Start : Ranfurly

Finish: Tarras

Distance: 117 km

Terrain: Tarmac, Gravel

Water crossings: Yes 

Gates: Yes

Challenge Grade,1-easy to 5-hard: 3

Comments: Leaving Ranfurly, this ride heads deep into the rugged heart of Central Otago, where wide-open tussock country, twisting gravel roads and a rich gold-mining history come together to create an unforgettable adventure. The route winds its way towards Falls Dam before continuing to the historic gold-mining village of St Bathans. Take time to explore the old streets and soak up the atmosphere before calling into the famous Vulcan Hotel, one of New Zealand’s oldest hotels and a legendary watering hole for travellers passing through this remote corner of Otago.

From St Bathans, make your way down to the stunning Blue Lake, a peaceful reminder of the enormous changes gold mining brought to this landscape. Then it’s back onto the bike and into the spectacular Thomson Gorge Road. This remote route cuts through some seriously impressive country, with rugged hills, rocky river valleys and old mining workings scattered throughout the landscape. Keep an eye out for the scars left behind by the gold miners who once worked these valleys, chasing fortunes from the rivers and hillsides. Riding through here, it’s easy to imagine the packhorses, miners and rough camps that once occupied this isolated country.

The final leg takes you towards Tarras, with the landscape opening up as you leave the narrow gorge country behind. It’s a fantastic mix of flowing gravel, remote back-country riding and Central Otago scenery, with plenty of places where you’ll want to stop, switch off the engine and take it all in. From the goldfields of St Bathans and the historic Thomson Gorge to the wide-open country around Tarras, this is the sort of adventure ride where the journey itself is every bit as memorable as the destination.