The scenic gravel drive along Jacks Pass, to the north of the village, crosses the lower slopes of Mt. Isobel before dropping into the upper Clarence River Valley, a particularly alpine area just 10 minutes from Hanmer. This is the beginning of some serious backcountry. The tiny stream trickling past the road at the end of the pass eventually reaches the coast north of Kaikoura as the rough and rumbling Clarence River -- a favorite for rafters and kayakers.
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