FJ does gravel ...

**FJRider** · 23rd October 2011, 18:53

As a member on the Southern Rider site ... I am often involved in that site's tag games ... (Otago's OR Southlands) so in the hunt for a Tag placement, I took a route not often travelled. GRAVEL ....
It was the Otago game I was taking part in, and Otago does cover quite a bit of area. I didn't want to go TOO far off the beaten track ... but far enough ... After all, if I could do it on the FJ ... Lesser (???) bikes should be able. So off I went.

St Bathans is well known, but few are aware of the vast unspoiled areas there to visit.

My destination was The Falls dam, an irrigation dam built on the Upper Manuherikia river. There is roads that can take you around the lake ... Hawkduns Runs rd ... off the St Bathans loop road, which connects with the Home Hills rd (off highway 85) at the bridge over the top end of the Manuherikia river (if the bridge approaches are not washed out). From this bridge, there IS a (private road/track) over the Omarama saddle to Omarama. I understand DOC have control of most of this track, but more than one owner is responsible for its use/access. Beware, if you try crossing without permission ... you may find a locked gate. However I digress ...

Two km's off highway 85, on the St Bathans loop rd, is the turn-off onto Fiddlers Flat rd. A further six and a bit km's to the dam. The road TO the dam is a public road, but past the dam is a private road. A well packed road ... with large coarse(and sharp) rocks in the mix. There had been a few washouts (but were sorted ... sort of ) ... Only the last 20 metres (downhill with a loose surface) need you worry ...

Any how ... the photo's say it all ... I WAS THERE ...