We completed the 133 km Wilderness Trail plus an extra 100km was added because, to quote our guide “we pick the best bits (of the trail) and add other great bits”. Apart from the cycling we found the time to experience the Treetop Walk, Hokitika Gorge, Punakaiki, Porarari walk and a very sobering memorial to the Buller mine disaster alongside the Grey River near Stillwater.
It was a pleasure to cover so many kilometres on dedicated cycle tracks away from the tar seal and traffic, and a privilege to enjoy the beautiful surroundings as well. The many gorges, streams and waterfalls could be heard long before we saw them, their waters ranging from deep blue, turquoise to dark bronze in the wetlands. Describing the sun setting over the Tasman sea cannot do justice to the kaleidoscope of colours and is something everyone should experience for themselves.
Personally however, my most enduring memories will be cycling with fellow adventurers on the section from Ross to Hokitika, cheered on by grey warbler, tomtit miromiro and tui. This would come second only to the section from Lake Kaniere to Kumara, both of which must be covered in more detail.
Ross to Hokitika
As early as day one we were introduced to the variety of landscapes we would witness over the next five days. The 33km ride from the historic mining town of Ross to Hokitika has an unriveld diversity of scenery and vegetation. We enjoyed this section of the trail so much that we managed to repeat the last 10km or so twice more over the next two days, thanks largely to the logistical skills of our guide.
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