Western Avon 3 Loops plus bonus East Avon 2 loops – Avon 5 Loops
5th September 2026
Participants:
Paul 150 series Prado - Trip Leader
Henry - 5 Toyota Landcruiser
Don and Jane - GU Nissan Patrol
Connor - 80 series Landcruiser
Kelvin - Mitsubishi Pajero
Rob - 40 Series Landcruiser
We met at the Chequers Hotel in Bullsbrook at 8.30am on a slightly overcast morning, with rain in the forecast. After a quick driver's briefing covering convoy procedures and the UHF channel, we discussed whether to add the bonus Eastern Avon loops via Sappers Road.
We headed off in good spirits down Chittering Road, right into Wilson Road and then across the bridge turning left onto Wanaka Road. Wanaka Road, which was unsealed not too long ago, winds up into the valley proper, offering scenic views almost immediately. Wanaka Road takes you all the way to the Moondyne Convention Centre however the first loop required us to stop earlier in a gravel clearing to air down.
Most people aired down to around 20psi with a few higher or lower.
We then headed North hugging the private/park border, admiring fine country properties along the way as far as we could before turning east with the first (and only) steep decline and climb.
Conditions were dry on the day, so everyone made the climb without difficulty. In wetter conditions, however, this section can become considerably more challenging and has required winching in the past
Completing the first loop we traversed easy forest roads to 37mile break and then climbed up past Mandoon Farm, around the Moondyne Convention Centre and over to the first of the slightly harder Western loops. The first such loop is really more like an amphitheatre curving around the bowl and back up to the top.
The second loop was the scratchiest of the Western section, with a series of switchbacks dropping us down towards the river. You are rewarded with views like this on the way down.
In the above photo there is a steep drop-off just beyond those drivers’ wheels; Rob here is taking the popular line which minimises the rocks to traverse however it is possible to go along the other side of the track away from the edge.
After the descent, there was a very pleasant drive along the river's edge to a suitable clearing just off the track, where we stopped for lunch.
Having completed lunch by the riverside, still with no rain, we continued West before climbing back up to the top, this climb is a grade 3 (below) but no one was challenged by it on this day.
Climbing back out of the valley the HJ40 and Pajero bade us farewell on Wanaka road a few km from the original air up point. The remainder headed through the centre of the valley to the Eastern Loops. We drove down Sappers Road and completed the main rock step then headed east along the river. Pictured below is Dons GU.
We then completed a loop East to the Quarry road river crossing and back around the fence line to end up attempting the Sappers rock ledge as a climb.
It was now late in the afternoon and, remarkably, we had still managed to avoid the rain. Having completed all five loops, we made our way out via Plunkett Road to a gravel pit just off Julimar Road, where we aired back up before heading home.
Trip report by Paul
