Queenstown Park Station Fun Ride

Queenstown Park Station Fun Ride - Event Schedule

What’s new?

To keep the route and riding experience interesting, once again we will visit the large beach area at the 9km mark. We’ve slightly changed the route so it follows closer to the River (and avoids the big hill).

Route options and ride details

This year there are two options for riding through the Station, all starting at Boyd Road.

1. Station Ride – a return loop via the midway 9km picnic beach, starting and ending at Boyd Road (18km in total)
2. Station to Chard Farm Ride – via the picnic beach, starting at Boyd Rd and riding to Chard Farm (13.5km in total)

Please note that all riders must still leave the Station (via either exit) by 4pm, signing out with a marshal as you leave.

Event Registration

Riders can check in from 9:00am on the morning of the event and collect an electronic transponder for accountability purposes on the ride which will be placed on your left ankle and can start any time between 9:30am and 11:00am at Boyd Rd off SH6 south of the Kawarau Bridge and finish by 4:00pm, exiting either back to Boyd Rd or Chard Farm (to ride on out to the Queenstown Trails) allowing time to be finished and off the station by 4pm.

Who is the ride aimed at / how fit do I need to be?

You’ll need moderate fitness to ride the undulating trails, a mountain bike in good working order, plenty of water and food – and (NB we insist on a phone)

Children under 10 years are most welcome, but they must ride with an adult over the age of 16 years and must be capable of riding up to 18km on undulating farm track which does have some hills and can be sandy in a few parts and includes a stream crossing.

Food, Water & Toilets

At the midway picnic beach area (9km into the ‘Station Loop Ride’ there will be water top-up station and a selection of food sellers.

Toilets will be provided at the ride start (Boyd Road), at the midway picnic beach and at the exit of the ‘Station to Chard Farm Ride’ at Chard Farm.

Parking

Parking is available on Boyd Road as indicated on the Map. Please follow the instructions of our marshals on your arrival.

A pick up point is available for those doing the ‘Station to Chard Farm Ride’ at Chard Farm. Marshals will be manning the gate there and participants are asked to follow the directions of the Organisers at all times and to please consider the Station neighbours by parking appropriately and as directed. There is NOT an option to park and start the ride from Chard Farm.

No adverse weather reserve day this year

Unfortunately a postponement date is not possible. Please check the event Facebook page before 8:30am on Sunday 18th February 2024 should adverse weather be forecast for confirmation of the ride being cancelled, or call Adrian on 021 991 899.

Lost Property

Please hand in any found items on the open day to our sign-out desks at Boyd Rd or Chard Farm. After Sunday 18th February 2024 lost property will be taken to the office at Remarkables Park Ltd and held for 7 days. If you lose something on the ride please call us on 03 442 3084 during office hours or email ride@remarkablespark.com.

Waste

Please make sure that anything you take on to the course that needs to be disposed of after use is disposed of in the rubbish bins provided at the checkpoints and at the finish line.

Event Withdrawal

In the unfortunate situation a participant must withdraw from the event you must inform the nearest checkpoint staff and wait with them until the last participant passes the checkpoint and then be escorted – transported to the finish line accordingly.

Accident Reporting

In the unfortunate circumstances a participant has an accident during the race – please (if you can) make your way to the nearest checkpoint and notify the first aid staff. If a participant cannot make it to the next checkpoint as a result of injury – the participant must stay in the area of cause of injury and does not deviate from the course whilst also use their compulsory gear as required whilst also notifying other participants of their injury for them to in turn notify the next checkpoint staff. Whilst waiting for assistance the participant must stay in the location where they obtained their injury and the first aid team will come to them.
Should another participant assist another injured runner; they are to take note of the time spent assisting the injured person and this time will be deducted from their overall time upon notification at the finish line.

Special Thanks

*Remarkables Park wishes to thank neighbouring landowners Mike & Bridget Mee at Boyd Road, Rob & Gerdi Hay at Chard Farm, all Remarkables Park and Queenstown Park Station staff and our volunteers who make this such an enjoyable day for all participants.

In response to feedback, the Queenstown Park Station open day for recreational mountain bike riding has a couple of route options this year.

The ‘Station Ride’ ride is a scenic return loop via a midway picnic beach, starting and ending at Boyd Road. This option is 18km in total, with the midway picnic beach at around 9km into the ride.

Following the huge success from last year we are having a picnic beach again, and we’ll be joined by a selection of food providers so you can buy snacks, coffee and lunch. You’re also very welcome to bring your own picnic too and we’ll provide toilets here and a water top-up station.

The beauty of this option is that the whole family, or group of friends, can park at Boyd Road, enjoy the ride together and all return to their vehicles by 4pm – there’s no need for someone to miss out and have to drive to the opposite end of the Station to pick people up. Terrain for this ride is on undulating farm track (marked green on the map), with some hills, a stream crossing and the possibility of a few sandy spots.

This is the longer ride option, and although it’s 18km in total, you have from 9:30am – 4pm to complete the trip. To ensure all riders safely leave the Station, we will have marshals and a sign out desk at the Boyd Road exit, you must take the time to stop and give your registration number. We recommend you bring plenty of water, snacks and sun protection for an enjoyable ride.

When you register, we’ll ask you for an indication of which ride you think you’d like to do. This is purely for indicative purposes only and you’re most welcome to change your mind on the day as your ride gets underway.

In response to feedback, the Queenstown Park Station open day for recreational mountain bike riding has a number of route options this year.

The ‘Station to Chard Farm’ Ride starts at Boyd Road and ends at Chard Farm. Riders can divert to the picnic beach at either the 9km mark and rejoin the trail later. Terrain for this ride is varied, and includes undulating farm track with some hills, a stream crossing and the possibility of a few sandy spots. To ensure all riders safely leave the Station, we will have marshals and a sign out desk at Chard Farm, you must take the time to stop and give your registration number. We recommend you bring plenty of water, snacks and sun protection for an enjoyable ride. This option is 13.5km in total, with the midway picnic beach at around 9km into the ride.

When you register, we’ll ask you for an indication of which ride you think you’d like to do. This is purely for indicative purposes only and you’re most welcome to change your mind on the day as your ride gets underway.

FAQs = Frequently Asked Questions

Must I register to participate?

We require all participants to register before the event. Registrations will close at midnight on Thursday 13th February 2020. No late registrations will be accepted this year.

If our family is participating, do we have to register the children?

Yes, everyone who does the ride must be registered separately including children as we have to account for all participants on and off the Station. We will need a mobile number for each participant.

Can I bring a dog?

As Queenstown Park Station is a fully operational working farm with livestock, dogs are NOT PERMITTED on the Open Day.

Do you provide toilets?

Portaloos are provided on the Station in the three areas marked on the Open Day Map; i.e. at the Boyd Road entrance, at the ‘picnic area’ and at the Chard Road exit of the Station.

Is water provided?

Please bring plenty of water. We will have a water top-up station at the ‘picnic spot’ identified on the Open Day Map, 9km into the ‘Station Loop’ ride.

Can I camp the night?

No, the Station is private property and is a fully operational working farm, so overnight stays are not permitted. We’ll be counting everyone in and out of the Station on the day so please make sure that you are marked off our list by one of our marshals before you exit the Station to comply with our Health and Safety. You must leave the Station by either the Boyd Road gate or by Chard Farm exit no later than 4pm.

Can I swim in the river?

Yes, but please be aware there will be no ‘life guard’ services provided on the day and you do so at your own risk. Please take great care – by supervising children (and those in your care) at all times and observing all good practice guidelines for swimming in rivers. For more information about swimming in rivers please visit www.watersafety.org.nz

Does the ride go right through to Chard Farm?

There are a couple of ride options, including riding all the way to the Chard Farm or parking at the starting point Boyd Road for an 18km return ride. See the route Map to work out which option suits you best.

What is the difference between the two routes?

You can either exit at Chard Farm and be picked up so the ride will be 13.5km or cycle back through the station from the picnic area located at 9km turn around point giving you a riding experience of 18km.

Do you provide bike mechanical services on the day?

You must check your own bikes in advance and ensure they’re up to standard to ride unsealed farm terrain and we recommend you bring a spare inner tube and mini-pump with you. We will have roving mechanics on the day who can help out if you get really stuck.

Do I have to pay?

No – The Open Day is free of charge.

Will I be rescued if we get lost?

We’ll be counting everyone in and out of the Station on the day. You must leave the Station by either the Boyd Road gate or the Chard Farm exit by 4pm. If we’ve not recorded your exit by 4pm we will call you and look for you, so please be sure to check your name off our list with one of our Organisers at the gate you exit at .

Do you provide Shelter if the weather turns bad?

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the forecast and if heavy rain is expected we’ll cancel the Ride. If there is light rain the Open Day will go ahead, so please bring a jacket since shelter isn’t available. Please check the event facebook page before 8:30am on Sunday 21st February should adverse weather be forecast.

Should I pack food?

We’d recommend you pack snacks and you must bring plenty of water. We’ll have food providers at the ‘Picnic Spot’ (9km into the ride) including Popsicle Tricycle, Life’s a Grind Coffee, Bacon Buttie, Pita Pit and Hikari Sushi – you are also very welcome to bring your own picnic.

Is first aid available?

There is limited first aid help available however we will have a roving first aid person on the trails, but we suggest you bring your own personal first aid supply. If you need emergency help then there are numbers provided in the House Rules and on the Map which you can call for assistance.

Can I veer off the trails to explore further?

Since the Station is a working deer and sheep farm we require you to stick to those designated trails.

Is there cellphone reception?

Please note that Vodafone has good reception throughout the station, but Spark reception is patchy.

Can I walk the trails?

This year the open day has been organised for bike riding only, but if you are keen to be involved in a walking Open Day in the future we would be interested to receive your feedback via ride@remarkablespark.com

The Queenstown Trails Trust is delighted that our community has the opportunity to ride through Queenstown Park Station again in 2021. We owe an enormous thanks to the Porter family and Remarkables Park Ltd for granting access to this amazing part of the Wakatipu basin, and look forward to continuing our close working relationship to develop more vital trail links in the future.

Remarkables Park Limited have always been very supportive of the Trails Trust and share our enthusiasm for improved commuter trail routes from Lake Hayes Estate and Jacks Point back to Frankton and the new high school.

We are actively seeking funding to develop these routes. There is no charge for the ride but any donations to the trust would be gratefully received at https://queenstowntrail.co.nz/donations.html or at the Trust’s stand at the start of the ride.

Enjoy the ride, and fingers crossed for awesome weather like last year!

This year ChargeAbout Queenstown the electric bike specialists, are offering their fleet of rental eBikes for just $50 each with all proceeds going to the Queenstown Trails Trust.

On offer are their unique extra small eBikes for those 138cm up, low-step bikes for those less able to swing a leg over, and high performance full suspension bikes to iron out the rough bits!

Collection of the eBikes is from ChargeAbout’s shop positioned right on the Queenstown trail at the Hilton Hotel and only 1km from the Boyd Road end of the Fun Ride.

ChargeAbout Queenstown will also have basic workshop support at the turnaround point.  

ChargeAbout Queenstown have the largest range of Electric Bikes for sale in the South Island, with over 100 in stock!  If you have not been bitten by the eBike bug, visit the extremely knowledgeable and friendly crew at ChargeAbout Queenstown  – Hilton Jetty.

To book and reserve your electric bike for the event please contact the team on 027 4761005 or 03 442 6376 / info@chargeabout.co.nz

Check out the Course Maps to familiarise yourselves with the route indicating reference points and distance markers along the course.

Station Ride

Station to Chard Farm Ride