Dusty Butt Trail
Schedule
| Date | Sign-on | Track Open | Track Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 16 Feb 2027 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Wed, 17 Feb 2027 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Thu, 18 Feb 2027 | TBC | TBC | TBC |
About this Ride
Location
Based in Fairlie in the South Island High Country, with riding through spectacular scenic and remote lower South Island areas.
Accommodation is required in Fairlie for Monday 15 February for dinner, registration and briefing, in Alexandra for 16 and 17 February, and back in Fairlie on Thursday 18 February.
Registration and briefing are on Monday evening before the ride at the Gladstone Grand Hotel in Fairlie. A compulsory pre-ride briefing starts at 20:00.
The ride
Adventure ride over 3 days covering about 1400 km, on and off road.
Suitable for both big and small bikes that must be well maintained, fully serviced, and road registered. Due to special land permissions, the event can only be ridden over this 3-day period.
All three days include a mix of scenic sections plus optional challenging sections for more ambitious riders. Terrain may include steep, slippery or rough sections, plus stream and river crossings. Riders should be fit and prepared for 10-15 hours of riding per day.
Optional challenge sections include rough, steep or rutted tracks and multiple stream and river crossings.
Requirements
- Riders must navigate using a GPS.
- Groups are advised to have at least two riders competent with GPS navigation.
- Strongly suggested to ride with a buddy or group.
- No official recovery service is provided.
- Bike should cover about 300 km per tank, or carry extra fuel in a compliant container.
- At least one rider in each group should carry a comprehensive toolkit and be able to carry out basic repairs and maintenance.
- Spare tubes are recommended.
Conditions
Much of the route is sub-alpine to alpine, up to about 1700 m. Riders must be prepared for severe high-altitude weather conditions, including rain, wind, cold temperatures, and even snow, and should carry spare warm and waterproof clothing regardless of forecast.
Fees
- Entry fee: $425
- Includes Monday night registration and briefing
- Includes buffet dinner Monday night
- Includes Dusty Butt 2027 tee
- Includes 3 days of riding
- Includes info and ride pack
- Includes lucky draw Monday night
- Includes GPS route downloads
- Includes all land access fees and permitting
Notes
Entries are strictly limited to the first 150 riders.
An event checklist is sent to riders upon registration, with additional information sent closer to the event date.