Many of the staff here at the DOC Rotorua Office are keen mountain bikers and we’re pretty excited about our city hosting the first stage of this year’s Crankworx World Tour.
Continue Reading...Archives For 30/11/1999
Taking the family away on holiday can be expensive. Elizabeth shares her budget friendly ‘miracle’ find in Rotorua.
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DOC staff were invited to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley recently to see the results of their conservation projects.
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Hewn through steep hill country 100 years ago as a stock route, the Pakihi Track on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, is now a magnificent wilderness ride. Jim Robinson, Executive Officer for Motu Trails Charitable Trust, writes:
The Pakihi Track—a magnificent wilderness ride
My most recent Pakihi escapade came hot on the heels of Easter’s ex-tropical cyclone Ita, which slammed the Eastern Bay of Plenty with an all-night lightning storm, tree-downing gales and, in one terrific downpour, 100 mm of rain in less than two hours.
Two days after that, I was joined in Opotiki by Toni Keeling, who had already finished the GODZone expedition adventure race and the Coast to Coast Longest Day this year.
“I’ve only done one ride since GODZone,” Toni grinned. But, typically, she was dead keen to do the whole 93 km loop of the Motu Trails: out on the Dunes Trail, up the historic Motu Coach Road, down the Pakihi, and back on the tar seal to Opotiki.
Tirohanga section on the Dunes Trail
The Dunes Trail
The Dunes Trail is a cinch, purpose built to answer New Zealand Cycle Trail (NZCT) standards. But it’s still a great legwarmer, rolling east over tussock-dressed sand dunes, with panoramic views of the Pacific.
Surprisingly, there were no other riders. And the usually common weka must all have been sleeping in.
Dunes Trail
The Motu Road Trail
After an hour, the Motu Coach Road clicked up the challenge (a big yellow road sign pulls no punches: “NARROW WINDING ROAD NEXT 48 KM EXTREME CARE”).
Meremere to Toatoa on the Motu Road Trail
With tight corners and precipitous drop-offs, ‘The Motu’ used to be one of the famed stages on the World Rally Championship calendar. It’s still the highlight of the Motu Challenge multisport race — a fave of ex-Whakatane MTB rider and 2011 national XC champ Carl Jones.
Motu Road Trail
A few times I could admittedly have done with the horsepower of a Jonesy or a Colin McRae, but we made steady going, and reached the start of the Pakihi by early afternoon.
The Pakihi Track
The day was awesome, though a long way off tropical. So, stopping at the mini trailhead shelter, it was fuel up and jackets on for what Jonathan Kennett rates as “one of the longest most scenic downhill cycle trails in the country. It is virtually impossible to ride the Pakihi without a grin from ear to ear.”
“It is virtually impossible to ride the Pakihi without a grin from ear to ear.”
Bringing the Pakihi back to life
Jonathan first rode the Pakihi in about 1996, while researching for Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides.
One of my dog-eared early editions of the biker’s bible rates the track “50% semi-rideable jungle country, 50% sweet single track”. But by 2008, edition seven cautioned with an almost audible sigh: “in 2007, a big storm closed the Pakihi Track … it doesn’t sound like the Pakihi will ever be fully rideable again.”
Fortunately, in 2010 there was an unexpected saviour in the form of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) had been aiming for some years to restore the Pakihi for trampers and hunters, and got behind the concept of reopening access to bikers as well.
Rugged! Photos of the Pakihi before restoration
Before the restoration (Feb 2011)
Before the restoration (Feb 2011)
Before the restoration (Feb 2011)
With two work teams, one from each end, DOC brought the Pakihi back to life, better than ever.
The Pakihi—back to life
As soon as we dropped off the Motu Road, Toni and I were into magic riding, below a dense canopy of forest, with punga fronds pushing in.
It’s wide and evenly graded, but a glance down confirms that you’re sidling an extremely steep slope.
Biking the Pakihi
Time and again, you skirt into a tight gut, cross a short wooden bridge, and return to the bush-clad face of the hill, all without changing more than a few metres in height.
I pedalled the Pakihi a year ago with four keen Australians, and they kept commenting how the scale of track work is unreal.
The 11 km upper section, with a dozen bridges and a total descent of about 300 metres, ends with a short sidetrack to the Pakihi Hut, which was built in 1969 by the New Zealand Forest Service (forerunner to DOC), for hunters.
The hut was originally big enough for 6, but the 2013 addition of an enclosed verandah and benching stretches that capacity.
It’s backcountry basic. But, for a lunch stop, it’s the best place on the trail — and if it’s sunny, there’s a picnic table.
Toni and I rolled straight on down, into the spectacular 10 km lower section, which starts by taking a tight twist into a shady gully with a small crashing waterfall.
One of many trackside waterways on the Pakihi
A few minutes more and we’d reached a 35 metre long suspension bridge, crossing the Pakihi River just above the confluence with Papamoa Stream.
The Pakihi Swingbridge
The bridges keep coming, all numbered: 18, 19, 20, 21…. We paused several times to look left to small waterfalls, the cold hanging in the still air. I love these spots most of all in summer: the lichens and ferns stay fresh, the nikau throw shade, and there’s still ample water to fill a bottle.
Then, around bridge 24, the valley stretches open. The track widens and straightens. The sun warms. Suddenly, you pop out on the road end, and it’s over.
“There’s stunning scenery all the way down, and a great variation,” said Toni, when I asked for her perception as a Pakihi first-timer.
“There aren’t many places that you can easily ride so close to a river without being in a riverbed, or way up high on a cliff. It was amazing to be so close, seeing the sunlight glistening off the river and hearing the water.”
The Pakihi River — glimpses of perfection
“From what I’d been told, I was expecting a far narrower track with steep cliffs,” Toni commented. “In reality it was much better than I expected. You need to be cautious at times. But really why would you want to rush!”
Several shuttle providers offer group drop-offs and pick-ups around the Motu Trails. There’s a range of accommodation, including in Opotiki, Ohiwa, Tirohanga, Toatoa, Motu, Pakihi Valley and Te Waiti.
If you’re not keen on riding, the Pakihi Track is also a superb walk. From the Pakihi road end you can walk to the hut and back in about 5-6 hours.
Find out more at www.themotutrails.co.nz or ask in the iSITE at Opotiki or Gisborne. Get news and track updates on the Motu Trails Facebook page.
Abridged from ‘Glorious Pioneering’ in the June/July issue of New Zealand Mountain Biker Magazine.
Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Today we profile Caraline Abbott, a Partnership Ranger based in Rotorua
At work
Getting ready to scuba dive
Some things I do in my job include being the go-to person for intranet and web publishing and media relations.
I work with community groups and try to support them where possible.
I’m also responsible for updating our local publications such as the Rotorua Recreation Guide and have represented DOC at community events.
This helps achieve DOC’s vision by engaging the public in our works and highlighting our successes.
Good communication is the key to everything!
The best bit about my job is getting to go out and meet some of our fantastic volunteer community groups—it’s inspiring!
The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is walking the Tarawera Trail with the Partnerships team in my second week on the job.
The official opening was the week I started and I was eager to get out and explore, so it was perfect timing.
The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is Ron Keyzer because he’s managed to find the perfect balance between fishing and working.
Family time at Lake Rotorua
On a personal note
Most people don’t know that I run a Facebook page called Frugal Kiwi Mum that has nearly 3,000 followers.
Last year, I used to have a radio slot called ‘Frugal Fridays’ and a weekly spot in The Rotorua Daily Post writing about sustainable living, providing money saving tips and frugal recipes.
My stomping ground is the Northern Territory of Australia.
I lived in Darwin for two years before moving to New Zealand and I just love the way of life there. Everybody is so relaxed and down to earth and the scenery is next to none.
Man eating sharks and saltwater crocodiles are my favourite animals and the NT has got plenty of them!
Heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier
Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef
My best ever holiday was when I was 21, I booked myself a ticket to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, LA, Mexico and Toronto and gave myself eight months to see the sights.
I met my now husband in Australia the first week I was away from the UK and I never did complete my trip so you could say I’ve been on holiday since 2006!
We later spent a few months in South East Asia, which was an eye opening experience.
The best piece of news I’ve heard lately is my mum and dad are coming to visit me for Christmas from England!! They haven’t been over since my son was born in 2012 so it’s a long overdue visit.
They want to experience a Kiwi Christmas on the beach, test out some walking trails and also volunteer with pest control operations!
In my spare time I am the Childbirth Education Convener for Rotorua Parents Centre which involves managing the contract with the District Health Board, booking ladies into classes, writing management plans and strategic documents, reviewing educators and writing reports.
Deep and meaningful
Preparing to take a leap of faith at Rotorua Canopy Tours
My favourite quote is ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ – Wayne Gretzky or ‘Fall seven times and stand up eight.’ – Japanese Proverb
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is work hard, play harder.
In work and life I am motivated by karma. What goes around comes around. Work hard and you will reap the rewards.
My conservation advice to New Zealanders is be involved and play your own part. Your role is yet to be defined but conservation is everybody’s responsibility.
Question of the week
Do you have any phobias?
Apart from the obvious ‘something happening to somebody I care about’, despite growing up in rural England, I’m not too fond of sheep! I got chased by one once and those rectangular pupils give them a sinister stare. Never trust a sheep unless it’s on your dinner plate!
