Hanmer Hydro Access Road, which leads into the
Rainbow Road following the course of the Wairau
River. The scenery on this section is completely
different to anything else on the Molesworth or
Sedgemere. The valley has steeper sides and the
road is like a mix between both the Molesworth
and Sedgemere – very twisty, with steeper climbs
and descents. Despite getting very little
maintenance this was probably my favourite
section of riding.
We stopped at the Old Rainbow Homestead to
pay the access toll and sit in the shade for a while
to let the rest of the group catch up. We seemed
to be there an age before a rider came through
the gate to tell us one rider had left the track and
cracked both cylinder head valve-covers, but was
thankfully not injured. A quick bush-repair with
gaffer tape kept the oil in long enough to get the
bike ridden to the homestead, where it would be
recovered the next day by trailer.
From there to the main road was a sweet section
of track with a few gravelly stream crossings
before becoming twisty, tar-seal paradise
through the trees. Absolutely stunning. Even if
you’re on a road bike it’s worth riding taking a
detour to ride this section of seal from the main
road towards the Rainbow Ski Area.
At the main road I was in a dilemma. I’d done
230km and there was another 100km back to
Blenheim with no fuel on the way. That’d put it at
the max range of the GS’ tank. Did I have enough
fuel to chance it and get back to Blenheim, or
should I detour to St. Arnaud for fuel? It was only
a 24km round trip to be safe for fuel, and the fact
they’d surely have ice-creams seemed to seal the
deal for more than a few of us.
“
IT’S NOT SO MUCH THE ROAD ITSELF,
WHICH IS STILL EXHILARATING TO
RIDE, RATHER IT’S THE BEAUTIFUL
THAT’S STUNNING.
KIWI RIDER 109