Update 6 Oct 05:
Entries now open, close 27 Oct. Mapper and course planner Michael Wood says
"this is simply the
best MTBO area in New Zealand. Lovely historic village with character pubs. Fantastic
riding in beautiful forest. And almost all legs
have viable route choices, many have choices within choices.
The NZ championship in MTB-Orienteering returns to the South Island this year, with the decision to run the event at Naseby. Those who know the place will be delighted; for others here's why you should plan to make the trip:-))
Naseby is a former goldmining town in Central Otago, nestled on the Hogburn Stream which flows off Mt Ida and over the Maniototo Plains. The extensive gold diggings have been covered by trees including self-sown larches; and among the picturesque landscape bikers have created a range of trails. Some are easy, such as those that follow the canal which brought water from 60km away; others are extremely technical, winding up and down scarps created by the miners' digging and sluicing. Next to the diggings is a plantation forest begun in the depression, with miles of forest roads.
And the town itself is seriously worth a visit. Heaps of goldrush-era cottages remain, imposing civic buildings, and two character pubs. Billed as "2000 feet above worry level" the town is now mostly a holiday village, but the modern buildings are hidden by the trees and the place retains its historic feel. You've no doubt seen the calendar photos of Arrowtown's cottages, Naseby is similar but so much more genuine. More about Naseby here.
The Dunedin Orienteering club has orienteered there on foot since 1984; and with the success of its trailquest events near Dunedin has been persuaded to map Naseby for MTBO. It has engaged NZ's most experienced mapper Michael Wood to do the work. Michael is hugely pleased to get the job; his father grew up in Naseby and his grandfather was in charge of the water supply.
More details when available. It would be possible for North Islanders to fly into Dunedin airport and hire a car for the weekend; Naseby is under two hours drive. But consider taking a week off, taking your car on the ferry and knocking off some of the classic South Island rides en route.