The centre of Twizel is a little confusing in a Land Rover because of the way the road snakes around it. But it is really easy to walk or bike around and the central village square has a great café called Hydro. Next to it is a tiny little bookshop and an awesome independent shop called Jake’s. Jake’s sells everything you might need. They have more biking gear than my local cycling shop, plus hardware, toys, gardening stuff and a lot more.
Twizel Village Square
The weather forecast was bad with rain and wind. It was windy with gusts and we had some small rain showers, but it wasn’t that bad and we had good views. Early on in the day I stopped at Loch Cameron to swim. I wish I had decided to swim every day on the trail as there were amazing wild swim opportunities. I regretted not swimming at Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau.
Loch Cameron was warmer than it looks
I met Sue at the loch. She was only a year younger than me (50) and was also doing the Alps to Ocean on a non-electric bike. She had a mountain bike with suspension, but more gear, as she was bike-packing and camping along the way.
Lake Ohau
Good purpose-built track around Lake Ohau
We stopped at the Maori pou for lunch but should’ve stopped 100 yards ahead where there is a picnic table. The lake was beautiful and there was almost enough surf to swim in. The only other riders I encountered on this day of the trail were in a group of twentysomethings who insisted on broadcasting their music from a phone as they rode. Very annoying and I’m glad we weren’t riding with them. I was mostly riding on my own but occasionally stopped with Sue.
Maori Pou
It was a day of beautiful mountain scenery, fantastic clouds and lots of birds (very few native).
You could see where there had been the massive fire. There was a lot of green regrowth and now finally people are taking down the big pines around buildings. Maybe they will plant some natives that are less likely to burn.
Clearing pine trees at Lake Ohau
Because of the poor weather forecast, we had changed our camping plans to the basic accommodation at Lake Ohau Lodge. $125 got as a fantastic little room with an ensuite. And the lodge is great fun with a good bar (beers are less than $10 a pint and a big plate of nachos was $15) and hot tubs that you can use even if you are camping. Unfortunately I shared the hot tub with a very unfriendly woman from Blenheim (originally French, "from all over France"). When asked what she likes to do in Blenheim, she answered, “lots of things”. Every question was viewed with distain and answered so that she gave nothing away. Which was a shame, as she was walking the length of the South Island on Te Araroa trail. But I guess she was doing it to get away from people.
The lodge was one of many businesses along the trail that have been kept afloat by the Alps2Ocean. Otherwise its main business is the ski season.
Departed 9:30 arrived at 1:30. Time in saddle: three hours.