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It ’ s cliché , however , there really is a road or track for every type of rider on New Zealand ’ s South Island .
It is obvious that the tracks are a product of the landscape . It ’ s unique in that it includes a variety of climates that are dictated to by the Southern Alps , a range of mountains that run the length of the island , northeast to southwest , and has eighteen peaks that soar above 3,000 metres . It ’ s a high land , in fact the worlds ninth highest island , and this provides for some of the more notable tracks and roads . Geologically New Zealand is a relatively new landmass and it ’ s evident by the Southern Alps and their constant movement .
Despite its size , the worlds twelfth largest island , the South Island is reasonably devoid of human life , a population of around one million means you can ride all day and see truly little , if any , people .
Weather systems vary throughout the island . Generally considered temperate it often varies greatly , it ’ s not uncommon for snow in summer with a mean temperature reading of just eight degrees Celsius although they can get as high as the low forties in summer and well below minus twenty in winter . Consider the next stop south is Antarctica so bring a selection of clothing and riding gear . Tim at Rumbling Adventures is a reliable source of advice with this sort of dilemma .
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