Kaikora Coastal Track

Set at the foot of the Kaikora mountains, snow capped for much of the year, the Kaikora Coastal Track offers 2 days of enjoyable biking on private farmland. Both days are quite short and it is possible to ride the whole trail in one. I would recommend making an overnight stay though to chill out, enjoy the countryside and meet the friendly people how live on and farm this land.

Included in the modest fee is a trail map, guidebook and access, baggage transfer and accommodation.

Day 1 Staging Post to Ngaroma (21.4km)

Looking back from Bruces Seat

Kaikora Mountains

Starting at the interesting and hostoric Staging Post (accommodation also available)it was 9 fairly flat kilometres along the Southern Highway to the start of the trail. From the road the track climbed, steeply at times, for about an hour through long grass and varied bush.

Having made it above the treeline I reached Bruces Seat and stopped for a rest to admire the inner Kaikora Mountains, white with some late spring snow.

It was only a short climb to the saddle from here. I passed a few walkers as I made my way along the ridge to the excellent Skulls Peak Hut to eat my lunch. The hut was equiped with a kettle and tea bags. Not so useful on a hot and sunny day like today, but the binoculars were good. By now I had crossed the watershed and could see all the way down to the coast. It was possible to see the whale watching boats from Kaikora, if not the whales themselves.

All downhill on vague 4WD tracks from here. Only a few gates and a lot of sheep slowed me down before arriving at Ngaroma, and some cool homemade lemonade from the lemon tree in the garden.

In the evening I was spared from having to make polite conversation with the walkers by going out with the farmer on quad bikes and rounding up some worried sheep, off to slaughter house the next day. The farmer was an interesting cove and it was fascinating watching the dogs work.

Day 2 Ngaroma back to the Staging Post (24.2km)

Sheep, thousands of 'em.

Mt Wilson - 642m. Cloud base - 600m

As yesterday I had 9km on the road to warm up, this time a gravel road. I got fairly lost at Medina farmstead, impressive on a sign posted trail with a map and directions. I eventually found the trail - it was hidden by sheep.

A long steady climb over open farmland took me up into the low cloud and evetually to Mount Wilson. Today the brew was more useful than the binos.

All downhill from here and I enoyed the long, brake overheating, sheep shit splattered descent back to the Staging Post. In the end I arrived 10 minutes before my bag did on the back of the Postman's van. My only critiscm is that this trail is too short.

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