Travel Page
For more information neil@krankdirtwear.com
Heli-bike options for 2007-2008 season
Starting early October 2007 through to May 2008
Exhilarating helicopter ride, epic views, and then there’s the biking – fast, flowing, fantastic. Several heli-bike options to choose from and nothing but fun to be had!
Old Woman Range Heli Bike
As seen on the Getaway Travel Show Channel 9 Australia
and Prime New Zealand.
An amazing 12 minute flight over the remote Nevis Valley to beyond the Remarkables Range, we land at 1700m on the eerie rocky moonscape-like terrain of the Old Woman Range. Undulating, fast flowing trails to some more technical single track take us to the bottom. Beware, there is some uphill riding. Finish at Bannockburn for lunch at the pub or a local winery.
Allow 5-6 hrs. $399 Book here
Cardrona Ride
Stunning eight-minute flight over the mighty Kawarau River valley up to the Pisa Conservation Area, we land at 1600m on a barren knoll with 360 degree views. We ride steep, fast, rocky, ungroomed single track down to Touhys Saddle then onto open flowing farm track to the valley floor. Finish up with an optional stop at the historic Cardrona Pub for a well-deserved cold one before driving back to Queenstown.
Allow 4 hrs. $319pp Book here
Roaring Meg
Stunning eight-minute flight over the mighty Kawarau River valley up to the Pisa Conservation Area, we land at 1600m on a barren knoll with 360 degree views. This precarious pack track perched above the wild Roaring Meg River is one of the most exhilarating and technical heli bike options in New Zealand. You will encounter steep, rocky, ungroomed track before dropping to the valley floor for some great flowing single track. A real adventure ride that will test your skill and fitness – some bike-hiking included.
Allow 4-5 hrs. $319pp Book here
Double Descent - Big Day Out
Not for the faint hearted – two big 1700m descents equal a massive 3500m descent in one day! After an awesome 12-minute flight over the famous, roaring blue waters of the Kawarau River and over the Remarkables Range we land at 1700m on the Old Woman Range. Brace yourself for a 30 km fast and action packed ride down to Bannockburn. After lunch we take the mighty Land Rover up a grunty 4WD farm track to Leaning Rock – an area of extraordinary monolithic rock formations. Prepare to be blown away! This is a challenging, rough single-track ride to the valley floor with fast open trails, sheep track and amazing scenery.
Allow a whole day. $450pp Book here
The Lochy Adventure
Magnificent ten-minute flight over Lake Wakatipu into the remote Lochy Valley. Unbelievable, undulating all-mountain riding through stunning native forest, along the Lochy River, to the valley below. The only way back from this stunning trip is by a 30 min water taxi ride back across the lake to downtown Queenstown.
Allow 5-6 hrs. Min 4 pax. $350pp Book here
Multi-day heli bikes
Ride a different heli-accessed trail each day or combine any number of heli options into a package. Contact us for more details.
Heli charters – multi run day
Why not try a multi-run heli- bike day (as you would a heli-ski day)? Feel the buzz not once, but several times on a series of fast and epic downhills. Options for three or five runs. Contact us for more information.
The Dirty Weekend
Ultimate 3 Day Mountain Bike Adventure Tour of Central Otago
This trip starts and finishes in Queenstown.
The Dirty Weekend incorporates some of the best Fat Tyre Adventure trails creating the ultimate weekend mountain bike adventure – a massive 6000m of down hill, spine tingling single track, exhilarating climbs and spectacular scenery. Perfect for a group of biking buddies and includes a classic Fat Tyre heli-bike.
Day One
Heli bike! Board your helicopter for a stunning flight beyond the Remarkables mountains and over the Nevis Valley to land at 1700m on rocky, moonscape-like terrain. Undulating, fast flowing trails to some more technical single track take us to the bottom. Beware there is some uphill riding. Finish at the Bannockburn pub for a well-earned drink. Drive to Naseby for the night.
Day Two
Single track in Naseby Forest - spend the morning riding some of the best single track in the South Island. This is a forest with a web of trails set around the old gold mining town of Naseby. These days the town boasts it is “2000 feet above worry level”. Drive to Poolburn for an epic ride amongst stunning rock tors in the land of Rohan. This is a two run shuttle ride with three hours of gravity assisted riding. Overnight in historic Clyde.
Day Three
The famous Fat Tyre Adventures Big Day Out - 3500m of down! This will blow your mind – early start with a 4x4 drive to the Obelisk at 1700m - we ride a fast, roller coaster track down through alpine tundra with epic views. Stop for lunch in Alexandra then follow up a great morning with another 4x4 drive to Leaning Rock – stunning barren landscape with huge rock tors, narrow farm tracks, old gold mining water courses and stunning views. Return to Queenstown. Note that accommodation is not provided on this night if you choose to stay in Queenstown, but we’d be happy to arrange it for you.
2007/8 Tour Dates
(all start Sat morning and finish Mon afternoon)
Oct 20-22, 2007 (NZ Labour weekend)
Dec 1-3, 2007
Jan 26-28, 2008 (Australia Day/Auckland Anniversary Day)
Feb 23-25, 2008
May 10-12, 2008
If none of these dates suit, just let us know and we can arrange an alternative trip for you – all we need is four weeks notice. Please note we require a minimum of three riders on each trip.
Price: $1500pp
Price includes: heli-bike, two nights accommodation (twin share), transport, meals (breakfast Sun/Mon, lunch and dinner Sat/Sun), trail snacks, guide, driver and land access fees. The price does not include bike hire (on the assumption that weekend riders will bring their own) but Fat Tyre can hire you a Jamis XLT for $35 per day.
The trails we ride can be tailored to suit. All the trails will suit a 130mm full suspension XC trail bike (rather than a down hill rig). Fat Tyre Adventures reserves the right to change the order of days and/or type of trails according to what the weather is doing on the day.
This trip is put together with the assumption that riders are of average mountain biking fitness and have an above average technical skill for riding mountain bikes off road
Kathmandu Valley - Nepal 8 Days
Enjoy 8 days of adventure biking in the Kathmandu valley. You will cycle through stunning villages, see great mountain views and meet the great people of Nepal.
The magical kingdom of Nepal has got to be the mountain bikers paradise. Whilst many of the more popular trekking areas may prove to be too extreme for enjoyable mountain-biking (as they involve arduous bike-a-hiking and are too difficult to support), this tour may just be the answer. Kathmandu at 1350-m altitude lies in a valley surrounded by hills that rise to 2400m and form the middle ranges of the Himalayas before you advance towards the 8,000-m white peaks. From the city, we set off on a 4-day tour of these ridge-top trails which encircle the valleys rim. A short bike ride away from down-town Kathmandu lies a delightful world of wooded slopes, small villages and hidden temples. We follow ancient jeep roads and single-track before a most spectacular backdrop of Himalayan peaks where 8 of the worlds top 10 peaks can be seen. These form the principal peaks of the Nepal Himalayas - from Everest to the Annapurnas and into Tibet.
Price per person:
US$ 1095
Included in price:
• Airport transfers
• Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
• Full service on ride, all meals, and hotel/guest house stays
• Nepali guide and bike Mechanic
• Staff Insurance
Not Included:
• International flight to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal Visa fees
• Travel insurance (We insist you have one)
• Airport taxes
• Additional nights at the beginning or end of trip
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
• Soft/alcoholic drinks
• Bar bills and laundry
• Tips
• Excess baggage charges
Departure Dates:
14.Mar09-21.Mar09
28.Mar09-04.Apr09
11.Apr09-18.Apr09
25.Apr09-02.May09
09.May09-16.May09
23.May09-30.May09
13.Jun09-20.Jun09
04.Jul09-11.Jul09
25.Jul09-02.Jul09
15.Aug09-22.Aug09
05.Sep09-12.Sep09
26.Sep09-03.Oct09
10.Oct09-17.OCt09
24.Oct09-31.Oct09
07.Nov09-14.Noc09
21.Nov09-28.Nov09
05.Dec09-12.Dec09
19.Dec09-26.Dec09
Grade: Moderate
Pokhara to Kathmandu - 14 Days
Pokhara to Kathmandu 14 Days - an awe inspiring off-road challenge for mountain biking adventurers. Cycle along the mighty Himalayas.
This is your chance to test your mountain biking skills on remote paths otherwise used only by villagers and their buffalo or holy cows.
You ride on these wild and challenging trails through some of the most stunning scenic and cultural landscapes in the world. With the stunning backdrop of the Himalayan ranges, the extreme valleys and old forests of the rugged middle hills, the charming terraced fields and bright smiles in the timeless villages, you will remember this journey for its unique beauty as well as its challenging mountain biking terrain!
Your mountain bike journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu is an incredible way to explore the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom on trails un-travelled by tourists.
Price per person
US $1495
Included in price
• Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
• Full service on ride, all meals, and camping
• Flight to Pokhara
• Hotel in Pokhara
• Local guide and Mechanic
• Staff Insurance
Not Included
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Soft/alcoholic drinks
• International flight to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal Visa fees
• Bar bills and laundry
• Travel insurance (We insist you have one)
• Airport taxes
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours
• Additional nights at the beginning or end of trip
• Tips
• Excess baggage charges
Departure Dates
22.Mar-05.Apr09
19.Apr-03.May09
31.May-14.Jun09
21.Jun-05.Jul09
12.Jul-26.Jul09
02.Aug-14.Aug09
23.Aug-06.Aug09
13.Sep-27.Sep09
04.Oct-18.Oct09
25.Oct-08.Nov09
15.Nov-29.Nov09
06.Dec-20.Dec09
Grade: Demanding
Information on Grades:
Our tours are graded to distinguish the appropriate level fitness and expertise required to participate. Every tour is an individual just like you, by studying the itinerary in detail you will see the duration/distance covered each day, this can help you assess if the tour is within your limits.
Many tours will have support vehicles that allow you to rest at selected drop out points, however this is terrain dependant and varies from tour to tour.
If in doubt drop us an email, tell about what your looking for and we can assist you with tour selection.
1 Easy
Easy tours are specifically designed to allow you to experience a new activity and culture in a relaxed environment. If you’re after a peaceful holiday with a light introductory focus on one or more activities then easy tours are a great option.
Routes chosen will be easy and often ridden entirely at your own pace, suitable for families.
Fitness Required:
A low level of fitness is required, exercising at least once a week prior to the tour.
2 Moderate
Moderate Tours would have an expectation that you have an interest and possibly some experience in the activities.
Routes chosen will require a reasonable level of fitness and experience on different terrains, suitable for increasing your abilities and pushing new limits.
Fitness Required:
An average level of fitness is required, you will need to be doing some form of exercise two-three times a week on the build up to this tour.
3 - Challenging
Challenging tours are designed for the more experienced participant wishing to push themselves and experience new highs of achievement.
Routes will include longer climbs and more technical skills but will fall short of masochistic.
Fitness Required:
A good level of fitness is required, exercising three-four times a week before the tour.
4 Extreme
Extreme tours are for those looking to have some of the hardest days possible. Terrain will be steep and the adrenalin factor will be extreme. The strenuous effort will be well and truly rewarded when you reach the to but there will be some sweat lost and kilojoules burnt getting there.
Options for dropping out will be minimal so you will need to be in for the duration.
Fitness Required:
You will be very fit prior to the trip and even fitter when you get back!
For more information neil@krankdirtwear.com
