Course Descriptions:

• The course has over 2400 metres of vertical ascent and descent. Its not a turn your brain off track, its varied, narrow in places, rocky and undulating. It is relatively unmarked getting from the Hunter Valley to the start of the river crossing. There are also lots of fast open sections of 4×4 track, so something for everyone.

• 8:00am a mass start from the Lake Hawea Community Centre, Lake Hawea. You will be directed out onto SH6.

• Ride west along SH6 for 23 km, passing the Lake Hawea lookout. Turn right at the neck along Mead Road to gain access to the Hunter Valley, heading towards Kidds Bush.

• This is the start of the 4×4 track. Ride for 6 km and pass through the Kidds Bush Recreational Reserve. Kidds Bush is the start of the 95km Classic ride and is the same course at this point for the Epic riders.

• Read below to continue with the course description…

CLASSIC 95km

• General: The Classic is most of the Epic except for the 23km road section from Hawea to the Kidds Bush turn off. Plus the 6 km gravel road to Kidds Bush. Its approx 2120 metres of elevation gain and the same of descent.

• For Classic and Epic riders; From Kidds Bush, another 5 km on is the Hunter Valley Homestead and the road gives straight access to the Hunter Valley Station Road that will take you to the head of Lake Hawea.

• This is where the track gets interesting. The next 20km include a few creek crossings, a couple of climbs (highest point 525m) and descents while passing old hunting and fishing huts. Evidence of the lake rise in 1958 is seen towards the head of the lake as the old forest tree stumps, black and aged emerge from the lake itself like tombstones of a by-gone era.

• You ride past the head of the lake for about 9 km passing Boundary Hut as you head further up the Hunter Valley. At about the 61 km mark you will go through a gate that will be Marshalled and this is your turn around point. Now head straight across the the rocky river bed to the crossing point that will also be marked by Marshalls.

• Appropriate safety will be in place to ensure you can cross the river safely; personal assistance will be available if necessary.

• You will cross the Hunter River and start heading south back toward Hawea on the Dingle Burn Station 4×4 track. About  3.5km on from the river crossing is Green Bush Hut and Aid Station 1. This is the best place to dry off after the river crossing and prepare for the last section. Again, there are some sharp little climbs, longer descents and rocky sections for the next 20 km’s or so past Green Bush.

• Only through this event are competitors allowed access the Dingle Burn Station homestead and then on to the Dingle Burn Station Road. This is where Aid Station 2 is with Tea and Scones.

• The next few km’s take you along the amazing bluffs of Rocky Point where you catch a view of Mount Aspiring to the west if you know where to look and the lake 30 meters directly below you.

• After rounding the bluffs you are now on a more sedate gravel road for the next 20km. Heat Break Hill is the last hill climb out of the Timaru Creek. After that the road takes you back to the Lake Hawea Motor Inn.
• The finish line is on the park by the Community Centre and your journey will end here, flaked out on the grass, listening to some pleasant music with a cheeky little pinot or a cold beer (or three!).

Alternative Course:

In the event of a course change due to river levels and not being able to cross the Hunter River, Classic riders will start at the Community Centre with the Epic riders and ride the alternative course up the Dingle Burn side together. Epic rider will turn around at Green Bush Hut (approx 60km) and the Classic riders will turn around at Mt Jones Creek (approx 45km) riding course back to the Community Centra in reverse.

The Lake Hawea Epic is DOC approved.