Longer Heaphy Track mountain biking season proposed

The Department of Conservation is inviting people to have their say through written submissions on a proposal to extend the Heaphy Track mountain biking season from its current five months to eight months. It is proposed to increase the mountain biking season on the Kahurangi National Park track from 1 May to 30 September currently to 1 April to 30 November but excluding the four days of Easter. DOC is carrying out a partial review of the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan specifically to consider lengthening the Heaphy Track mountain biking season. DOC Golden Bay Operations Manager Andrew Lamason said the extended mountain biking season was being proposed to promote more use of the Heaphy Track and to give mountain bikers more opportunity to ride it in outside of the winter months. “The current mountain biking season is mostly in winter when cold weather, including snow, can make riding the track more difficult. Most mountain bikers are choosing to ride it in May and September and numbers on the track rise considerably in those two months. A review of a 2011-2013 trial of the five-month mountain biking season on the Heaphy Track found minimal conflict between walkers and mountain bikers. The 78-kilometre Heaphy Track is suited to mountain bikers with advanced skills (Grade 4) and but expert (Grade 5) technical skills can be required in wet and cold weather.