Our host Mandi used to live in Christchurch, but she is now a West Coaster through and through. They built their home here on the outskirts of Kumara 14 years ago, and the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail runs past their property. So they have renovated some of the buildings and made room for the strangers who cycle past – appropriately named “The Cyclists Rest”
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- Our home Cyclists Rest
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- Great ambience!
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- The bath and bush
Kumara is the scene of New Zealands last great gold rush in 1876. It is a small sleepy town, but it is ready for cyclists!
Kapitea Reservoir and Dam
It is a perfect place to stay – surrounded by bush and birds – wood pigeons, tuis, bellbirds, and wekas are everywhere. Warning! there is rarely silence – the sound of birds is continuous, and I love it. There are walks to the river, and only a short ride home from the village after that delicious cold beer at the end of your ride.
Warm west coast hospitality – Marni has thought of everything. There is a small hamper of goodies in the fridge ‘None of the shops in town open before 9am.’ There are eggs from the hens in the garden, some home made marmalade, bread and butter and a couple of sausages. “Help yourself to what is growing in the greenhouse” – we are in heaven.
Kapitea Reservoir and Dam
The property is ‘off the grid’, our hotwater in the studio has been heated by the fire before we arrive, and Mandi offers to light it in the morning, but we think we are up to that. There is a bath outside overlooking the bush which looks tempting – we have to hunt out a hose to fill it from the hot tap – maybe tomorrow.
We are just back from a 16km round trip cycle to the Kapitea Reservoir and Dam and of course the cold beer at the newly renovated Theatre Royal on the way home.
Some great bush trails
The cycle trail follows some back streets in the village, past some excellent story boards telling some of the local history. Then we are off road on a previous walking trail, that now links up with some back roads, then a series of fantastic switchbacks up towards the dam – they are fun and quite doable by a novice such as me. Then we are out on the beautiful dam – and ride for another km on the dam walls around the lake.
The ride back was exhilarating – some great downhill rides. I was definately ready for a cold beer when we arrived back in town. The Pub advertises a quarter pounder white bait fritter, so that is on tomorrow night for dinner.
Recently Renovated Kumara Hotel
West Coast Wilderness Trail Info
- Good signposts for direction
- Good regular signposts giving distance
- Great riding surface
- Variable terrain gives interest
- The dam was lovely, but you are not out in any real wilderness on this bit of the track.
Links
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