This is a trip for skilled, experienced parties in fine conditions. It is a very challenging ride.

You can expect to encounter:

• places where you will need to carry your bike
• steep drop-offs
• very slippery terrain
• large rocks and obstacles
• rough 4WD track
• very steep track
• a remote area with no cell phone coverage or other services.

You will need to carry your bike for about an hour over the difficult, unrideable top section, following a very steep route marked by poles. This section is at times exposed and at other times confined as you negotiate carrying your bike over and under fallen trees. You also need to be fully self-sufficient, including carrying a bike repair kit, warm and waterproof clothing, spare food and a distress beacon.

There are significant natural hazards along this route. These include slips, rockfall zones and unbridged creeks.

You will need to pre-arrange transport by boat to/from West Arm. It is recommended to ride from West Arm to Borland Road, as this allows the bike carry section to be mostly downhill.

From West Arm on Lake Manapouri, follow the rough road as it climbs steeply to Percy Saddle. The road ends here and you will need to hike with your bike down a challenging, steep route. You then join another access road which very steeply descends into Percy Valley. The road continues into Grebe Valley and meets the Borland Road.

If you plan to ride Borland Road as part of your trip, find information on the Borland Road web page. Note that Borland Road closes periodically and over winter, so always check the web page for alerts on the morning of your trip.

This route is accessed from West Arm on Lake Manapouri (by boat) and from Borland Road.

Lake Monowai and the Borland Road are located about 67 km from Te Anau (1 hour), and 120 km from Invercargill (1 hour 45 minutes) and can be accessed via the Southern Scenic Route.

From Te Anau, drive south via the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway and onto the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd. After 55 km (about 40 minutes), turn right into Lake Monowai Rd just north of the Blackmount School.

Follow signs to Borland Lodge (reached after about 20 minutes).

From Invercargill, drive 77 km to Clifden (65 minutes) then head north on the Clifden-Blackmount Rd (25 km, 20 minutes) until turning left into the Lake Monowai Rd, just north of the Blackmount School. Follow signs to Borland Lodge.

There are a number of active slips on the road between West Arm and Percy Saddle. Obey any no-stopping signage.

It is not recommended to complete this ride over winter or in adverse weather conditions.

Only service vehicles are allowed along the road and there are locked gates at both ends.