Iron Bridge to Waimangaroa

[mememe]

Hi,
a group of us have been planning on riding through this track; from the Iron Bridge in the Buller Gorge across the Denniston plateau to the coast.
However we are getting conflicting reports on the suitability for bikes, in particular the Mackley and other rivers are extremely bouldery and too deep for bikes.
Any advice from someone who has been through would be appreciated.

Cheers and thanks.

[Racing Dave]

I've been down the track about a dozen times, but only crossed the Mackley four times. It's a really dangerous crossing when it's deep, and ordinarily dangerous when it's not. Bikes should always be walked with the engine running, and slipping the clutch. Using two or three riders per bike adds safety. The river rises very fast in wet weather. Also, permission (and a key) are required from the farm house where the track starts by Iron Bridge.

My advice is to ride in from the Denniston end (which is more fun and challenging), and then if you get to the Mackley and can't cross, you can head back, having had a good ride, anyway. If you can cross then you can ride quite a bit further before the private land starts. There are several pylon access tracks worth following, although all eventually finish at dead ends.

Good luck.

[Howie]

Hi, I did the ride from Iron bridge to denniston in early Feb with a couple of others the bikes we used were a KLR650, DR650, and a KTM940. the access at the Iron brige is now a honesty box system, we were told $10 each. It would probably still pay to ring the land owner, and let him know your plans. The track isn't that rough, but is steep in place's. It would pay to take a topo map of the area, eg we took the 1:50 000 Topomap L29 (Inangahua) with us and found it useful. The other guide we took was the route guide from the book 4WD South island, 77 off road adventures, which was excellent. There are a few turn offs on the track that lead to dead ends if you get them wrong.The Mackly river is Bouldery, but we all rode across unaided as the river level was quite low. attached are a few pictures of the track, and mackly river.

You should also have a read of these threads as they have info about the track as well http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=69702
and http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=42211

[cooneyr]

Yep - Clint did it just recienty and it is now a honesty box system. If you have a GPS I'd really like a track log of the route for my web site.

Defiantly recommend walking the bikes across the Mackley slipping the clutch.

Cheers R

[mememe]

Many thanks for the responses, very helpful.

Cheers

[cruza]

Yep - Clint did it just recienty and it is now a honesty box system. If you have a GPS I'd really like a track log of the route for my web site.

Defiantly recommend walking the bikes across the Mackley slipping the clutch.

Cheers R

So no locked gate at the start? still have to ring for permission and pay as you pass? those pics the river looks real low ,would make a lot easier trip

[cooneyr]

So no locked gate at the start? still have to ring for permission and pay as you pass? those pics the river looks real low ,would make a lot easier trip

Be polite to ring first even if they are relying on honesty box for payment. Doc Westport has the landowners details.

Agree about the river levels being low.

Cheers R

[Balrog]

That looks like a cool place to go

[Transalper]

Indeed, and now I have friends in Wesport I'd like to try that track soon..ish.

[Balrog]

I'm in, when are we going

[Transalper]

I'm in, when are we going

Well, PLUGs back on the road so .... cooneyr, oh cooneyr.... na, he's still waiting on parts and it would be good to have him along.
Doubt it will be before the CCA.
Other dates already booked on my calander are the CHCH rider training 24/25th May and Brass Monkey trip 30May-2nd June.

Other than that it's all down to gas money.

[cooneyr]

I'm in, when are we going

Not before I get my bike back!!!!!!

Well, PLUGs back on the road so .... cooneyr, oh cooneyr.... na, he's still waiting on parts and it would be good to have him along.
Doubt it will be before the CCA.
Other dates already booked on my calander are the CHCH rider training 24/25th May and Brass Monkey trip 30May-2nd June.

Other than that it's all down to gas money.

I've been thinking about west coast weekend away trip some time. Maybe mid May. We could meet in Murch, do the New Creek to Denniston Track, down the coast to Gremouth, stay the night then do Napleon Hill, Big River, and the Waitahu River and either back to Springs or Murch and home.

Cheers R

[Balrog]

Sounds like a plan to me

[Dingledoo]

Want to have a go at this in November. We tried last November but the day we planned to it the Grey river was in flood and decided it wasn't a good idea.

Last November I spoke to the DOC Westport office and they advised that acces was open and a key wasn't required.

Has anyone ridden the track since last years flooding? What is the Mackley rice crossing access like now?

[puddytat]

I was told a few weeks back that the gate has been locked permanately at the New Creek Rd end (Iron Bridge) because of the Coal Mine & possibly the Denniston may also be a problem because they are worried supposedly about guerilla conservationists launching a terrorist attack...,)
Best bet would be to ring DOC at Westport.
The Mackley at the mo will be deep as , what with the shit weather & all, but Im not sure on the approaches to it. It will really be dependant on the weather in the weeks prior, but I can tell you now that the catchment is/will be topped right up at this time.
Good luck!!