Coast to coast 2 - Arthurs Pass to Punakaiki

Downhill with a tailwind, the best ride ever!

Robin Capper

Robin Capper

— 4 min read
Coast to coast 2 - Arthurs Pass to Punakaiki
Towards Otira

After a bit of uphill from Arthurs Pass to the ridge it was, at last, my chance to tackle the amazing Otira Viaduct descent. I had been denied this on two previous trips due to miserable weather but today was rewarded with perfect conditions.

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Downhill to Otira

It's a steep grade (16%) descent that goes on and on down a stunning Southern Alps gorge. I got to 85km/h on the straight part before deciding it was prudent to brake for the "recommended" 45km/h corner rapidly approaching.

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Even with several photo stops maintaining a high average speed was no problem. As it flattened out a little, but still downhill, another Easterly tailwind made it easy to maintain 30-45km/h for the next 30km.

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Giant Weta?

I saw this amazing Weta on sale in Otira, wonder if my Dad would like it for his birthday…

Weta 4 Sale at Otira Weta 4 Sale at Otira

Lake Brunner & Moana

After a coffee stop we headed around Lake Brunner, on quiet rolling roads, to Moana for a lunch stop.

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💡
Again, no traffic (and a spotter) allowed some centreline photo fun
What's he doing lying in the middle of the road, they thought?
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🔧
Months later this random snap of a Mercedes Wrecker in the middle of nowhere—just taken as seemed out of place—helped a colleague at work source a part for his old Merc. He mentioned his search, and was astonished to find this existed and had the part!
2025 Update: Seems, from looking at Google Maps, this business is no longer there
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By lunch time we had done about 65km but the gradient and tailwind meant it felt like less!

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Down to the coast

After lunch I struggled a bit, feeling a bit "tight" in the legs, but think this was in part due to adapting to a different bike. It's a lovely 21 speed Trek road bike and some adjustments helped as the afternoon went on.

The 20km Moana - Stillwater ride was a bit dull compared to the spectacular scenery earlier in the day. It wasn't helped by some long straights, which I don't like, and a bit of headwind as the sea breeze came up the valley.

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I seriously doubted making the whole 140km to Punakaiki but after Stillwater—down the Grey River to Brunner (below)—the road got a bit more twisty and interesting my legs seemed to come back.

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North to Punakaiki

After hitting the coast a mix of stunning scenery, fine weather and no headwind made the last 30km to Punakaiki a pleasure.

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By the time I arrived at our, beautiful, accommodation the odometer showed 142km, max speed 85km/h.

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Dinner, whitebait fritters entree & hapuka main, as the sun set over a calm (for the West Coast) was a lovely finish to the best ride I've had, ever!

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Adventure South | 2011 South Island Coast To Coast
A cycle tour from Christchurch, West Coast from Punakaiki to Karamea, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Picton & Kaikōura.
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