Clarence Reserve open weekends

**cooneyr** · 7th January 2010, 10:48

The Clarence Reserve near Kaikoura is being opened to public vehicle access for selected weekends this year (and last) as a trial. The remaining weekends are the 5 February to 7 February 2010, 5 March to 7 March 2010, and 2 April to 4 April 2010. Links about the reserve and open weekends are here and here.

Subject to me getting permission I'm keen to go for a looksee proably in Feb. I'll be taking the 950 and riding up and back in a day from Chch. It will be an early start at 7am sharp so we are there around 9am with 8ish hours of ride time till we have to be out again (5pm) then home about 7pm. Anybody interested?

Cheers R

**mattsdakar** · 7th January 2010, 12:40

Super keen, have often poured over our maps of the area which looks fantastic
Assuming I'm not rostered to work I'll be a starter, I'll bring the maps!

**CrazyFrog** · 7th January 2010, 13:39

Yep, I'm keen too, I've got that weekend off so am amping for some ride time after missing the DB10.
So long as it's not raining...

**cooneyr** · 7th January 2010, 14:40

Originally Posted by mattsdakar

Super keen, have often poured over our maps of the area which looks fantastic
Assuming I'm not rostered to work I'll be a starter, I'll bring the maps!

Umm formed tracks only is the instructions and I'm guessing the registration to get access thing will kinda make going of pieste a bit risky. Have a look at the first link and correlat that to your maps.

Originally Posted by CrazyFrog

..So long as it's not raining...

I'd never have guessed - sig and all

Cheers R

**NordieBoy** · 7th January 2010, 15:21

I'd be keen for Feb.

**cynna** · 7th January 2010, 16:22

im keen for whenever so will keep an eye on the thread

**Racing Dave** · 8th January 2010, 08:28

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Umm formed tracks only is the instructions and I'm guessing the registration to get access thing will kinda make going of pieste a bit risky.

I went with a group of nine varied bikes on the December open weekend, and had a stunning ride. The story and photos should be in the Feb Kiwi Rider (due out next week).

The tracks are all good, and suitable for big (or biggish) bikes, but only if it's dry. The clay there is of the very sticky low-mudguard jamming type. Once over the Seaward Kaikoura Range there is a long section of many river crossings, but on a formed track in the river bed.

Once near the Clarence River you can ride up or down stream, till the tracks run out. There's a total of 75 km of tracks, which because of the layout need to be ridden in both directions, thus 150 km of fun. Our group took 7 hours, with many stops - the scenery is hugely varied and worth admiring.

No access fee, but vehicle/riders are registered in and out, to keep a track of those who might go missing. Several modern huts to stay in (fee applies), or freedom camping is allowed.

Definitely worth while, probably the best one-day ride going.

Cheers,
Dave B

**Taz** · 8th January 2010, 15:46

Originally Posted by CrazyFrog

So long as it's not raining...

Girl .

**CrazyFrog** · 8th January 2010, 20:26

Us Nelson girls forget how to ride rain down here, with all our sunshine hours and all, we don't have webbed feet like you fella's up norf.

Snow, yes, rain no.

To be honest, it would be around 12 hours return trip from here, I just can't be arsed riding the plank seat DRZ in the rain if it's miserable weather. Keen as otherwise, and might stay in Kaikoura to give the monkey butt some respite.

**cooneyr** · 9th January 2010, 14:34

Seeing as there is a few upper Sth Islanders that might come along maybe we should aim to meet in Kaikoura at the BP ready to leave at 9am. The start of the track is 25km back south from Kaikoura on the Inland Rd. Means we Chch riders can gas up in Kaikoura rather than Culverden or Wairau.

Cheers R

**Howie** · 10th January 2010, 10:59

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Subject to me getting permission I'm keen to go for a looksee proably in Feb. I'll be taking the 950 and riding up and back in a day from Chch. It will be an early start at 7am sharp so we are there around 9am with 8ish hours of ride time till we have to be out again (5pm) then home about 7pm. Anybody interested?

Cheers R

Which Day are you planning on going in the Saturday, or Sunday? I could be interested in coming down for a ride in there.

Originally Posted by Racing Dave

The tracks are all good, and suitable for big (or biggish) bikes, but only if it's dry. The clay there is of the very sticky low-mudguard jamming type. Once over the Seaward Kaikoura Range there is a long section of many river crossings, but on a formed track in the river bed.

How steep is the climb up to Blind saddle from the inland Kaikoura Road? Does it compare to the Porika, or New Creek to denniston tracks at all?

**cooneyr** · 10th January 2010, 11:12

Originally Posted by Howie

Which Day are you planning on going in the Saturday, or Sunday? I could be interested in coming down for a ride in there.....

Haven't decided yet. Prob Saturday - how does that work for you/Nelson riders?

Cheers R

**Howie** · 10th January 2010, 12:12

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Haven't decided yet. Prob Saturday - how does that work for you/Nelson riders?

Cheers R

Either Day is probably fine with me, as I'll take a day off work, one side or the other to get down and back, probably via the Molesworth/Rainbow roads. So I just need to know at least a week in front.

Cheers

Paul

**marks** · 10th January 2010, 12:29

Originally Posted by Howie

Either Day is probably fine with me, as I'll take a day off work, one side or the other to get down and back, probably via the Molesworth/Rainbow roads. So I just need to know at least a week in front.

Cheers

Paul

Are you organizing a ride for us Welly lads Howie????