Maling Pass Track - Access RR

[ADVGD]

A track with awesome scenery, well worth doing if you are up that way, great to combine with the Edwards Pass Track

Full RR and access details here: Maling Pass Track












Full RR and access details here: Maling Pass Track

[clint640]

Good stuff! Great work on the website too, having words, pics, maps, access details & contact info all on the one page is neat.
I think we will try & fit a side trip over Maling Pass to camp in there into our SI trip next month, as we were planning to ride the Rainbow anyway.

Cheers
Clint

[ADVGD]

Good stuff! Great work on the website too, having words, pics, maps, access details & contact info all on the one page is neat.
I think we will try & fit a side trip over Maling Pass to camp in there into our SI trip next month, as we were planning to ride the Rainbow anyway.

Cheers
Clint

Nice one, you won't be disappointed, great scenery. If I was ducking off to do just one track in that neck of the woods I'd personally go up Edwards Pass Track as it is a bit longer and has a few small river crossings. Both are great tracks with stunning scenery, both have huge areas for camping, ya can't loose either way

[Waihou Thumper]

Ringing the DOC office, are they asking questions about what you want to do there and do they mind you can ride etc and camp there also. I know it is DOC land etc, is everyone aware at the office, that access can be gained with the combination to the lock etc? Thanks...It does seem that there is some great access deep into the valley's especially around St James etc...

[ADVGD]

Ringing the DOC office, are they asking questions about what you want to do there and do they mind you can ride etc and camp there also. I know it is DOC land etc, is everyone aware at the office, that access can be gained with the combination to the lock etc? Thanks...It does seem that there is some great access deep into the valley's especially around St James etc...

If you say you are heading in for camping they are as happy as Larry, that's what it has been opened up to the public for, you can pick any place you want to camp up, there are plenty of options. They normally just ask for your name, contact number, rego and vehicle colour, not what type of vehicle you are driving/riding. If they do ask just explain you are riding in on a road registered adventure bike and they are fine with that, what they don't allow is dirt bikes going in riding off the track and tearing up the place. I've been in there twice now and both times I rang for the access code the team at the Waimakariri DOC office were very friendly and helpful.

Hope that helps

[Racing Dave]

I agree with all the above comments.

With four others, I rode both tracks yesterday, and had a great time, even though it was a bit of a struggle crossing Edwards Stream on the way out - that shingle bank is steep and loose!

Maling Pass track has just been groomed, and although the surface is loose dirt, there are no ruts or potholes.

DoC in Rangiora were most helpful, didn't ask what vehicles we were taking in, just the rego numbers.

[junkmanjoe]

have you thought about making a adv riders guide to NZ back country tracks...
would be one to keep in your tank bag


because id buy one...

JMJ

[thepom]

Great pictures....what camera do you use?

[ADVGD]

I agree with all the above comments.

With four others, I rode both tracks yesterday, and had a great time, even though it was a bit of a struggle crossing Edwards Stream on the way out - that shingle bank is steep and loose!

Maling Pass track has just been groomed, and although the surface is loose dirt, there are no ruts or potholes.

DoC in Rangiora were most helpful, didn't ask what vehicles we were taking in, just the rego numbers.

Nice one mate, a good days ride no doubt. As for the steep loose shingle bank, certainly keeps you on your toes eh

have you thought about making a adv riders guide to NZ back country tracks...
would be one to keep in your tank bag


because id buy one...

JMJ

The adventure guide website is going live Feb 2011 and will be focusing heavily on back country tracks, thats when I switch over to working on it full time so there will be a truckload of rides going up on a daily/weekly basis. The best part is that because it is advertising driven it will all be free to end users, no need to part with any cash JMJ There will be a duplicate printable format too for printing off maps etc. Closer to release date I'll fill you in on the process of how people can add their own ride reports, more closer to the time...

Great pictures....what camera do you use?

Thanks mate. To get all the photos for the adventure guide website I always have a camera with me, due to this it unavoidably gets a hammering. I've been through 4 cameras in the last 12 months, some get a dunking in water when fishing, one to rain damage on the bike, (before the current panniers), slips up the tops hunting, etc, etc. Switched from top end cameras to mid range ones as its cheaper to replace them due to the insurance company not liking my multiple claims and potentially putting up my premiums. Just got a new camera, a Cannon SX 130 IS. That was the camera used for the Mailing Pass photos, it takes quite good photos for the fairly low price and has stood up well to a bit of a hammering already.

[CrazyFrog]

I went through the Rainbow and over Mallings Pass yesterday with a couple of mates.
Doc access was too easy, as simple as a phone call for the locked gate combination code.
The gate however has a nice big gap on one side for bikes/mtb's to get through, don't know if DOC are planning on installing a smaller gate as well to bridge the gap, Jeez, even cattle could walk through at the moment with no worries.

The track has clearly had a dozer over it, and is in good dry condition, but is full of waterbars/channels, what ever you want to call them, so progress is slowish, if you hit these things at speed, you run the risk of being launched over the bars. Our friend on the XT was following the KTM's and hit one going quickish and got slapped in the arse big time by the seat as the bike kicked back up.

The descent down off the summit towards river is steep and could be an issue after rain, the track has a heavy clay component down that way, similar to the Clarence.

The views are spectacular, and makes a nice side trip off the Rainbow, the track end carpark has a good shallow river beside it for cooling off in.
Overall, a great short trip 22km return if heading through the Rainbow.

[Waihou Thumper]

Nice stuff. That sure is great scenery and you would want to spend all day and night out there...

[ADVGD]

I went through the Rainbow and over Mallings Pass yesterday with a couple of mates...

Nice RR update mate, that view when you hit the top of St James Range is a million bucks eh

[thepom]

hey ADVGD.....after reading your thread on the passes I went up yesterday and did them both..... absoltely stunning views and a bloody good ride too.....I passed fowlers track pass but it was locked too....have you been in there yet?....if it had been unlocked I would have gone but maybe thats for next time...

[ADVGD]

hey ADVGD.....after reading your thread on the passes I went up yesterday and did them both..... absoltely stunning views and a bloody good ride too.....

Good stuff mate, glad to see you got both tracks in, makes for a great day. I couldn't think of any adv rider that wouldn't like those tracks, awesome views, a bit if fast stuff, a bit of mildly technical stuff and a few nice river crossings perfect for transalper to have a lie down in

I passed fowlers track pass but it was locked too....have you been in there yet?....if it had been unlocked I would have gone but maybe thats for next time...

I asked DOC about this mid 2010, but since their takeover of the station it is still only walking/mountain biking only and because I'm a follow the rules kind of guy I haven't done that one. On a good note, both Edwards and Mailings Pass are on a trial basis and they may allow us to link them up rather than having to stop once you hit the Waiau River. DOC said the trial period is to make sure people follow the current rules and the surrounding off-track areas are not damaged, all going well there may be the option of opening Foulers Pass to motorbikes, time will tell, fingers crossed. I believe the area has been fully de-stocked now so that should work in our favour...

[neels]

Quick question for you people that seem to know these things, do DOC have an issue with access for non road legal trail bikes?

Me and a couple of mates are keen for a ride in for an overnighter some time, but we're all on off road only machinery.