last Sunday we (Fiona, Jase, Gaz, Rob and I) got to enjoy a mtb ride of a different kind. we had been talking about doing an away ride for quite some time but somehow didn't manage to get ourselves organised till now. Rob and I hadn't done the Moerangi trail before but were sure that it was worth a visit as Fiona and Jase had done it once before and Gaz had done it twice already and they all were keen to do it again!
the trail starts not far from Minginui where you can get a shuttle service to the start of the trail. the people to contact are Scott and Vanessa from Jailhousefarmstay.co.nz, they will also let you stay overnight in their jail house, Mike and Kath enjoyed it there.
the best way to ride trail is by starting from the Okahu Rd end so get to enjoy more down- then uphill and most importantly you finish the ride with a big long downhill and a huge smile on your face!
the trail is about 38km long and takes you through ancient forest with crystal clear streams. there is an astonishing variety of fauna to admire and bird life to spot, it's like going on a little holiday and traveling back in time. there are 3 huts along the way that you can stay in to make the most of being away from it all but amongst the nature.
the trail starts with a few quite steep but short climbs, as a little wake-up call, and from there just keeps rolling up and down through this amazing forest, following a stream for most of the way, some of the way you are right next to the crystal clear water and then you are climbing back up a narrow and sometimes sketchy looking single trail to enjoy the view of the refreshing water from high up. be aware of stinging nettle, we all managed to ride into the same plant and still felt the sting and tingle couple of days later. the other thing to keep an eye out for is the nice drops right next to the trail, if you did miss the trail it could end up being rather painful for you and your bike, and there are some sharp rocks around too.
at the end you can either be picked up at the end of the trail or ride the last 10km on the gravel road back to the farm. 38km sounds like a pretty easy ride but i must admit the ride was not as easy as expected but great fun and an unforgettable experience. we are already talking about riding it again, but this time we might do it two ways just for a bit more challenge :)
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