South Island Gallery / Mountain Biking / 2011-05 Heaphy track   We spent 3 days mountainbiking the Heaphy track - it was great! We biked in from Kohaihai (Karamea) to Gouland Downs hut, getting there just on dark after 9 hours biking. Day 2 was an easy day, a day trip to the Aorere shelter (near the top of the final descent to Brown hut) and back for a second night at Gouland Downs. Then on day 3 we headed back to Kohaihai, enjoying plenty of fun downhill on the Mackay to Lewis hut section.  The start at Kohaihai    IMG 1623    The track started along the coastline    Nikau palm groves    IMG 1633    The art of taking your bike across a swing bridge    IMG 1635    IMG 1636    IMG 1637    Powelliphanta carnivorous snail - watch out    More bridges    IMG 1645    High plateau of the Gouland Downs    IMG 1648    IMG 1650    Day 2 a trip from Gouland Downs hut to Aorere shelter    IMG 1653    IMG 1655    Tom at Perry saddle hut    Tom getting in a bit of extra downhill    IMG 1660    Back across the downs to the hut    Hil by cave creek    Tom exploring caves near Gouland downs hut    IMG 1667    IMG 1669    Chilly rivers at the start of day 3 heading back to Kohaihai    IMG 1673    Early morning mist on the downs - we set off at 7am as we had a long way to go    IMG 1678    Lots of mud    The tough uphill was much more fun on the way down    Hil falling off    IMG 1690    IMG 1693    Washing the mud off the bike and me in the Heaphy river    Soon got muddy again though    Tom trying out the bike racks at Heaphy hut    Heaphy river mouth    Heaphy beach    Semi-rideable sand    IMG 1711    Rocks thrown over the path by the waves    IMG 1715    Great beaches on the coast track    Relaxing on the beach    IMG 1718    More nikau groves    IMG 1724    Crossing the Kohaihai river    The end - we are back at Kohaihai after 3 amazing days riding    Bonus ride to the Oparara arches    Limestone cave at Oparara    Tom in the cave    IMG 1732    Looking straight up at the arch    IMG 1734   57 Images  |  Home  |  Generated by jAlbum 9 and based on Chamelion skin