Thomson Gorge Road is 30 kms long, rising over a 900 metre saddle, & bisecting the Dunstan Range. It has two steep ascents & descents, & a few minor stream crossings.
Thomson Gorge Road runs between SH8 and SH85 from near Lindis Crossing on SH8 to near Omakau on SH85. Historically, the route was used to access the Bendigo Gold workings and there is a battery stamper & gold mine on the western side, an old stone drovers hut at the summit & a number of gold workings near Thomson Creek on the eastern side of the summit.
The summit gives sweeping views over the Hawksdun Range, the Manuherikia Valley, & also back towards Clutha Valley & Lake Dunstan. Given the numerous gates, this is a good track to ride in company. You will need to leave gates as you find them. It’s likely a good track to link to the Omarama Saddle.
Thomson Gorge Road is well used by cyclists & 4WDs, & is narrow in places so respect for other users is needed. In winter the road could be inaccessible due to snow.
Contributed by: @stephen-clark
Track Type: Gravel track
Track Composition: Rock & gravel
Slippery when wet: Yes
Suitable for bikes < 650cc?: Beginner
Suitable for bikes > 650cc?: Intermediate
River Crossings: Yes
Nice little ride.
24 gates, know every one of them
Nice ride indeed, unless it is 30 degrees like when I did it. Sweated so bad I wanted to ride in shorts.
It’s a good ride. Might get time this weekend to go through it
It’s a nice wee run is that. Did it on the Dusty Butt.
A few KM’s north of there is the Cluden Basin which crosses the same ranges. Both are great… all Otago is great!
Nice little ride.
24 gates, know every one of them
Nice ride indeed, unless it is 30 degrees like when I did it. Sweated so bad I wanted to ride in shorts.
It’s a good ride. Might get time this weekend to go through it
It’s a nice wee run is that. Did it on the Dusty Butt.
A few KM’s north of there is the Cluden Basin which crosses the same ranges. Both are great… all Otago is great!
Just rode through today, a nice run.
After the recent rains the track does have some quite deep scouring in places and the ford at 14 minutes on the video is now much longer. The stream has decided run along the track instead of across.
Did this today with a friend and can confirm the stream still runs down the road. The water isnt deep but the rocks are slippery and i made a meal of the ford on the GS. The drz250 fiew through.
Otherwise the track was great and a lot of the gates were open.
Great day
Done it today. Great ride, although has quite a few sections with ruts/washouts/rocks where you need to pick your line carefully. A LOT of gates to open and close, at least gives a chance to admire the views. But pain in the ass when you’re on your own, especially in the summer sun. Only couple spots on the road where you can stop under tree shade, 99,9% of the ride on exposed terrain. Don’t forget to take plenty of water with you. Few stream crossings, most a bike wide and few centimeters deep, there is one long (maybe 20 metres) that partially runs down the road but is mostly shallow. Going from Tarras side had a cellphone coverage (Spark) until about half of the route. Rode it on fully loaded CRF250L.
Rode through on Tuesday the 8 February 2022 and there is a very large rock in the middle of the road on the southern side (Matakanui). Can get a bike around OK but not a tin top and it might be a bit tight for a side by side.
Great ride and grad I had my younger bother with me to open all the gates.