Description: Gravel roads and forestry roads. 4 to 5 hours from Brightwater. From Brightwater ride up River Terrace and turn up the Wairoa Gorge, or from Wakefield ride up Church Valley and Pig Valley to the Wairoa Gorge. Follow up the gorge past the Pig Valley intersection and at the Forks keep right and head up the Right Branch of the Wairoa for about 3km where the road heads up the hill. There is a locked forestry gate here and this is the start of Gordons Rd. From the gate climb for 45-60 mins to reach the ridge. From here the road drops then rises a couple of times through patches of native bush. There is a creek where you can usually get drinking water. At 16km the road crosses a spur and undulates around the hill for 2km before starting an exhilarating 6km descent to another locked gate on the edge of farmland. Part way down the descent there is a major intersection. Keep to the right here and stay on Gordons Rd. Cruise down through the farm taking care not to spook stock (the farmer is MTB friendly, so don't upset him) and out on to 88 Valley Rd about 1km north of Quail Valley intersection. Burn up the tarseal down to Wakefield and soak up the village culture, coffee and quiche at Wakefield's Chateau Rhubarbe.
There is some strenuous climbing on this ride, but none of the hills are too steep to ride. It is reasonably remote and you can't rely on cellphone coverage, so be self sufficient and take a bit of warm clothing as it is colder than down on the mudflats. Allow at least 4 hours round trip if starting from Brightwater. A great training ride for the Rainbow Rage.
The views are rewarding once you reach the ridge.
The view south to Ben Nevis on the left and Mt Ellis
Looking north down the Right Branch to Little Ben in the distance.
Looking across the Right Branch Wairoa R. The low ridge in the centre of the photo is one you climb on the Wairoa River Right Branch ride
