The way points of this bicycle route:
Off the seal and onto gravel.
Back onto seal here. CAUTION: State Highway 85; keep left.
A brief respite from the howling nor’wester behind a shleter belt here.
Look for the historic Wedderburn railway shed and the Wedderburn Pub on the left as you pass through.
Blessed relief as we turn left, turning the head wind into a tail wind.
One of New Zealand’s coldest places in winter.
Visit the historic Hayes Engineering Works down Hayes Road.
Home of the national curling bonspiel, held when there’s at least a foot of ice on the dam.
Right turn onto gravel.
Lunch stop in a field somewhere along here on the left.
The official route followed Auripo Road to the left until it met Thurlow Road, then onto the Rail Trail. However, there’s a track here that goes straight up to the Rail Trail, which makes for a handy shortcut (and not as steep as Thurlow Road ;)
Cross the Poolburn Viaduct, construction of which started in 1901.
Pass through Tunnel No. 1. This is 201 m long and has no bends. CAUTION: let your eyes adjust before riding through, ormake sure that you have a good light.
Pass through Tunnel No. 2. This is 229 m long and bends around to the left. CAUTION: let your eyes adjust before riding through, and it’s probably worth taking a good light.
Pass over the Manuherikia Viaduct, opened in 1904.
CAUTION: rejoin State Highway 85 here (or continue following the Rail Trail if you prefer).
Commercial Tavern on your right ;)
Take a right here if you want to visit historic Ophir (CAUTION: one lane bridge). Rejoin the main road via Ophir Bridge Road over the old Daniel O’Connell Bridge.
Start climbing up Tiger Hill here.
You’ve reached the top! A short downhill follows.
Mostly downhill from here until Chatto Creek.
Pub on right :)
Not far to go now…
The end!
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, MTB, Smooth, Steep, Basic, Offroad, Low traffic, High traffic, Rough, Safe, Rural, Scenic, Touring
