The Porter family, owners of Queenstown Park Station, are delighted to again open this unique high country station for recreational mountain bike riding on Sunday 18 February 2018.
This is an opportunity to experience spectacular landscape and views of the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers from a new perspective. This is a community open day for riding and you’re encouraged to take your time, stop often to enjoy the views. We’ll also be joined by a small selection of food sellers including Life’s a Grind Coffee, Popsicle Tricycle, Pita Pit, Hikari Sushi, Bacon Buttie and more. Feel free to bring a picnic or buy food at our midway picnic beach.
Riders can start any time between 9:30am and 11:00am at Boyd Rd off SH6 south of the Kawarau Bridge and finish by 4:00pm, exiting either back to Boyd Rd or Chard Farm to ride on out to the Queenstown Trails.
This ride is part of the national Aotearoa Bike Challenge.
To keep the route and riding experience interesting, once again we will visit the large beach area at the 9km mark. We’ve slightly changed the route so it follows closer to the River (and avoids the big hill).
This year there are two options for riding through the Station, all starting at Boyd Road.
Please note that all riders must still leave the Station (via either exit) by 4pm, signing out with our marshal as you leave.
You’ll need moderate fitness to ride the undulating trails, a mountain bike in good working order, plenty of water and food – and of course your camera/phone!
Children under 18 are most welcome, but they must ride with an adult and must be capable of riding up to 18km on undulating farm track which does have some hills and can be sandy in a few parts and includes a stream crossing.
We’ll be joined at the midway picnic beach area (9km into the 'Station Loop' ride) by a selection of food sellers. There will also be a water top-up station here.
Toilets will be provided at the ride start (Boyd Road), at the midway picnic beach and there will also be toilets on completion of the 'Station to Chard Farm' ride at Chard Farm.
Parking is available on Boyd Road as indicated on the map. Please follow the instructions of our marshals on your arrival.
A pick up point is available for those doing the 'Station to Chard Farm' ride at Chard Farm. Marshals will be manning the gate there and participants are asked to follow the directions of the Organisers at all times and to please consider the Station neighbours by parking appropriately and as directed. There is not an option to park and start the ride from Chard Farm.
This community open day is free of charge thanks to sponsorship by Remarkables Park, a $15,000 grant to cover the resource consent and other divert expenses. Optional charitable donations will be collected on the day for Queenstown Trails Trust, with a free bike bell for every registered rider.
For enquiries please email ride@remarkablespark.com
or call 03 442 3084
Unlike previous years, this year, unfortunately a postponement date is not possible. Please check www.remarkablespark.com/community before 8:30am on 18 February should adverse weather be forecast for confirmation of the ride being cancelled, or call 021 114 3495 or 021 309 048.
Please hand in any found items on the open day to our sign-out desks at Boyd Rd or Chard Farm. After 18 February lost property will be taken to the office at Remarkables Park Ltd and held for 7 days. If you lose something on the ride please call us on 03 442 3084.
This ride is part of the national Aotearoa Bike Challenge.
It's a fun, free challenge with lots of fantastic prizes, where organisations across the country compete against each other to see who can get the most staff to ride a bike during the Challenge (1-28 Feb). The teams which get the highest percentage of staff riding for their size category will win. There’s also a prize draw for each trip ridden. More details and registration at www.lovetoride.net
*Special thanks to neighbouring landowners Mike & Bridget Mee at Boyd Road, Rob & Gerdi Hay at Chard Farm, all Remarkables Park and Queenstown Station staff and our volunteers who make this such an enjoyable day for all participants.
