Windfarm Ride
Regional Ride
Manawatu, North Island
This is a fantastic ride and a must do for keen mountain bikers visiting the region. Be sure to have your camera with you as the views are nothing short of spectacular. This ride is suitable mainly for the more active, experienced riders. At a distance of approx. 41km with some good climbs scattered throughout, it is a challenging ride. Caution needs to be taken in rough weather conditions, so please keep an eye on the weather report before doing this ride, as the weather can be extreme at times. Layered clothing is recommended, to be prepared for all types of weather.
It is not recommended that you do this ride if the wind is up. It is also not recommended that you bike through the Gorge, so please arrange transport to drive you out to this ride and drop you off. This is not a return ride. You start on Gorge Road and end in Palmerston North City.
From the bridge ride along Ballance Gorge Rd for 500m then turn right into Hall Block Rd. You immediately start a reasonably steep climb that continues on for 6km to reach the first of the wind turbines. Go through the gate and continue along the gravel road through the windfarms (there are a few gates along the way, but this is all public road - please leave gates as you found them). Once you get to the Pahiatua Track Rd, turn right and descend the long downhill to Aokautere. Turn left at the intersection to take the road through Summerhill and across the Manawatu River into Palmerston North.
