Indulge your downhill passion on a wicked ride that starts at the top of Takaka Hill - that steep marble mountain which sticks out like a sore thumb on the road to Golden Bay at the inland corner of the Abel Tasman National Park.

Take the Canaan road from the top of the Takaka Hill to Canaan downs where you'll find a bunch of great riding, but before your descent, it's worth taking a short warm-up wander over to Harwood's Hole. A huge vertical hole in the hill, it's the deepest 'straight' drop in the country.

After checking out this local phenomenon, surrounded by a bizarre landscape of pre-historic rock formations, sink-holes and dense and unusual forest, it's time to spin your wheels down Rameka Track's. The trail traverses an historic route through the pristine forest of Abel Tasman National Park before screaming down to the wonderland that is "The Bay"

You'll see Golden Bay before you, and a few curly sections on this single track (so keep your eyes peeled), before you reach the base of the mountain and Takaka township.

The downhill ride takes around 2 hours, if you'll feeling fit and aren't scared of a good hill climb you can ride back up Takaka Hill then via Caanan Road back to your car. This will take another 2 1/2 to 3 hours so allow plenty of time. For the more sane around us take two cars and leave one at Takaka to get you back to the Harwoods Hole carpark.