South Island rides. Any problems with trails being washed out?

**drbandit** · 21st December 2011, 20:15

We are doing a 10 day adventure ride in the greatest place to do one... lots of help from Coonery..
-- Lees Valley, Meyers Pass, Black forest, McKenzie Pass, Thomsons Gorge rd, Ramrock road, Nevis Rd, Skippers rd, Breaburn Track, Rainbow stn, molesworth, Port Underwood road...

with the recent bad weather is there any problems we might encounter??..(lots of slips etc in north island..)

Any info greatly received.. Starting ride 28th Jan..

**FJRider** · 21st December 2011, 20:22

Check with local councils and respective landowners ...

If repairs are being made to any of those areas ... your presense may not be desired.

**Taz** · 21st December 2011, 20:51

The Okuku River can be a bit of a torrent after the rains.

**Shewolf** · 21st December 2011, 20:56

Checked on the conditions at Molesworth/Rainbow with Doc.

The top end got a bit of a hammering buts been repaired and they are still opening 28th Dec. (Lucky cos thats when I'm turning up!)

Rainbow is open and they are doing ongoing work on the road. She said high clearance 4 wheel drives are ok and no probs on trail bikes.

Also advised to watch out for sharp rocks, take tyre repair kits etc

**cooneyr** · 21st December 2011, 21:18

So far, the east coast and southern central (MacKenzie, Central Otago etc) areas are sweet. Not seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. Obviously normal high flows after rain.

Ask again after DB1k on the 21/22 Jan - obviously a lot of the southern country will have been checked out during the ride.

Cheers R

**husaberg** · 21st December 2011, 21:34

As a side note the Mackley track- New Creek to Denniston is now locked Due to Vandalism.
Lock opened by way of an access fee at adjoining landowners.
Either that or access one way via Denniston end and double back. Shame a couple of idiots ruin it for everybody.

**JATZ** · 21st December 2011, 21:46

Originally Posted by husaberg

As a side note the Mackley track- New Creek to Denniston is now locked Due to Vandalism.
Lock opened by way of an access fee at adjoining landowners.
Either that or access one way via Denniston end and double back. Shame a couple of idiots ruin it for everybody.

Thats how it used to be the first couple of times I went through there. It was only a $5 toll or something, well worth it IMHO.
Any idea what the toll is now ?

Also.... We'll be threading our way through Molesworth/Rainbow on the 1st/2nd, doing Edwards/Malings at the same time, If you see a couple of 350's wobbling along give us a wave (and try t'keep the dust down aye)

**husaberg** · 21st December 2011, 21:59

Originally Posted by JATZ

Thats how it used to be the first couple of times I went through there. It was only a $5 toll or something, well worth it IMHO.
Any idea what the toll is now ?

Also.... We'll be threading our way through Molesworth/Rainbow on the 1st/2nd, doing Edwards/Malings at the same time, If you see a couple of 350's wobbling along give us a wave (and try t'keep the dust down aye)

Never asked what the new toll is but it has been open for about 8 years or so and the river is deeper than it looks. The Mine at the New creek end is going to be reopened on a larger scale and the Bathurst mine is going ahead at the other end so there will be a lot more traffic. The road should remain open but the details on whats going to happen the Denniston end are Sketchy to say the least.

**LBD** · 22nd December 2011, 00:45

Originally Posted by Taz

The Okuku River can be a bit of a torrent after the rains.

And slippery as all hell with slime if it has not been raining.

**Monstaman** · 22nd December 2011, 07:00

All these areas are sweetas, we have missed all the biggies to date, we have been having mid 30's everyday and FA wind so dust will be your main problem followed by a carpet of Rabbits in Central.

Very wet November and now big heat means a huge growing season so some areas might get closed off temporarily due to extreme fire risk.

**ducatijim** · 22nd December 2011, 08:34

Hey, Bandit, you forgot to mention the Nevis road too!!! And, Okuku will be reactive to 'recent' rains, not what happened 4 weeks earlier!!! So, that will be more effected by wot happens the week before we go, not last weeks weather bomb!!

Carhnt wait!!

**Phreaky Phil** · 22nd December 2011, 21:38

Originally Posted by Shewolf

Checked on the conditions at Molesworth/Rainbow with Doc.

The top end got a bit of a hammering buts been repaired and they are still opening 28th Dec. (Lucky cos thats when I'm turning up!)

Rainbow is open and they are doing ongoing work on the road. She said high clearance 4 wheel drives are ok and no probs on trail bikes.

Also advised to watch out for sharp rocks, take tyre repair kits etc

We will probably be there on the 29th. Cross over on the 28th. Havent really got an exact plan on where we are going, May see ya somewhere

**Shewolf** · 23rd December 2011, 09:10

yep may do, we're a rag tag bunch of white bikes, a Djebel, Serow, DR and XT - we'll wave and try to keep the dust down

Originally Posted by Phreaky Phil

We will probably be there on the 29th. Cross over on the 28th. Havent really got an exact plan on where we are going, May see ya somewhere

**NordieBoy** · 24th December 2011, 22:12

Originally Posted by husaberg

Never asked what the new toll is but it has been open for about 8 years or so and the river is deeper than it looks.

We had to pay in 2009.

**husaberg** · 24th December 2011, 22:45

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

We had to pay in 2009.

Interesting I thought the gate had been gone way longer of course i do have a key for most of the locks as part of my job mind you.
The guy who is currently living next to the gate is Wayne. Took this photo on my phone this week if you were caught out and no one was home it would be navigable on a small bike.But don't do it of course. it is better to ask and then it stays open for all but the undesirable cretins to do all the damage.
looks like the Miltown to Tarawhati section (for the cycle trail) is under construction at the moment too picture in the paper.