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Coppermine - Maitai
This is one of the most challenging rides close to Nelson. Allow 4 to 5 hours. Start with a steep climb up the Fringed Hill Classic from Brook St. If your hill climbing skills are up to the mark you can clean it right to the top of the Fringe. If this isn't your thing take the more sedate ascent up the Fringed Hill Road from Tantragee Saddle. From the top of Fringed Hill head into the bush along Black Diamond Ridge with its numerous challenges to Junction Knob. Go straight ahead here rather than left to Sunrise and Peaking Ridge to join the Dun Mountain track above Third House at Junction Saddle. The section from Junction Knob to Junction Saddle has some really good grade 5 technical roots and drops. Continue along the Dun Track to Coppermine Saddle then follow the now well defined track down the South Maitai. There are still 3 sections of the old track that can be ridden if you want more of a technical (grade 5) challenge, but you need to keep a close look out for them if you don't know where they are. This section of track has been recently upgraded (2011) and is now a grade 3 level track. There are some good bermed hairpins on this section which leads down into some bush and crosses the South Branch of the Maitai, which is now bridged close to where the track to Maitai Caves leads off. Head on down on a good trail which turns into a 4WD road. This changes to singletrack again and from opposite the Maitai Dam follows the Nelson water supply pipeline on the true left of the Maitai River, descending through bush to join the Maitai Rd just below Smiths Ford Bridge. Ride down the Maitai Rd back towards Nelson. Cross the pipe bridge just before the Maitai Motor Camp and follow the Maitai Track back to town if you want to avoid the road. 
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