From time to time the club organises a weekend away trip to somewhere in New Zealand. In the past, trips have included the Queen Charlotte track, Reefton, Nelson, Napier and Pureora Forest.

Despite a dismal forecast, 12 jungle riders headed out of Taupo to the Kaimanawa ranges in hazy sunshine clutching Gore-Tex jackets to ride the Te Iringa track that is open to mountain bikes on a trial basis. The ride started surprisingly well on a perfectly rideable track through the bush that was soft after all the rain from the previous days. Hopefully the tyre tracks we left won’t upset DOC - it is an MTB trial after all!

As we gained height it became more of a walk, but still nothing too difficult, until we reached the clearing where the hut used to be. As we sidled round Mt Te-Iringa, the path became un-rideable and a mutiny was ensuing. Even hardened bush riders were thinking that an afternoon at Craters of the Moon looked attractive.

At this point the girls (no, the real girls) turned back, while 4 of us decided that it would be much more pleasant just to walk in the bush without the hindrance of lugging a bike, resulting in derisory comments of Hutt Valley Walking Club. Big mistake – 400m on it became rideable again as the track began it’s descent to the Kaipo river. This left us trampers with no option but to turn back leaving the remaining 6 to enjoy a fast sweeping switchback descent down to the swing-bridge.

So, it was trudge back to pick up the bikes and walk them back to the clearing. The descent back from here is truly awesome, bumpy single-track, rooty steps and real steps and all almost entirely rideable. The odd fallen tree or washout interrupts the flow, but not much else.

So the real question: Is the Te Iringa worth doing? The consensus among our group was a qualified “yes”. What NZ MTBer didn’t tell you: If you were to cycle/walk to the clearing, turn around and cycle back, that would make an exciting 2.5 hour adventure. Any further and you’re in for some serious walking. Unless you are super fit you’re not going to make all the 19km to Oamaru Hut, and although the descent to the swing-bridge is great, you’ll have to push 75% of the way back up. But it’s that 1 hour walk around Te Iringa that is the real blight.

And the girls? Well they cycled all 45 km back to Taupo. Impressive. Hutt Valley Road Cycling Club?

The next day’s journey to Whirinaki took more navigation skills than the day’s ride as we headed into unmapped territory on gravel roads; the thermometer in the car showed an un-spring like 4C at one point. We started with a circuit round the MTB loop that was purpose built a couple of years ago. After the previous day its 100% rideability went down well, especially the fast descent back to the start.

But the real reason for coming here was to check out the new shared tramping/biking track opened last month. It’s 35 km, but to get back to the start is another 35km 4WD/road ride. No problem for yesterday’s Taupo road riders, but some were feeling the effects of the previous day. However we did check out enough to realise that with a bit of shuttling this would make a stunning one way day ride. The track is cycleable but not too groomed and the portion we rode among the beech forest with the sun glinting off the river below was just the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon.