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Following the steep mountain trek up Mt. Arthur the teams got onto their bikes for a 101km ride on primarily forestry roads through the Golden Downs Forest region of the central Nelson Province. Although the terrain was relatively flat the navigation was made difficult by inconsistencies between the map topography and the ground. Many teams were confused and frustrated as they navigated their way through the forested back roads — this combined with the hot dry weather made for incredibly gruelling riding.

Star & Garter passed through Checkpoint 8 at the Tapawera Old Forest Headquarters, the first checkpoint on this section, at 6:33am, stopping for just one minute before getting back to work. Team Cromwell and Long International checked in just under an hour later at 7:17am. Running Hot came in next approximately four hours later, and then Icebreaker followed by New Zealand Army.

	Night Navigation

The hot weather blazed down throughout the afternoon as the teams navigated their way through the tricky second half of the section. After another mammoth mountain biking effort, Star & Garter came in to Transition Area 4/Checkpoint 10 on the shores of beautiful Lake Rotoiti at 12:38pm and departed for Section 5 at 1:10pm. Cromwell came in at 2:04pm and left at 2:51pm. Both teams were reported to be in "really good shape." Sadly two members from Long International pulled out of the race at Transition Area 4 due to sickness, therefore removing them from a ranking. However, the remaining two members have teamed up with Running Hot who are in 4th position and are continuing the race.

As night falls at the end of day two almost all teams continue to go through the checkpoints along Section 4. However, the top runners are now well into the 40km mountain trek (Section 5) including the enormous abseiling section.

— Andrew Johnson, Southern Traverse

*Southern Traverse Photographers Include: Derek Paterson, Brian, Jurgen Ruoff, Barbara Newton, Rob Lile, Tony Di Zinno, Gareth Eyres, Alan Nelson, and Beyond City Limits.

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