Off Road Cycle Touring New Zealand. Bike2Bunk. BikePacking.
Location: New Zealand South Island. North Canterbury. Kaikoura.
Grade: Easy terrain with constant hills.
Lenght: Two days.
Name:
Mt Fyffe. A Steep climb and a lovely fast descent with superb views from the hut and the peak. You return on the same track as you go in.
See links at base of this page for DOC info etc.
Nearest town:
Kaikoura. A lovely tourist and fishing village. Whale watching and great sea food restaurants are on offer in Kaikoura.
See links
How to there:
From Christ church there is a bus to Kaikoura. To get to the start of the cycle you can either cycle the flat 20km roads there or get a taxi.
Accommodation at start and fun (pubs) at start:
Accommodation at Kaikoura ranges from tent site and back packers to motels and lovely home stays. Also on offer if you have 4 or more people in your party is holiday Accommodation rentals. There are good pubs and cafes here.
See links
Terrain:
All gravel and 4wd tracks. Rocks at the top are large due to not many vehicles being up there. To the hut is just like a gravel road. Once on the top there is a track along the ridge you can do. Fantastic views and an exhilarating track this is.
Difficulty:
Medium to the hut and medium hard to the peak. Only due to the steepness not the terrain. There are sharp rocks on the track especially at the top so take puncture repair kits or solid tyres. Suspension is worth all the cents it cost when coming down.
Vehicle options:I toke my off road recumbent because its easy to push and relaxing to come down hill on. A down hill mountain bike would be good as the fun coming down off the peak would be superb. Panniers are fine as there is no portage. A trailer would hinder the pushing.
Weather requirements:Good weather is required with no to medium wind. The track is on exposed ridges so wind might hinder progress and be dangerous. The hut has roof rain water so as long as there hasn't been a months drought there should be water at the hut. This can be done in winter if the conditions are not windy.
Time on stages:Its 2 hours pushing to the hut. After the hut its one more hour to the peak. Coming down is as fast as you like, watch out for pushers coming up. Time will vary widely from person to person.
Accommodation type once there:The overnight stay is at Mt Fife hut. It has a heater, cushioned beds and roof water.
Side trips things to see:The peak is a must to push to and cycle from. Views are spectacular and the bike with out the panniers is great fun coming down from a mile high. Make sure those brakes are good. If you run then there is a big loop you can do from and back to the hut over the tops.
Accommodation at end:See Accommodation at start.
Links:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/marlborough/places/ka-whata-tu-o-rakihouia-clarence/things-to-do/tracks/mt-fyffe-and-the-seaward-kaikoura-range/
http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/
http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/
http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/Kaikoura.asp
http://tramper.co.nz/?360
Conclusion:
This is a great fun ride down and a good work out going up. The views are second to non. Make sure your bike is easy to push and has good brakes. Take a camera. Highly recommended.
Location: New Zealand South Island. North Canterbury. Kaikoura.
Grade: Easy terrain with constant hills.
Lenght: Two days.
Name:
Mt Fyffe. A Steep climb and a lovely fast descent with superb views from the hut and the peak. You return on the same track as you go in.
See links at base of this page for DOC info etc.
Nearest town:
Kaikoura. A lovely tourist and fishing village. Whale watching and great sea food restaurants are on offer in Kaikoura.
See links
How to there:
From Christ church there is a bus to Kaikoura. To get to the start of the cycle you can either cycle the flat 20km roads there or get a taxi.
Accommodation at start and fun (pubs) at start:
Accommodation at Kaikoura ranges from tent site and back packers to motels and lovely home stays. Also on offer if you have 4 or more people in your party is holiday Accommodation rentals. There are good pubs and cafes here.
See links
Terrain:
All gravel and 4wd tracks. Rocks at the top are large due to not many vehicles being up there. To the hut is just like a gravel road. Once on the top there is a track along the ridge you can do. Fantastic views and an exhilarating track this is.
Difficulty:
Medium to the hut and medium hard to the peak. Only due to the steepness not the terrain. There are sharp rocks on the track especially at the top so take puncture repair kits or solid tyres. Suspension is worth all the cents it cost when coming down.
Vehicle options:I toke my off road recumbent because its easy to push and relaxing to come down hill on. A down hill mountain bike would be good as the fun coming down off the peak would be superb. Panniers are fine as there is no portage. A trailer would hinder the pushing.
Weather requirements:Good weather is required with no to medium wind. The track is on exposed ridges so wind might hinder progress and be dangerous. The hut has roof rain water so as long as there hasn't been a months drought there should be water at the hut. This can be done in winter if the conditions are not windy.
Time on stages:Its 2 hours pushing to the hut. After the hut its one more hour to the peak. Coming down is as fast as you like, watch out for pushers coming up. Time will vary widely from person to person.
Accommodation type once there:The overnight stay is at Mt Fife hut. It has a heater, cushioned beds and roof water.
Side trips things to see:The peak is a must to push to and cycle from. Views are spectacular and the bike with out the panniers is great fun coming down from a mile high. Make sure those brakes are good. If you run then there is a big loop you can do from and back to the hut over the tops.
Accommodation at end:See Accommodation at start.
Links:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/marlborough/places/ka-whata-tu-o-rakihouia-clarence/things-to-do/tracks/mt-fyffe-and-the-seaward-kaikoura-range/
http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/
http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/
http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/Kaikoura.asp
http://tramper.co.nz/?360
Conclusion:
This is a great fun ride down and a good work out going up. The views are second to non. Make sure your bike is easy to push and has good brakes. Take a camera. Highly recommended.
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