Juliana Bicycles’ backcountry New Zealand adventure

By Anka Martin. Photos by Sven Martin.

Our trip went down in early February in beautiful Nelson, New Zealand and the surrounding areas of the Nelson Tasman district. We planned a little backcountry adventure with a few of my friends on our Juliana bikes.

Classic Coppermine Loop – Nelson

We started off with one of the toughest tracks in Nelson, Sunrise Ridge. It has a bit of everything, but it’s most famous for being super technical. After getting our adrenalin fix, we headed over for something a bit more mellow on the Coppermine loop. A great way to end off the day, take in the stunning ocean vistas and catch up with your mates. The following day we headed out to ride the Nydia Track – another stunning area in the Marlborough Sounds area.

Friendly local, Ella the eel on Nydia Bay Track

This place is paradise. And it is another very rooty, very technical track, that can get you going over the bars at any given moment going up or down the track. We rode all day, then slept over at On the Track Lodge.

On the Track Lodge Jetty, Nydia Bay

There is nothing more exciting than riding sick tracks, with your friends, and ending big days with beers & delicious food. Perfection.

Fern surfing on the Nydia Bay Track

Once we got back to the van, we had one more stop to make to ride one of my all time favorite tracks in the world – Wakamarina. It is really out there. New Zealand backcountry at it’s best.

Wakamarina Track ferny goodness

You work hard for your descents, but it was oh, so worth every drop of sweat and hike a bike push. Beautiful, ancient, beech forest, with flowy, fast singletrack trails that seem to never end. Bliss.

Cable Bay Beach

Exhausted, exhilarated and knackered, we loaded the van one last time to head back to Nelson and back to the real world and our other lives. We were content. Happy, satisfied and loving our lives. This is what life is all about. This is living. These are the memories that you create with your friends & the moments that will keep you going until the next adventure. Thank goodness for bikes.

About the author: Anka Martin is the lead rider for Juliana Bicycles. This trip was a project by Anthill Films, Gary Perkin and Ride House Martin