Great Alpine Highway Pt 3 (Jacksons - Arthurs Pass)

Travel from the Tasman Sea on the West Coast of New Zealand to the Pacific Ocean on the East Coast in a series of 7 rides of about 40 km each

The third leg of our epic journey across the island.  Continue from Jacksons Pub following up the Taramakau River through farmland and bush.  After you cross the rail line you will change direction and start cycling up the Otira River into the heart of the Southern Alps.  You arrive at the little township of Otira with its very ineteresting Hotel.  You will even see Gollum perched on top of the roof.  After Otira the climbing starts as you travel up the Otira gorge which is one of the steepest and most scenic roads that crosses the Sothern Alps with gradiants of  up to 16%.  The final section travels up the viaduct which is a recent addition that bypasses a section of the road known as the Devels Staircase which was also fraught with damage from avelanches and road subsidence.  This section does not get to the top of the pass as I made the ride a little shorter (I though getting up the gorge would be enough for one ride) but the next section (pt 4) starts with a nasty little uphill section to the top of Arthurs Pass.but then you get some downhill.  History of the road