French Pass Road — Rai Valley to FrenchPass.
Distance
70 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
900 m
French Pass Road — Rai Valley to French Pass.
One of the Marlborough Sounds' most spectacular dead-ends. From Rai Valley the sealed road narrows and climbs a switchback ridge with drop-away views over the Croisilles and Tasman Bay, then descends to the hamlet of French Pass overlooking Te Aumiti — a ferocious tidal race between the mainland and D'Urville Island where the water can run at 8 knots.
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance70 km
Days1
Total climb900 m
DifficultyChallenging
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The route.
Rai ValleyStart · Last fuel, food and cell coverage. Turn off SH6 onto the Croisilles–French Pass Road; from here it is a committing run out to the point.
Okiwi BayScenic Point · Sheltered holiday bay and the last settlement. Beyond here the road climbs the narrow Ronga ridge — single-lane in places with steep drops.
French Pass (Te Aumiti)End · The road ends at French Pass village above the tidal race named by explorer Dumont d'Urville in 1827. Watch the whirlpools rip between the mainland and D'Urville Island. Return the way you came.
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