The Original Great Southern Brevet

Friday 6 January 2012

Leg 10 Ranfurly to Kurow Description

Hopefully the wind on the Maniototo didn't blow you back to Middlemarch. Leg 10 takes you from Ranfurly towards the hills (again?). This time though you will ride the well graded Danseys Pass Road. But first a small side trip to "2000 feet above worry level". The tiny village of Naseby is as laid back NZ as you can get, and with some sweet singletrack as well.

Lazy singletrack in Naseby forest
After a short stint on the backroad from Ranfurly, just could not go past Naseby without a ride through the forest. Head up Coalpit Dam Road and pop onto the water race (the same Mt Ida Water Race you rode a few days ago below the Hawkdun Range at its source). Enjoy the easy ride alongside the water race until you hit the aptly named Swimming Dam Road. If the temperature is a little on the high side then this is the place.

Cooling off in Naseby - 2000 ft above worry level!
With a campground across the road from the swimming dam and the Ancient Briton and Royal Hotels down the road plenty of options for a break here.

Once refreshed head out of town towards Kyeburn Diggings and Danseys Pass. Another popular watering hole (of the the drinking kind that is) awaits at Kyeburn Diggings.

Danseys Pass Hotel refreshment stop
It's a climb over the Pass and a drop into Danseys Stream and undulating as you head out and down Maerewhenua River and Duntroon. Danseys Pass Campground is part way down the river and Duntroon has a Domain Campground open in summer.

A flat ride awaits into Kurow with its sprinkling of shops and takeways.

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