Visitors Centre up at the highest point.
A rare sunny day spurred me into action and I packed-up the mountainbikes and drove over to Sanders Reserve to get the kids out of the house. It took a very convenient 20 minutes door-to-door from my home in Campbells Bay – that’s less time that it takes me loading bikes and children into the car!
Before setting-out I gave the Council a ring to see if the park was officially open. The phonebot eventually put me through to a human-being and we established that yes, the park was open but I couldn’t get anything more out of them. This park should have it’s own page on the Council website, Shore riders are crying-out for information!
With zero publicity you won't have trouble finding a parking spot.
So Sanders Reserve is (finally) open, although to my knowledge it’s never been “officially opened” if you know what I mean. After spending all that cash and ruffling so many local feathers I would have fried some snarlers and blown up a few balloons myself, maybe that’s coming when things warm-up a little in Spring?
With this total lack of promotion you’ll have no trouble finding a parking space, the place was virtually deserted on this beautiful if somewhat chilly afternoon. I spotted two other families out on bikes and there were a couple of groups simply walking with their children or dogs around the trails.
Thing-One and Thing-Three on the Kids Loop.
My five year old had lost a little confidence as with two months of almost constant rain there hasn’t been much riding lately. She started out very grumpy with Dad and quite tentative on the loose surface but after half an hour of stop/start frustration had found her mojo and was really enjoying the Kids Loop. This section winds around the top of the hill beside the Visitors Centre and a school-age rider should manage the mostly flat terrain without pushing.
Thing-Two climbing with Whenuapai in the distance.
While I was stuck up top with little-miss my ten and thirteen year old boys careered-off down the hill in search of adventure. They found it apparently, and it was covered in mud! Take some old towels in the car to sit on if you are coming out in winter. The clay-base cuts-up with a lot of rain and there are also patches of standing water here and there.
In search of mud on the Totara Loop.
The signage needs improvement. It’s not obvious you are going the wrong way at times and this will be dangerous when there are more people about. The trail directions are marked on the large map by the carpark but I saw precious little other signage in the reserve.
So another visit to Sanders and I still didn’t get to ride the completed trails in anger (I’ll leave the five-year-old at home next time). The park shows a lot of promise and I think it will be a success in the long term if they keep the trails in good order. It still has a weird feel about it though. Some of the trails have strange layouts with little “flow” and the place could do with some more trees. You feel like you are riding around a farm at times and not that long ago you would have been, so that is understandable. In fifteen years time there’ll be some respite from the sun and wind if they get planting now.
As it stands it’s still a fun place to visit to stretch those legs and get some fresh air without driving too far out of town. If you live in Albany or the Bays you could even ride there!
Trail-map at the carpark.
Previous posts on Sanders Reserve:
Great Rides: Sanders Reserve Mountainbike Park
Great Rides: Sanders Reserve – Revisited
Nice write-up. I thought the same about the 'weird feel' of the place. It felt rather artificial to me. Hopefully that will improve with time and use.
The council have told us that the official opening will be in late November.
Sooooo – where is it? Google Maps doesn't seem to know a Sanders Reserve?
Ah, I spotted it on the aerial photograph. West of Paremoremo.
Yes Max, but a stone's throw from the murderers & rapists.
I've added a couple of links to previous posts on Sanders at the bottom, one has a satellite photo.
I don't know how to map rides or link to maps – too technical for me I'm afraid.
Yep, took the family last weekend. What a great resource. Cool little beach down the back as well.
There are some minor improvements like signs, trees etc…required but I reckon they will come. Great option in the summer if you work on the Shore for an after work spin. I live in Massey and it took me the same amount of time to get there as it does to get to woodhill (and its free!!!).
Great example of a piece of great council owned land that was probaly hardly used before. Its now getting heaps of families out riding together. There are heaps of blocks of disused council land around like this that no one would ever think of. I hope we some more of this!
Went out there with a group from Auckland MTB Club, with my 3 kids in tow (11, 10 & 4). They had a ball, with options that suited everyone.
I would have the same feedback as others – a few more signs would be great, but a nice little area to explore.
I just wondered what the council's expectation is for using the facilities that have been built. Aside from toilets (with showers) there looked to be a meeting room with "kitchen" facilities
went to Arch Hill yesterday, too muddy for my limited off-road skills to manage successfully
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG8BcS5olZg&feature=related
Sanders is running pretty good now..the trails to the northwest are pretty sweet, nice downhill sections and the long and easy section with its dirt jumps and banked corners.
Manuka has been weeded a bit and its easier to manage. The switchbacks are almost right but need some work in places.
i find the bit in the bush is a bit too technical for me..big drop on one side and too narrow, but with a bit of time and use should improve.
Thanks Adrian, I'll put that video up on the site if you don't mind.