Molesworth closed Monday 2 February

[clint640]

Do I detect a contradiction from you here, Ryan??

I think he means the period where the gates are open & you pay on the way through vs the rest of the time where access is permitted but you have to arrange the key.

s'funny that near every year the Molesworth gets closed cos of fire risk but everybody keeps on truckin' through the similar country of the Rainbow & it hasn't burned to the ground yet.

I wouldn't get too worried about the Moles' anyway, it's a nice ride but there's lots of other cool & more challenging stuff to do in the upper south.

Cheers
Clint

[Racing Dave]

Who would have guessed that dust and stones were so flammable?

[Bass]

I wouldn't get too worried about the Moles' anyway, it's a nice ride but there's lots of other cool & more challenging stuff to do in the upper south.

I'm sure you are right and I guess your comment is aimed a bit more widely than just DJ and I. However, for 2 couples looking to spend 2 days on the mainland on a pair of 990's, down Molesworth and back up Rainbow has to be hard to beat.
"More Challenging" while 2-up with luggage and shod with Scorpions is a bit out of my league.

[NordieBoy]

However, for 2 couples looking to spend 2 days on the mainland on a pair of 990's, down Molesworth and back up Rainbow has to be hard to beat.

Add in some bits like the Dry Weather Road, Sherry River and Mt Arthur and you've got a sweet ride.

Dammit.

Mmmmm 990

[warewolf]

However, for 2 couples looking to spend 2 days on the mainland on a pair of 990's, down Molesworth and back up Rainbow has to be hard to beat.

Arse, that's gotta suck. There is also the Rainbow/Rainbow option, arrange your own permit/key should be open when you are planning to travel.

[Bass]

There is also the Rainbow/Rainbow option,

Considering exactly that - not quite the same, but.

[cooneyr]

Do I detect a contradiction from you here, Ryan??

It would appear so, my comment wasnt very clear. The Rainbow Station portion (most northern 30km) of the Rainbow Road (110km) is the bit that gets "closed" unless you organise a key for yourself. Any, time of the year you can ride from Hanmer about 80km north to the locked gate and back again.

As others have said, Rainbow, Maruia Saddle, Palmer Road, Tapawera Dry Weather Road, Sherry Road, Anatori/Wanganui inlet, Cobb Valley, Totranui, Birds clearing, etc etc are still worth a look. I personally prefer the Rainbow to the Molesworth anyway. If you were really keen you could ride the 100 or so kms down the Awatere valley from Blenheim to the Molesworth gate and back again.

Also I've never tried but I've heard rumours that you can get through the molesworth outside normal opening dates if you ring DOC South Marlborough and arrange it. Probably not for the day after it closes but possibly a month or two after. Might be worth a try.

Cheers R

[mazz1972]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

We have ferry & accommodation all booked for trip next week - planning to do Rainbow Sunday 8th & Molesworth Monday 9th.

Oh well that's the risk we take....

Looking at Metvuw there is no rain predicted so not looking good.

However the Metservice forecast for rural Marlborough says:

Sunday showers and cool southerlies developing. Some of the showers heavy with isolated thunderstorms possible.
Monday few early showers, then mainly fine. One or two afternoon or evening showers inland. .

Nelson rural forecast also shows possible rain Sunday.

So maybe all is not lost....

Sigh....

[marks]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

We have ferry & accommodation all booked for trip next week - planning to do Rainbow Sunday 8th & Molesworth Monday 9th.

Oh well that's the risk we take....



However the Metservice forecast for rural Marlborough says:

Sunday showers and cool southerlies developing. Some of the showers heavy with isolated thunderstorms possible.
Monday few early showers, then mainly fine. One or two afternoon or evening showers inland. .

Nelson rural forecast also shows possible rain Sunday.

So maybe all is not lost....

Sigh....

if Molesworth closes do the Rainbow on Sunday and on Monday go through to Spring Junction (nice ride). Right into SH65 detour onto West Bank Rd. Back onto SH65 and right Mauria Saddle Rd. Around to Murchison for Lunch. Then north a few clicks on SH6 then turn right into Mangles Valley Rd and around via Braeburn Track to Lake Rotoroa.

If you are riding your KLE500 I wouldn't recommend Porika so head out Gowan Valley Rd back onto SH6 then either head back via Nelson or via the super boring Wairau Valley Rd.

All the gravel bits are easy and the sealed bits are brilliant riding.

Take lots of photos and post them....

[NordieBoy]

If you are riding your KLE500 I wouldn't recommend Porika so head out Gowan Valley Rd back onto SH6 then either head back via Nelson or via the super boring Wairau Valley Rd.

A KLE400 dealt to the Porika no problem on the '07 Dusty

[DrifterIII]

Just got new chain/sprockets and tyres to do the Rainbow and Molesworth in Feb.
Will try to send some rain up from down here.

[warewolf]

Considering exactly that - not quite the same, but.

Too true, but perhaps better than cancelling the trip entirely, and losing money in the process.

The Molesworth is definitely worth doing, at least once. However, for a pillion, missing out could be a mixed blessing. We did a two-up Nelson-StArnaud-Rainbow-Hanmer saturday, followed by a Molesworth-Blenheim-Havelock-Nelson sunday. The 2 hours Hanmer to Blenheim was just too much on a hot summer day. She was too uncomfortable for too long, and I wasn't much better. The Rainbow was no problem, it is half the time/distance between refreshing services, and the scenery and terrain more varied.

Whatever you do decide to do, you know there'll be plenty of route suggestions forthcoming!

[mazz1972]

if Molesworth closes do the Rainbow on Sunday and on Monday go through to Spring Junction (nice ride). Right into SH65 detour onto West Bank Rd. Back onto SH65 and right Mauria Saddle Rd. Around to Murchison for Lunch. Then north a few clicks on SH6 then turn right into Mangles Valley Rd and around via Braeburn Track to Lake Rotoroa.

If you are riding your KLE500 I wouldn't recommend Porika so head out Gowan Valley Rd back onto SH6 then either head back via Nelson or via the super boring Wairau Valley Rd.

All the gravel bits are easy and the sealed bits are brilliant riding.

Take lots of photos and post them....

Thanks Mark.

We'll work on plan B over the weekend so will print off your suggestions & study map. Yeah riding the KLE so will have to be easy gravel for me.

Camera is playing hide n seek at the moment so need to have a bloody good look for it.

Cheers
M

[Bass]

Too true, but perhaps better than cancelling the trip entirely, and losing money in the process.

:

We've canned it.
Taking Molesworth out just took away too much of the reason for doing it.
Such is life.

[CrazyFrog]

We've canned it.
Taking Molesworth out just took away too much of the reason for doing it.
Such is life.

Bass, after doing Oz I thought you'd have more grit than that, chucking it in at a minor hurdle....c'mon man, you know you want to do it!
You can ride the first 100km down the Awatere Valley until you get to the locked gate, still a worthwhile excursion even if you have to return the same route. The scenery is probably best in the first part anyway.
There's plenty of other worthwhile routes down this way if you have a change of heart, us locals will point you in the right direction.