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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 25 mi (40.2 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +1,679/ -1,114 ft
Total: 7 riders
 

Mountain Biking Tarnbrae Track

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#52 of 193 mountain bike trails in South Island
#7,226 in the world

The Tarnbrae Track is a back-country ride on a wide, well formed trail - some purpose built; some four wheel drive track. The gradient is controlled and gentle and the trail surface is dirt, gravel or stony - good but usually jittery or bumpy, depending on where you are.

The track starts at Lake Ohau and steadily climbs 350 metres over 11km. Then it descends 200 metres over the following 8km to Qualburn Road.

It forms a part of the 300km "Alps 2 Ocean" trail that goes from Mount Cook to the coast at Oamaru. At Qualburn Road it's worth turning right and riding the two kilometres to the historic sheep shearing shed dating back to the 1920s.

As an out-and-back ride the Tarnbrae Track gives you two good workouts and two good downhill blats. The ride back down from the high point to Lake Ohau is a feast of gentle corners - off camber and jittery - all the way heading straight for the jagged peaks of New Zealand's highest mountains.

It's a very scenic ride with magnificent mountain vistas to the north, gorgeous Lake Ohau, and alpine meadows to the east. For a few short periods the trails goes through beech forest. Take care not to run into wandering hobbits.

It is described here as an out-and-back ride from Lake Ohau. Even better ways to ride it would be as part of the Alps 2 Ocean Trail or as a shuttle from Omarama.

First added by Jim Cummings on May 22, 2015. Last updated Sep 19, 2024. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: yes
  • Fat bike grooming: yes
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
From Twizel head south on highway 8 for about 10km, the turn right into Lake Ohau Road and follow it to the car park at Lake Ohau Lodge.


Tarnbrae Track Trail map

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Good (Mar 6, 2017)
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