Champion Smelter and Roding Dam
Dogs Not Allowed sorry Do not do this ride if it has been raining heavily. The only problem with this ride is that you have to get your feet wet! There are three fords to cross, and the water will come up to your knees assuming it has not been raining hard. I have done this ride with children before, admittedly slightly older children, but little Annie on her trike will not be able to do this ride. The old copper smelter at the end of the track is a great place for a picnic and to explore. In winter the valley does not get a lot of sun and it can be cold and frosty, but its still worth doing if you have not been up here before. If you are keen you can combine the ride with a bit of a hike up to one of the old mines as well. Unfortunately those tracks are not rideable. Start by finding your way to the carpark, this in itself is not an easy task! Drive south from Richmond and once past Hope and in the 100k zone take the first left and head over the hill to the Aniseed Valley. About 10km up the valley you come to the Hacket Picnic Area, this is where the tar seal ends and you then have to carry on up the road a further 5km or so until you get to the carpark. Waypoint 1 - (S41 21.522 E173 15.509) Carpark Ride over the swing bridge and left back to the road and the caretaker's house. Waypoint 2 - (S41 21.471 E173 15.645) Caretaker's house Here you will have to sign in with the caretaker as this area is a water catchments area and they like to know who is up there. There is no problem with mountain biking, but you can't bring in your dog, and obviously you are expected to keep the area clean. |  First of the fords on the way up. | ||
| Once you have signed in, carry on up the road. You can take a detour
off to the left to visit the Dam and see where some of your water comes
from. The water passes through a tunnel to the top of the Marsden
Valley behind Stoke, and then by pipeline to the water treatment
station at the Tantragee Saddle. There is a neat wee concrete ford that
is a bit of fun to ride over down from the dam. It can be a bit
slippery! Waypoint 3 - (S41 21.386 E173 15.974) Roding Dam From the dam, ride back up to the road and then carry on until you come to the first of the fords. You can either just accept that your going to get wet feet and shoulder your bike and walk across, or spend lots of time taking off your shoes and socks and mucking about. The choice is yours. Waypoint 4 - (S41 21.760 E173 16.578) First Ford Now comes a nice ride through some pristine beach forest along to the second ford. Waypoint 5 - (S41 21.518 E173 17.284) Second Ford Carry on further to the last ford Waypoint 6 - (S41 21.620 E173 17.553) Third Ford Once across the ford you are now at the old abandoned copper smelter. Spend some time to look around, and climb up to the old chimney up the top. Go out the way you came in. |  Remains of an old boiler at the smelter site |