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below . Both required a second look before we ventured on to what must be a modern civil construction masterpiece .
The Otira viaduct , a four hundred and forty metre span that crosses the river of the same name , is not a marvel of design yet one of engineering and location as it sits at over forty-five metres above the gorge floor . Opened just before the close of the twentieth century , the Otira viaduct opened up ease of travel across the Southern Alps before rejoining the original pass road that snakes its way through the mountains .
We soon reached the next peak and discovered this was so named Arthur ’ s Pass , the nine hundred and twenty-four metre summit of the road . With it came a dramatic change in the weather and the landscape , for now we were riding through drier environments that homed mountain beech and wide river beds , it was easy to see the connection between New Zealand and the worlds of JRR Tolkien , it felt like we had evaded the desperate grasps of the creature formally known as Sméagol , yet found a road worthy of “ my precious ”. LW
Traverse was invited to New Zealand for nine days of riding with Rumbling Adventures . Taking in the south island we explored many of the country ' s more iconic tracks and discovered a land unique in environments and cultures .
Aboard a fleet of Yamaha Ténéré 700s , taking on tracks that will challenge and roads that will please , Tim and his crew at Rumbling
Adventures will show you aspects of New Zealand that many won ' t .
More information on Rumbling
Adventures can be found at rumblingadv . com
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