I had the same theory, a few years ago, that Harpers would be the way to go, and having ridden up the true left bank of the Hurunui on a trail bike (OK then, an XR185) as far as possible, it seemed a trials bike would be the way to go to cross over.
A couple of years ago I tramped up the Taramakau to Harpers Pass, with a view to riding after scouting the route on foot, and although at low tide (not today!) you could probably get up the river as far as Locke Stream Hut without too much difficulty, (indeed, in places the old coach road is still intact) there's no way that you'd get to (or from) the Pass from there.
However, there is another pass that might be possible, with a small team, and without giving away too many secrets I have a 3 x trials bike plan underway for early autumn 2011. All to be revealed after blazing success, or indeed dismal failure.
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