Distant and accessible: trail West Wilderness bike from the west coast of New Zealand | Holidays in New Zealand
The wild path of the west coast distant from New Zealand is something of an oxymoron: accessible wild. It seems absurd, but it’s exactly the experience.
The slowly wavy gravel path in the country’s most populated region is not only a cycle suitable for beginners, it is also appreciated by people with a wide range of physical capacities.
Natalie Gauld, 58, who was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease in 2022, finished the West Coast Wilderness Trail several times and contributed to the accessible driving guide to the path. “It makes me feel capable,” said Gauld during a phone call before my trip. “I appreciate her distance.”
The 133 km path from Ross to Graymouth (or vice versa) is one of the 23 major Ngā Haerenga rides in New Zealand. It is located in the West Coast region, a narrow strip of land approximately 600 km long stuck between the southern frozen Alps and the sea of Tasman Bordeaux de Palm. Its diversified ecosystems are oddly up to par: glacial slopes and glacial rivers with tropical forests and pebble beaches.
Seeing the world of the handlebars is the way my husband, Paul, and I generally like to travel. Long, short, difficult, easy to live; We are not difficult once we are immersed in the landscape on two wheels. That said, we are not fans to lug our kit or work the best places to stop, eat and sleep. We therefore joined three other riders during a sustained five -day trip with cycling specialists and the South NZ Adventure Marche, who took care of tedious logistics and planned snack stops and short side hikes in several panoramic places on the west coast.
A bridge closure meant that we had to cut the first 15 kilometers and saddle on the road outside of Hokitika in the rain. “A real welcome to the west coast,” said our tourist guide, Tereza Unzeitigova. The start -up departure was forgiven as soon as we lowered the protection of a foaming native tropical forest. The West Coast is the only part of New Zealand where important expanses of Plaine Tropical Forest remain, which includes giant podocarpes that go back to Gondwanaland.
The walk crosses the wetlands of Lake Mahinapua, where the soundtrack was a sound experience that is its own. For the Uneversed, like me, it could have been anything, swans, ducks and royal spoons with bell towers, Tūī, Kererū or Coucous. A coastal hug at our accommodation in Hokitika finished the first 20 km.
“The” sides “must be more autonomous because we are geographically isolated,” said Rob Pieper, adventure host in the south of New Zealand, who served the group a dinner of paddock with zucchini soup, biological beef goulash and vegetarian dahl with rice that evening in their house out of architecturally designed. “If we have an earthquake. could be alone during the months. “
Pieper and his wife, Col, prepare cyclists’ meals for the group of visits. It is a natural adjustment for the delicious tandem couple at the origin of the Netherlands, which – as well as the management of their small exploitation, located on the coast in Ruatapu in a rare white heron habitat – “make it work” by guiding, in breastfeeding, catering and school driving.
After a relaxing night at the hotel by the sea in Hokitaka, we had a view of the eyes of the bird of the native forest on a walk in the peaks, before continuing the journey on a narrow path alongside the babbling waters of the Kaniere water race. Before my trip, Gauld told me that she could pedal her Motom here after “pinch points” on the track were widened.
After a homemade lunch in a reused wool with Rob and Col, we spent the rest of the day climbing on the shores of Lake Kaniere and hiking in the Azure fear of the Hokitika gorges. Its glacial waters transport a precious Polia (Greenstone) from the mountains to the sea.
Doctors poor in time Nikhil Patel, 36, and Anvi Butala, 31, have chosen the path because he offers several experiences in a relatively short trip. In preparation for the ride, Butala found a hill near the place where she lives and went up 10 times during a training session, she told me.
This helped her reach the top of a 400 -meter sunny rise on the third day. There, the deserted oddity of the Plateau du Paradis de Cowboy served a collection of dilapidated buildings divided by a wide dusty road. The Kumara tray forest path was fun, fast and fluid. That night, we stayed at the Royal Theater, the only Hotel of the Golden Minors fully restored from the West Coast with creaky floors and rooms made up like “King Dick”.
On the last day, the icy crown of Akoari / Mount Cook appeared behind the deserted beaches and loaded with driftwood where blue penguins – the smallest in the world – drag. A burst finish around the port of Graymouth made us fight to keep our right bikes. He did not dissuade the 53 -year -old road cyclist, Litza Reed de Perth, who hired a hybrid bicycle for the path. She said that she buys a mountain bike as soon as she returns home.
Although the trail was finished, the trip was not: we always had pancake rocks and the blowing holes of 30 million years to amaze us, plus a meander along the quiet trails of the Paparoa National Park, and a pedal of 20 km to break our voyage of vans over the Alps in Christchurch the next day.
Our only review of the West Coast Wilderness Trail: We want it to be longer. But fortunately, we have 22 other major New Zealand journeys to explore.
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Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Emirates and Qantas have exploited direct flights to Christchurch from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The Tranzalpine train (from $ 219) extends between Christchurch and Graymouth. South-Nz adventure trips include an optional van shuttle service from Christchurch to Graymouth. For movable impariate passengers, wheelchair palans give access to the coffee car from the track level.
Electric bikes
Adventure South NZ has electric pedal electric bikes for rent. Their complete FAQS0 includes required fitness levels.
More accessible activities on the west coast
The Pranamu track is an immersive cultural experience accessible in a wheelchair in Graymouth. The West Coast Treetop Walk offers a coffee and a gateway accessible in a wheelchair. West Coast Scenic Waterways Eco Cruise Boat and accommodation are accessible in a wheelchair.
