Leg 4 Wanaka to Cromwell Description

Time to leave the summer playground of Wanaka and head into the hills (the Pisa Range to be precise). Head out of Wanaka on the Cardrona Valley Road. Up the Cardrona Valley turn off at the Snow Farm Road and follow the DOC signs to Tuohys Gully Track.

The Historic Cardrona Hotel - you've missed the turn off if you get here!

A bit tricky navigating the gates and fence styles through the farm but follow the orange top warratahs and you will soon be rising into the Pisa Range. At the top (Tuohys Saddle) head right to the Roaring Meg Track.

Roaring Meg Track

Roaring Meg Track is famous for it's spear grass. These little (and sometimes large) plants are the antithesis of an inflated tyre. Very fine sharp tips seem to cause tyres to deflate at the mere sight. Tubeless is well worth the investment here. Your other option is to add some sealant to your tubes (a note on this later)

Spanish Spear Grass in the foreground

Once you reach Plank Creek cross to the other side of the valley for a challenging (DOC guide description) single track ride to Roaring Meg Dam access road. Drop down the access road onto Kawerau Gorge Road (State Highway 6) and head towards Cromwell (and hopefully in time for some end of season fresh cherries).

Cromwell from atop the Pisa Range

GPX of GSB2012 Course now available

For those with GPS, or map packages that read GPX files, the course is now available in GPX format. This is a filtered version with the same level of details as the Google map but will save some hassle if you are not savvy with GPS conversion tools.

GPX of GSB 2012 Course

With most Garmin GPS models you copy the file into the GPX directory and under Track Manager enable "Show on Map" for each Leg and the tracks will appear when you are located near the route. You can change the colour they appear in the Track Manager settings.

GSB 2012 Track for GPS

The track has been filtered to decrease the data points. A more detailed track will be available later but for now this should allow you to explore the course. Waypoints for Txt-in and other information will be added to the final file (a bug in Mapsource means I have to do this combination by hand).

Clarification of Rule 5 - SPOT Trackers

Now that we have secured a supply of SPOT Trackers sufficient for the ride, Rule 5 has been updated. You will not need to hire, or own, a PLB or EPIRB but you are required to carry a SPOT Tracker. These will be available to hire for the duration of the ride (at cost, no profit will be made) to riders. If you have your own SPOT we will have a form online to capture details to allow you to use it with Trackleaders.com

Along with periodic updates to allow rider tracking, the SPOT Tracker has emergency notification capability as well. We will require emergency contact details for each rider and pursuant to Rule 5, you agree to cover costs, if incurred, in any subsequent rescue. This is standard NZ Search and Rescue policy. Note: in a genuine emergency cost recovery is not the norm.

SPOT Trackers differ from PLBs or EPIRBs. The emergency notification is sent directly to a Search and Rescue Service, however the SPOT also provides additional contact notification options (buttons).

SPOT Buttons

The SOS button is highest priority (equivalent to a 111 call). However you can cancel a message if you feel the situation is not as bad as first thought and send an OK message. An EPIRB however cannot be cancelled (at least until the helicopter arrives). Both have their advantages but for the purposes of the Brevet the SPOT Tracker is sufficient if you are aware of it's limitations.

Rider Tracking by Trackleaders.com

You will be riding in some remote territory and also on private land in the Great Southern Brevet. It is important, both for landowners and your own personal safety, you know help is available. A SPOT Tracker will be carried by each rider to ensure this is possible.

SPOT 2S Satellite Personal GPS Messenger

Using a combination of GPS technology and satellite communications your position on the course will be relayed every 10 minutes back to our tracking partner Trackleaders.com  and displayed on the Great Southern Brevet Course Map. The SPOT unit runs on AA or AAA batteries and is a little larger than your average smartphone today. Lithium batteries are recommended and if switched off when you are not riding (you should be sleeping sometime right!) they should last 5+days (but be sure to carry a spare set of batteries).

Sample of course map on Trackleaders.com

Your progress, and your fellow riders progress, will be displayed on the Trackleaders website. The webpage is available to view any time, day or night. You won't be alone in your suffering, your mates can watch it from their desks in the city!

Haven't finalised cost of the SPOT tracker hire but it should be less than $NZ 100 for the 8 days. Good value for the piece of mind it provides.

Txt-in Checkpoints

Did you know a Brevet is a Diploma or Certificate (should have paid more attention in high school French class?). The certificate refers to the card carried by riders which gets stamped or signed at checkpoints along the way. It is also used to refer to the event itself, that is, a certificated ride.

Now with a Kiwi twist the "certificate" will be going digital. Txt-ing in at Checkpoints will replace getting your card stamped. And they might even show up on Twitter ;-)

For those coming from overseas (not just the North Island) a SIM for your cellphone can be obtained for as little as $NZ 2 and a complete phone on Pre-Pay for $NZ 39. If your phone is unlocked then a Pre-Pay SIM is a cheap alternative to expensive roaming charges. Check out these providers:

From checking out the course, both Vodafone and Telecom have good coverage. Telecom would have better high speed data coverage.

Buses from Christchurch to Tekapo

Starting point if you are looking for transport to Tekapo. Can't vouch for any particular service, sorry. Naked Bus does seem to have issues around pickup but with any of these operators I think it needs to be made very clear when you travel and where they intend to pick you up. The confusion often seems to be people waiting at the wrong location. Would pay to ring them the day before you travel to be super clear you will be there.

These timetables were updated 28/11/11. Please check times with operator.

ATOMIC SHUTTLES
www.atomictravel.co.nz | Ph: +64 (0)3 349 0697 | Fax: +64 (0)3 349 3868 | reservations@atomictravel.co.nz

Christchurch 7.30am, Tekapo 10.40am, Queenstown/Wanaka 2.30pm
Queenstown/Wanaka 3.00pm, Tekapo 6.45pm, Christchurch 9.45pm - 10.00pm

NAKED BUS

www.nakedbus.com | Ph: 0900 NAKED
On-line booking service throughout New Zealand. $1 fares available if you book early.
Christchurch 9.00am, Tekapo 1.10pm - 1.40pm, Wanaka 4.30, Queenstown 6.00pm
Queenstown 8.30am, Wanaka 10.15am, Tekapo 1.10pm - 1.40pm, Christchurch 5.05pm

SOUTHERN LINK SHUTTLES

www.southernlinkkbus.co.nz | Freephone: 0508 458 835
Christchurch City 9.00am, Christchurch Airport 9.30am, Tekapo 1.10pm - 1.40pm, Wanaka 4.30pm, Queenstown 6.00pm
Queenstown 8.30am, Wanaka 10.15am, Tekapo 1.10pm - 1.40pm, Christchurch City 5.05pm, Christchurch Airport 5.25pm

GREAT SIGHTS

www.greatsights.co.nz | Ph: +64 (0)9 583 5790 | Freephone: 0800 744 487 | info@greatsights.co.nz

INTERCITY/NEWMANS

www.intercity.co.nz | Ph: +64 (0)3 365 1113 | info@intercity.co.nz
Christchurch Airport 7.30am, Christchurch 8.30am, Tekapo 12.00pm - 12.40pm, Queenstown 4.30pm (Newmans)
Queenstown 8.05am, Tekapo 12.00pm - 12.40pm, Christchurch Airport 4.00pm, Christchurch 4.10pm (Newmans)

MACKENZIE JOURNEYS
http://www.mackenziejourneys.co.nz/ | Ph:  +64 3 685 6045 |  info@mackenziejourneys.co.nz
Mackenzie Journeys can transfer 1-10 persons from the Mt Cook/Mackenzie region to or from Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, Queenstown and the Central Otago Rail Trail (including Airports) and other destinations by arrangement.

Leg 3 Oturehua to Wanaka Description

Leg 3 starts with hopping onto the Central Otago Rail Trail in Oturehua. Check out http://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/ for a few details. There are countless resources these days describing the trail and the facilites available. This section from Oturehua through the Ida Valley is perhaps the most interesting section of the trail with the viaducts and tunnels. And it is largely downhill!

Auripo Viaduct

You will hop off the Rail Trail at Omakau and head up Racecourse Road for Thomsons Gorge Road. The track takes you through what was once rich gold mining territory. Starting at Matakanui you head up the gorge ascending the Dunstan Mountains to Thomsons Saddle. You pass old gold mining sites like the Rise and Shine Reef and the Come-in-Time(?) Reef. Descending the other side of the Dunstan Range drops you into Bendigo.

Gold Stamper Battery Bendigo Creek

Once you join State Highway 8, cross over and up Maori Point Road onto 8A and Luggate. From Luggate we will hop onto the recently opened Upper Clutha River Track taking us to Albertown. A gentle singletrack with great views.

Upper Clutha River

In Albertown, ride under the bridge on State Highway 6 and enjoy the pleasant cruise along the Outlet Track into Wanaka!

Wanaka (will be a little less snow in January!)

Wanaka is one of the top holiday destinations in the South Island and most facilities are available (a wide range of accomodation, bike shops, supermarket, etc.).

Leg 2 Otematata to Oturehua Description

Leaving Otematata is a gentle climb on sealed roads. Did have the option of taking you straight over the Ewe Range but if you need a food top up then Omarama is the place.

Omarama from the air

Once refreshed in Omarama, head out of town on Broken Hut Road. The road continues up into private land (DOC have negotiated right of access to the conservation area). With a small airstrip on your left and a gate on the right you will see the sign boards for the Oteake Conservation Area). Head left of the sign boards up a good grunt to Little Omarama Saddle, down into Camp Creek and the East Manuherikia River.

East Manuherikia

Continue down the East Manuherikia River to hitting Hawkdun Runs Road (DOC sign at intersection). Hang a left and cross the river and then right down Home Hills Run Road. After a km or so you will see DOC signs for the Mt Ida Water Race Track.

Shepherds Hut Creek Track

Head up Shepherds Hut Creek to the Water Race. The Mt Ida Water Race runs 108km to Naseby and was finished in 1877.

Mt Ida Water Race

After 12.8 kms you will drop off the water race and head to Falls Dam at Hut Creek.

Falls Dam Fishing Huts

The quintessential Kiwi fishing huts dot this remote spot making it picture perfect (ala Grahame Sydney). After dropping over the dam carry on down Fiddlers Flat Road to Loop Road and State Highway 85. A short stretch on the highway and then onto Hills Creek Road to Oturehua. You are ready to join your first section of the the Central Otago Rail Trail here.

Sprint Brevet in Early January 2012?

Well not quite a Brevet but navigation practice that may come in handy once you start your adventure on January 21st, 2012. Check out http://www.otagomtbo2012.co.nz/ for a weeks worth of mountain bike orienteering events in Central Otago.

www.otagomtbo2012.co.nz

Distances will be a tad shorter (~20km/day) compared with your days out on the Great Southern Brevet but you can get a taste of the landscape, riding and food around Central Otago. A great way to get back on the bike if you have overdone the Christmas/New Years Cheer and need some motivation. The navigation practice certainly won't go astray!

GSB 2012 Leg Mileages

These are estimates from the GPX track of the route.  Checking against routing calculations on the GPS and actual GPS tracks would indicate the error over the distance covered on the ground would average 2 to 3 %. So overall the ride would be 1042.2 * 1.025 = 1068.2 kms. Not that far really! Average 133 kms/day over the 8 days ;-)


Leg 1   Tekapo to Otematata           102 km
Leg 2   Otematata to Oturehua       104 km
Leg 3   Oturehua to Wanaka            105 km
Leg 4   Wanaka to Cromwell            57.7 km
Leg 5   Cromwell to Garston            81.1 km
Leg 6   Garston to Waikaia               88.8 km
Leg 7   Waikaia to Alexandra           99.4 km
Leg 8   Alexandra to Middlemarch 141 km
Leg 9   Middlemarch to Ranfurly    60.2 km
Leg 10  Ranfurly to Kurow             100 km
Leg 11  Kurow to Tekapo                103 km
                                                        --------------------
                                                            1042.2km

The longest distance without a shop/store is the 141kms of Leg 8 Alexandra to Middlemarch (there is a pub in Poolburn and accomodation in Moa Creek). By comparison, the longest leg without a shop/store on the Kiwi Brevet is the 205kms of Leg 1 Blenheim to Hamner Springs. Thats over double the distance GSB riders will have to travel on Day 1 to reach their first replenishment stop in Otematata.

Leg 1 Tekapo to Otematata Description

Leg 1 is designed to ease you into the weeks adventure. It is relatively easy riding on 'mostly' good back country roads. The climbs are gentle and the views spectacular.

There will be a neutralised section on the road from the Church of the Good Shepherd (the official start/finish point) till hitting the trail proper. This is to allow all riders to safely cross State Highway 8 in Tekapo township. The start could have been down an obscure track but the shores of Tekapo set the scene much better!

The track exits the streets of Tekapo and follows power project roads to the Tekapo river (riding alongside the Tekapo/Pukaki Canal).

Tekapo/Pukaki Canal

The next section is a more vague track alongside the Tekapo river as you head towards Lake Benmore. There will be a little navigating your way around the informal summer campground at Haldon Arm before heading towards Black Forest Station proper. When checking the course, this section was under water as water was being spilled from Tekapo for the first time in 12 years (fingers crossed 2012 won't see a repeat!)

Haldon Arm - Lake Benmore

Once approaching Black Forest Station you will hang a sharp left after crossing a small bridge to begin the climb into the hills. Some spectacular views over the heavily turquoise waters of the Lake await (and the odd hill). This is a remote section on private land so it is important to stick to the track and travel through as quickly as possible. Little drinking water available from Haldon Arm onwards until you pop out at Benmore Dam so prepare to carry what you need.

Benmore Dam

A quick cruise across the top of the dam and downhill to Otematata (campground, small shop) and your first 100kms should be behind you. It will be a long first day but with extended daylight hours, and good roads, it will  be achievable.

Course length and Leg details

The good news is that the course should be a little shorter than the 1200kms originally proposed. Just finished converting and merging files and course comes out at 1051kms. Of course this doesn't take into account the ups and downs and all the twists and turns. If you look closely at the Google map you will notice it approximates the route in several places. Had to filter it down to allow Google Maps to handle all the track points. I would estimate based on a more accurate sample section that the actual course length should be around the 1130km mark.

Over the next few weeks we will add a brief description of each leg from the Google Map. This will be short and general as not to spoil it for those wanting the surprise but it will mainly focus on advice and what you can expect or need to prepare for each leg. Some legs will present challenges not visible on the map (extra sharp Speargrass or difficult navigation at night) so the description will provide guidance. Remember you can cycle as far or as little each day as you wish, the course is merely broken into legs to help manage the file sizes and convenience.