then I reckon you could do it easierly?

SkinnyB-Man come in

The Harper/Taramakau route was the one of the main Maori routes to the coast and I believe there were plans to build the road over it before Arthurs was opened. The mapset I have doesn't show a paper road however regardless again it is very unlikely to be practical due to the roughness and steepness of the upper Taramakau. Besides this it is in the Nat Park (I think the northern bank of the river is the boundary) so this is a no go.

Cheers R

[BMWST?]

even if you could i would think the tank range on a kx 500 wouldnt be too flash

[KX500]

WhaT no National park riding ??? Surely trampers would love to hear a big bore 2 stroke coming through the beech

On a good day I'd make it as far as the Waimak gorge on the 500 per tank, be riding me XR650 with 17L tank.

Best option is to go north to Hanmer, through the rainbow, back down through Porika, Breaburn, Maruia Saddle, Springs, Reefton then down the Grey valley picking up some of the old forest roads (Nobels Creek, Lake Hoschetter etc). When the 4x4 coast to coast adventures were run 5 or more years back this roughly is the route they took.

If you must go over the Arthurs pass you have to get on seal between Lake Lyndon and roughly Lake Brunner.

Any links to maps please ?

Cheerz for info so far

[paulmac:Me]

Clarence river , rainbow is the only way thru. You won't get thru harpers on a bike even if you were allowed to try !
Trust me, I grew up in that region.

[cooneyr]

.....Any links to maps please ?

Cheerz for info so far

Have a look at the web link in my signature. Be warned though that it appears the rainbow may be closed at the moment. Ring the McEwan's - details on this post