Course Description:

EPIC 125km

• Note: The course has over 2000 metres of vertical ascent and descent. Its not a turn your brain off track, its varied, narrow in places, rocky, undulating and unmarked getting from the Hunter to the Dingle Burn side of the River.
• 7:00am a mass start on the Contact Energy Dam at the front of the Lake Hawea Motor Inn.
• Ride west along SH 6 for 23 km, passing the Lake Hawea lookout. Turn right at the neck along Mead Road to gain access to the Hunter Valley, heading towards Kidds Bush.
• This is the start of the 4x4 track. Ride for 6 km and pass through the Kidds Bush Recreational Reserve. Kidds Bush is the start of the 95km Classic ride.

CLASSIC 95km

• Another 5 km on is the Hunter Valley Homestead and this road gives straight access to the Hunter Valley Station Road that will take you to the head of Lake Hawea.
• This is where the track gets interesting. The next 20km include a few creek crossings, a couple of climbs (highest point 525m) and descents while passing old hunting and fishing huts. Evidence of the lake rise in 1968 is seen towards the head of the lake as the old forest tree stumps, black and aged emerge from the lake itself like tombstones of a by-gone era.
• You ride past the head of the lake for about 5 km and turn off towards the air strip near Boundary Hut and head right towards the Hunter River, continuing to the crossing point that will be marked by cairns.
• In case of extreme weather conditions that prevent crossing the river, both course riders turn around at this point and head back along the Hunter Valley Station Road to the Hawea Motor Inn and finish line.
• Appropriate safety will be in place to ensure you can cross the river safely; personal assistance will be available if necessary.
• You will cross the Hunter River and start heading south back toward Hawea on the Dingle Burn Station 4x4 track. Again, there are some sharp little climbs and longer descents for the next 20 km's or so.
• Only through this event are competitors allowed access through the Dingle Burn Station homestead and then on to the Dingle Burn Station Road.
• The next few km's take you along the amazing bluffs of Rocky Point where you catch a view of Mount Aspiring to the west and the lake 30 meters directly below you.
• After rounding the bluffs you are now on a more sedate gravel road for the next 20km. This takes you back to the Lake Hawea Motor Inn.
• The finish line is in the Lake Hawea Motor Inn and your journey will end here, in the garden bar, flaked out on the grass, listening to some pleasant music with a cheeky little pinot or a cold beer (or three!).