It will be fun they said. An iconic part of Tour Aotearoa they said. Mountainbikers love it, they said….

Big River trail certainly has a lot to live up to.  It’s only a 56km section, but when the guidebook says it’s challenging, and the guidebook is written by the Kennett Bros, you’d better believe it. 

Technically there are two options- the 26km road ‘easy’ option along State Highway 7 to Ikamatua, or the 56km ‘Big River’ track, through an old goldfield, to Ikamatua.

If you’re riding a unicycle, you might as well pick the hard option. The other reason is that one of the photo checkpoints is on Big River. If you miss it, you’ll always wonder what it was like. The track is officially closed due to a landslip, so some took the excuse to ride the (sensible) road option.

I set off before daybreak at 6.45am, not knowing what I’d find. The first 9km was a gentle climb to the Big River track, then it went rough, rougher and rougher still. 

Big River would be better off being called the Big Rock track. There was 15km of climbing, along what mostly resembles a rock garden. Big, chunky, garden variety rocks that would look good among the cactuses or lining a riverbed. 
Some of it is rideable, if you don’t mind bouncing around and burning lots of energy. Most of it isn’t.

You know it’s tough when only 3 bikers catch up to you (there were over a dozen on Big River trail today).
I carried a lot of water with me (3.75L), which made the climb more challenging. The track was used in mining operations during the 1800s, but the abandoned goldmines left a nasty legacy- toxic chemicals used in the extraction process. Don’t drink the water, they said…

When I finally reached Big River Hut, I wrote in the visitors book ‘tough climb, look forward to the downhill!’

Well, the downhill was equally gnarly. At one point we were crawling down, up  and across a rocky stream bed. The rest was rooted, rutted, narrow and rocky.

The checkpoint photo and Waiuta boardwalk was a highlight. My legs were pretty stiff from the climb, so I had to take the downhill conservatively. Better to walk the fun bits if it means you get to the finish, instead of down a bank with a unicycle on top of you. I’d love to ride the track properly, with fresh legs and without a pack.

There was a massive slip which required creative negotiating. I helped some other TA riders get across….a 5kg unicycle is easier than a 25kg fully loaded touring bike. 

I was relieved when I completed the Waiuta track.  There was a quick descent along a gravel road, past the abandoned Waiuta ghost town.  

After reaching Ikamatua, I carried on a further 30km to the town of Blackball, arriving to stay at a historic goldmine era pub/hotel, ‘Formerly The Blackball Hilton’.
Steak, chips and ice cream sundae to help those achy muscles recover.