Heading up into the hills above Palmerston and enjoying one
of Otago's longest downhills on the way home. The "Tuffnuts"
option includes a trip to Otago's El Dorado, Macraes.
Ride 1: Palmerston-Trotters Gorge-Stoneburn
Distance: 45.9km (tougher ride 65km).
Main climb: 360m (440m).
Estimated riding time without stops: 3 hours (3
hours).
Our first ride for 2010-11 starts in pleasant Palmerston.
Park behind the shopping area in Bond St, zero your bike
speedo and pedal north from "Palmy" on the main road.
Just 800m into your ride, before the SH1 railway overbridge,
go straight ahead on to sealed Horse Range Rd, also
signposted to Trotters Gorge.
Cruise north for 4.5km, watching on the left for Chalmers Rd,
a gravel road which 5.3km into your ride veers left and heads
up a small hill.
Chalmers Rd is a delight, meandering through farms and in and
out of stands of trees, following a stream.
Enjoying the big downhill on Golden Bar Rd from Macraes
Flat. This is part of the longer Tuffnuts ride. Photo by
John Fridd.
Don't be surprised to encounter farm animals, as there
are no fences.
Eventually, Chalmers Rd swings south, down into a valley.
At an intersection (10.7km into the ride) it morphs into
Craig Rd - go straight ahead.
Craig Rd climbs then dives down into the Shag Valley.
At the bottom, it crosses the Shag River to meet State
Highway 85, the Pigroot.
This point, 13.9km into the ride, is a good "bug-out" spot
for any riders who feel they've had enough for the day; they
can go left and head back to Palmerston.
The rest turn right and head inland up the highway.
Before you reach Dunback, turn left on to Stoneburn Rd, at
18.4km.
Note: The longer tougher ride stays on the highway - see
instructions at the end of this article.
Settle down for a steady 7.5km climb into the hinterland on
Stoneburn Rd, which is sealed initially before turning to
gravel 4.5km in.
You'll be rewarded with great views down to the coast and
also west to the mountains.
The rollercoaster that is Taieri Peak Rd, pictured from
Stoneburn. The destination, Palmerston, is nestled under
Puketapu, seen at top left. Photo by John Fridd.
When you reach the intersection with Golden Bar Rd (which
the tougher riders will come down from Macraes), you're at
Stoneburn and the top! Enjoy the views before cruising south
down the road 1km to the intersection with Taieri Peak Rd.
Turn left on to this road and from here it's almost all
downhill back to Palmerston, which you can pick out by
spotting Puketapu, the pointed hill which looms over the
town.
Away you go on one of the longest downhills in Otago,
watching for stock on the road and the odd vehicle.
When you near Palmerston, turn right on to Brough Rd, which
will take you into the town.
The tougher ride: Those keen for a longer ride and who want
to see the Macraes gold mine should stay on SH85 at the
intersection with Stoneburn Rd, ride through Dunback then
turn left on to Macraes Rd, a sealed route which winds up
into the hills.
At the mine, you can turn left on to Golden Bar Rd and set
sail towards Palmerston or ride 3km further to visit the
historic Stanleys Hotel - and if you've got a hunger, try a
Stanleyburger.
Golden Bar Rd features a spectacular, sometimes scary
downhill.
From Stoneburn, follow the main route back to Palmerston.
