Dear fellow Mountainbikers,

we are two very enthusiastic Bavarian riders. We are setting
out on a "mission" to ride the best and most scenic singletracks
of New Zealand's South Island. We will be in NZ Dec 14 through Jan 13.

It would be great to get in contact with you NZ riders to ride some
of your great MTB rides and to share some MTB gossip. Also we would
be thankful for any pointers to great NZ MTB rides, information
about trail access, conditions, ...


On our list are (from what we found in the web)
Queen Charlotte, Nydia, Otagocentralrailtrail, Naseby, Clyde / Alexandra
tracks, Craigieburn, Wharfdale, Roaring Meg, ...

We are eager to get some input from you guys to expand this list and to fill
in more details.

Here is a sketch of our itinerary:
Christchurch - Nelson - Abel Tasman - Picton - Kaikoura -
Lake Tekapo - Omarama - Otagocentralrailtrail -
Queenstown - (Milford) - Wanaka - West Coast -
Haast Pass - Christchurch.

Note that the only thing fixed about it is that we will start in
Christchurch on December 15th and finish there as well on January 12.


We love singletracks with tight switchbacks, roots, rocks, steps,
the occasional smalish drop, exposed tracks, steep terrain, great views, ...
Basically everything that makes mountainbiker's heart and soul happy.
Since we have already enjoyed a great 2006 MTB season in Europe (100k+ am)
we are in pretty good shape and dont mind long ascents and day filling
adventures.

Of course we will also be doing some more typical touristy things such
as some awesome sea kayaking and hiking in Abel Tasman and the Malboroughs,
Dolphin Swimming in Kaikoura, Jet Boating, Milford sounding, ...

Our means of transportation are mostly our 100/130 mm travel full
suspension bikes, bus rides, lifts and - if necessary - the occasional
rental car. We'll be camping most of the time.

Back in Munich we are members of the MTB group of the German Alpine Club.
Our native terrain are the central european alps as well as the coastal
mountains of Italy's Finale Ligure home to the famous singletrack 24h
MTB Race.


It would be great to get in contact with you and to hear from you

ride on

Silvia and Wolfgang


http://www.m97.de

P.S.: Attached photos will give you an idea of our preferred terrain ...

Guten Tag Silvia und Wolfgang.

You'll have a great time down South. I haven't done much riding down there, but you should think about picking up a copy of the Kennett Bros' Classic NZ MTB Rides, from Vorbshop or Burkes Cycles for some great trail reviews, and details about where and how.

I look forward to your updates!

Links:

http://shop.vorb.org.nz/catalog/product ... ucts_id=77

http://www.burkescycles.co.nz/product.asp?prodid=1961

Don't leave Chch without riding the Summit trails by going up Kennedy's Bush Track and riding all the way along the tops to The Anaconda down into Taylors Mistake Beach.

Oh, and give the Otago Central rail Trail a miss unless, nice scenery granted but it ain't MTBing!

Don't forget to check in at local bike shops - they will have the most up to date info.

Tschus!

Hi sounds like you all ready have a pretty good idea of the best rides in the south island, with that itinerary you will have an awesome time.

A couple of recommendations.

Buy the kennet book, it list 400 ride in NZ and is a goldmine of info.

Avoid the rail trail if you want proper mountainbiking, its ~150km of flat gravel. Its got some alright scenery but to be honest is a bit dull.

The photos you posted look epic, can't wait to head over that way to do some riding.

Enjoy your trip.

You sound like you're on the right track as far as areas to ride go. Definately get the book mentioned above, its the Kiwi mtbers bible! If you're going down the West Coast I'd add the Croesus and Kirwins tracks to your list.

There should be a lot of vorbers sifting around Wanaka/Queenstown in early January as the first 2 rounds of the National Downhill series are down there then, so post up your location as you travel around and I'm sure you'll get some guides...


The pics you posted look amazing! Most of our terrain like that is tied up in National Parks (off limits to mtbers ) but there is still heeeaaaps of riding to be had.

Enjoy NZ and welciome to VORB!

Wakamarina is a definite. It is a fantastic ride (it is one of my favourites in nz).

The start is near to Blenheim. Great scenary, fantastic trails. A little bit of walking required....but well worth it for the multitude of switchbacks with roots and ferns and rocks... Great ride!!

Nydia bay is good too, much easier when dry...

If you post where you are going to be when (approximately) people might be able to offer to take you on their local rides...

Round Christchurch I would recommend... Port Hills Tracks (Kenndys Bush - Godley Head Crater Rim ride) / Wharfedale / Craigeburn / Monument - Mt Herbert. Wharefdale and Craigeburn both require a car. Port Hills tracks are on Christchurch's doorstep! Mt Herbert can be reached from Christchurch via ferry from Lyttleton.

West Coast - I love Creosus Track however its closed to bikers during some peak summer holiday periods so you will need to check. Kirwans track is another good option. Craigeburn is on the way from Christchurch via Arthurs Pass.

Queen Charlotte is a great ride - just note that the first section from Ships Cove is closed to bikes during Jan/Feb. There will be lots of walkers during this time. There are lots of other good rides in Marlborough / Nelson areas.

Kaikoura - give Mt Fyffe a go.

As said by others avoid the rail trail - sounds like you are into more epic technical trail riding.

Lots of good trail riding around Central Otago, including Queenstown (Moonlight Track, Mt Dewar, Fernhill Loop), Wanaka (outlet and plantation tracks, etc), Alexandra (old man range), and Coronet Peak in Queenstown will be open for lift access.

Enjoy your riding - keep the Vorbsters posted of where you are, as I'm sure there will be lots of locals willing to show you around.

Definitely get Kennett Bros' Classic NZ MTB Rides, that’s a must.

Going by you’re photo’s you would like the craigieburn ride, 4wd climb up, traverse across and some sweet single track out.

Also on your Christchurch – Nelson run you should stop off in Hanmer and get in touch with Neil from Krank Dirtwear. Last time I was up there he took us on an awesome ride down a track called Deliverance which is almost impossible to find, but very worth it

I think that with the distances you are planning to cover a car would probably be a really good idea. When you try and take buses / shuttle vans you often end out wasting a lot of days travelling which if you had a car you would do at night, and some of the best rides (Wakamarina, Nydia bay) are point to point rides which involve long car shuttles, or boring road riding, on roads where very few people drive / no buses etc. Often people buy a cheap old car as they enter town and sell it off at the end but for 1 month this maybe a little time consuming. I'll probably be keen to ride the port hills on fri the 15th in the evening...

Thanks for all the great information. Tonight will be map time so that I can get an idea
of where the recommded trails are. The book mentioned (actually I do have a 1991
copy of it at home) is on the way to my mailbox.
We will keep you up to date of our whereabouts. Looking forward to meeting you
on the trail.

ride on
Wolfgang

ich bin auch aus bayern

sorry dont know many trails though

Holy shit i wana go to where ever those trails in the pics are!

XTC1 wrote: Holy shit i wana go to where ever those trails in the pics are!

If you come to Munich next June/July/August/September/October I can show you
a lot of trails of that type ...