Posted 21st September 2014 to the Odentroll Blog Site
Officially the Fiordland National Park is suppose to be closed to Mountain Bikes..
But there are a few nice options that Locals know about.
The Best Kept Secret is the remote road network put in to service the Manapouri Power Stations Transmission Lines put in in the 1960s and to those who like a challenge it is one of the most unique rides you can have on a bike.
There are two roads which one can enter from the Borland Lodge near Lake Monowai or from the West Arm of Lake Manapouri. the roads are deliberately not linked but there is a rough route between the two that involves carrying your bike on your back, it is steep and difficult However the Old Road Builders had a easier route from the basin to the West of the Percy Pass that is ignored by the Department of Conservation in favor of the direct dangerous option.
If you Chose to Reach the Percy Pass by Bike from the West Arm End you will need to take your Bike across Lake Manapouri on the Daily Tourist Launch Service or if you have a group you can maybe use the Weekly Power Station Barge Trip if you can arrange it.
The West Arm of Lake Manapouri is also a handy place to use as a base for other Cycle adventures
as there is a DOC Hut available and a Cycle Journey across the Wilmot Pass Road to Doubtful Sound is the on of the best Cycling Experiences you can have in a life time.
There is now Self Contained Accommodation available at Deep Cove Doubtful Sound at the School Hostel Complex and Plenty of attractions to visit all along the road not open only to the Tourist Buses that Pass through. If you fancy to go for a Tourist trip on the Sound that can be arrange from the Cove.
The Eastern Side of Lake Manapouri has some cycle options that are not sign posted along the Upper Waiau River in the Form of old four wheel drive tracks & Roadways and a trip over to Supply Bay from Manapouri Township is a nice outing and there are a few bush walk in that area that are not
publicly promoted that are well worth a look.
The Road to Milford is full of short adventures and little known side roads but the best option in that Area is Gun's Camp in the Hollyford Valley and the Hollyford Road is a great place to explore on a bike as the traffic is minimal and there are lots of DOC Walks in the area.
Down South: The Southern Part of Fiordland has a few old Logging Roadways along the Park Boundary
and there are farm tacks along parts of the Lower Waiau River
There is a pretty little Cave System at the Foot of Mount Titiroa that has been accessed via farm track
but it would require directions and permission from the Farmer
One distant day the Historic South Coast Telephone Line Track could be made into a Cycleway but
the Department of Conservation would need to have a fundamental policy shift for that to happen.
