Places to ride in Nelson

[thommo77]

Not long been back in sunny Nelson and purchased a 09 KLX250s. Man, things have changed since the '80s! Used to be able to take bikes anywhere off road (fire breaks/forest tracks etc) - not any more apparently. It appears the 'greenies' have finally taken over this town.
Now, you need a permit to ride in the forests (understandable), but even these have now been revoked due to 'unforeseen circumstances' as from June??!!
The only option I see is infrequent and few events run by the local MC club, such as laid-backs and xcountry events.
While these are good options, I've only managed 160 clicks on my bike riding around town. This is obviously not ideal for break-in as I want to get on variable terrain and stretch the power a bit, and I don't want to get into events until I've given the bike a proper break-in.
You'd think a place like Nelson would be perfect for off-roading. You see how I get envious when I see our nation's biggest city has heaps of locations (Woodhill etc) and organised rides!
CAN ANYBODY PLEASE HELP with advice on POSSIBLE LOCATIONS IN/AROUND NELSON WHERE I CAN RIDE IN THE WEEKENDS?????

[warewolf]

Join the Nelson club. The information on the web site is out of date.

Through club membership you could get a forestry permit ($5) for three local forests: Hira, Wairoa and Coastal (Tasman). Access to all was recently temporarily revoked while insurance issues were sorted. Hira and Wairoa are still accessible to permit holders, Coastal has been permanently denied (looks like half of it is housing subdivisions now) but they have a new forest which is being developed. ... If I remember all that correctly, effective mid-June.

Not sure of the exact situation at the moment, the forestry permit was notably absent from the membership renewal form.

It's not the greenies fault, it's the corporate forestry leaseholders and the dickheads who cause them grief so they lock the rest of us out (not necessarily motorcyclists, either, mostly not from a discussion I had with the access manager for the forests). That and the NIMBY ratepayers in TDC that don't want bikes anywhere near them.

[thommo77]

Thanks, Colin - appreciate your help. I will join the NMCC and hopefully get a permit.
Any particular place I need to access these forests from? Are there maps available?
Cheers.

[NordieBoy]

Aparrantly the forestry permits and riding areas are under discussion at the moment.

Some areas were closed due to "insurance issues" and also 1080 issues.
Mainly "arsehole" issues.

Another area should be opening soon.

I just follow Shane.

Is your bike road legal?

[thommo77]

Thanks, NordieBoy. Yeah-the bike is road legal.

[warewolf]

Any particular place I need to access these forests from? Are there maps available?

The permit should come with rules & a map. For someone like me who doesn't know the area intimately, the map needs to be read in conjunction with several others of various scales.

Or get Shane to show us!

[thommo77]

Appreciate the replies, guys. So - short of access to forests, there's nowhere? I heard that there is a part of Rabbit Island that I may be able to use (turn left just over the bridge)? I understand the need to not act like a crazy bastard, as the horsey people get a bit angtsy. Anyway, I only want somewhere to get some break-in km's on the clock. As I said earlier, street riding is not good for this. I have used the small area opposite Marsden cemetery, but 3rd/4th gear is tops before I run out of room!

[NordieBoy]

Hira is closed to everyone at the moment due to trees down and I'd think that may be common at the moment.