Water Again

An important subject in many ways to a bikepacker!

Course Change possible

We are carefully monitoring the water levels in the Manuherikia but this week's cold front has bumped them back up again. Check out Water, Water Everywhere on the website for more details.

Please ensure you have the flood alternate track loaded on your GPS, it can be found on the Route 2021 page. Announcement to come.

Drinking Water

If temperatures climb back to normal for the season then you will need plenty of water out there.  Many of the sections are dry, or through farmland, with few options for drinking water. Below is a quick summary of my rides and where I accessed water (and survived relatively bug free):

Leg 1 - Tekapo, but nothing else till Twizel really. If you are desperate there is water in the information centre on the lakefront as you cross the control structure.

Leg 2 - Twizel, then next good drinking water would be Darts Bush Stream as you approach the higher part of Flanagan Pass, and Dorcy Stream on the other side (higher up is better). Then possibly Lake Middleton Campground, though this could be a boil order. Then Lake Ohau Lodge. There are a few creeks crossing the ride up to Tarnbrae Saddle which should be OK. At the Historic Woolshed but again may be boil. Then it is Omarama.

Leg 3 - Omarama. On the way up to the saddle is a small stream (at the switchbacks) and several small drips on the road from higher up. Rainwater water at the huts. St. Bathans next. If we do the alternate route then nothing till over Little Omarama Saddle, but on the way down on the switchbacks there is a stream on the final turn which is good and your last chance till St. Bathans.

Leg 4 - St Bathans, then Thomsons Gorge. Careful here as there is plenty of stock, but some of the creeks from the south side of the road could be used if you are desperate. Then Tarras, Hawea, Albert Town and finally Wanaka.

Leg 5 - Wanaka, the Cardrona Pub, but they may only serve beer or whiskey? Arrowtown, Frankton and then Queenstown.

Leg 6 - Queenstown, Walter Peak and then mostly farmland till Mossburn, so pretty dry. 

Leg 7 - Mossburn, then Fiver Rivers, if the cafe is open. Athol, and finally Garsten (the pub!).

Leg 8 - Garsten, after you drop into the Upper Nevis (away from farmland on the Garsten side) some of the small side creeks off the Remarkables should be good. Make sure you have water before heading up Duffers Saddle as it can be scarce on Hawkburn Road. Then Clyde (but it is off course) and finally Alexandra

Leg 9 - Alexandra, nothing on Knobby Range, then Roxburgh (slightly off track). 

Leg 10 - Roxburgh, then pretty scarce until Ranfurly! Up around Lake Onslow you may find some creeks running clear from the North side of the road, but again check for stock.

Leg 11 - Ranfurly, Naseby, Danseys Pass Pub, and finally Kurow

Leg 12 - Kurow, creeks at/near the top of Hakataramea Pass and then nothing till the finish in Tekapo. Again a pretty dry leg till your final beer at the pub in Tekapo.

Satellites 

And what does that have to do with water you ask? The human body contains a lot of water and unfortunately water is the bane of satellite signals. Please check where you mount your SPOT tracker. Along your top tube doesn't work so well when your body sits over it for most of the time. Blocks satellite signals very well! Try somewhere out the back or further front or on top of your helmet or securely attached to your small pack if you wear one.

Does beer count as water intake?

I'll leave that one for you to decide