St. Bathans Traverse

• The route is typically okay to ride from late October/early November through June. Late November to late May would be the safest bet to avoid snow.
• NZ Topo50 is the most accurate map to navigate with. This is available on popular GPS apps such as Gaia, or they can be purchased from outdoor stores.
• The day two route along the top of the range follows a track that’s not shown on any maps. I recommend studying/saving the route before starting.
• Upper elevations of the route are susceptible to snowfall, often as early as June and late as October. The Alexandra Department of Conservation office will be a good place to ask about current snow conditions.
• The route is in remote backcountry terrain. There are no shops or facilities along the way, mobile coverage is patchy, and weather conditions can change quickly.
• The start and finish location at Homestead Campsite is best accessed by car or bike. Most vehicles should be able to handle the gravel road in normal conditions.
• The Department of Conservation web page for the areais a useful source of information to read.

• Camping is allowed for free at Homestead Campsite, where the route starts and finishes. It is an unmanned, unpowered campsite, with no facilities aside from toilets and water.
• Backcountry camping at Hidden Lake is marked on the map.

• Fresh water is available at the start/finish area, Homestead Bay Campsite. The official Department of Conservation recommendation is to boil water before drinking.
• Fresh water is available at Hidden Lake, the suggested campsite location.
• There is no water available above Hidden Lake, which is most of day two. It can get very hot along the top of the range, so come prepared with enough water carrying capacity.

Day One

Starting at an elevation of 700 metres, the route follows a 4WD track, criss-crossing the west branch of the Manuherika River to reach the picturesque Top Hut (1,000 metres). From here, the track steepens, ascending over the Omarama Saddle (1,273 metres) to reveal postcard views of Aoraki Mount Cook and the Southern Alps. After crossing the saddle, the route leaves the main 4WD track to follow a lesser-travelled path (still shown on NZ topo maps) toward the top of the St. Bathans Range. Nestled beneath the range at 1,550 metres is a stunning alpine lake, which makes for a magnificent campsite. The lake is accessible via a 15-minute walk from the track. To avoid a hike-a-bike over large boulders, it is recommended to stash bikes in the tussock before walking the final 10 minutes to the lake.

Day Two

From the bikes, the route continues along the 4WD track, climbing toward the top of the St. Bathans Range. After around two kilometres, follow an obvious (but unmapped) 4WD track that forks left off the main mapped path. This track traverses along the tops of the range and is obvious to follow all the way to the summit. The views while riding along the top of the range are spectacular in all directions. Keep an eye out for the prominent peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook (to the northeast), Tititea Mount Aspiring (to the west), and the Remarkables (to the southwest). The tops are covered in loose but rideable scree and consist of longer, flat sections separated by short pinch climbs. After reaching the summit of Mt. St Bathans (2,088 metres), there are two possible routes back to the start:

• The first option (as shown on the RideWithGPS link) is well suited for keen mountain bikers with some energy left in their legs. From the summit, the route continues south along the range and is completely off-track for around five kilometres. The surface is loose scree, which is mostly fine-grained and rideable for confident riders. There are some short downhill sections where it will be necessary to hike-a-bike over large boulders. Around two kilometres south of the summit, turn left to follow the ridgeline heading east (directly north of Rocks Creek on the NZ Topo50 map). After a short hike-a-bike over a rise in the ridge, enjoy a spectacular scree descent from the high alpine into the beautiful tussocks below. From here, it is a lightning-fast descent to the finish along an old 4WD track.
• The second option will be preferable to less confident mountain bikers or those with tired legs. This route follows a spectacular but straightforward track along the ridge to the direct east of Mt. St Bathans. After descending via the track all the way to Boundary Creek Hut, continue south to finish the adventure at Homestead Campsite.