| Baby Fern Rally: | Day One: Thursday 16 October | 16 October 2008 |
| Stage No |
Name | Distance | 1st car starts |
Status | Description |
| 1 | Hilton | 15.25kms | 09:45 | Fast hard based public roads with a light covering of loose metal that is easy on tyres. This stage winds and undulates over the foothills to the north of Timaru | |
| 2 | Richard Pearse | 11.6kms | 10:20 | Named after the aviation pioneer who conducted the first powered flight March 1903 some 9 months prior to the Wright Bros effort. This fast hard based public road stage starts just past a memorial to his efforts | |
| 3 | Hanging Rock | 7.18kms | 10:55 | The location takes its name from a large rock overhanging the Opihi River and scene of ancient rock drawings. Another hard based smooth public road with a light covering of loose metal | |
| 4 | Spur Road | 13.88kms | 11:25 | Fast hard based public roads with a light covering of loose metal that is easy on tyres. Climbs out of the Opihi Valley before descending to Fairlie. Magnificent views of the Mackenzie Basin and the Southern Alps | |
| 5 | Braemar | 24.85kms | 13:00 | Fast hard based public roads with a light covering of loose metal that is easy on tyres. Stage runs between Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki | |
| 6 | Phillips Road | 17.47kms | 15:10 | Used in 2006 the stage starts off with an interesting tighter section of road than used for the earlier part of the day before opening out into a faster open section. A light metal covering on this well formed road ensures plenty of slides and some excursions for the unwary |
| Baby Fern Rally: | Day Two: Friday 17 October | 17 October 2008 |
| Stage No |
Name | Distance | 1st car starts |
Status | Description |
| 7 | Moutere | 15.48kms | 08:35 | A real Central Otago public road stage, quick, hard based with a slippery light metal covering | |
| 8 | St Bathans | 14.26kms | 09:30 | Reverse direction to 2006 a real Central Otago public road stage, quick, hard based with a slippery light metal covering. A delight to drive | |
| 9 | Crawford Hills | 12.8kms | 10:40 | Spoilt for choice in 2006 we left this one out but not this time. A real Central Otago public road stage, tight in places but still quick with a hard base and a light metal covering. Another that is a delight to drive | |
| 10 | Tiger Hills | 15kms | 11:03 | Deleted | A private road through the Orig Station. Starts on well maintained roads with a light metal covering before changing to typical Central Otago dirt roads that can become slippery when wet and even includes some grassed over sections of the old coach roads of the 1800’s. Last used in the 1976 Rally of NZ in combination with SS9 |
| 11 | The Nevis - pt 1 | 24.3kms | 12:20 | The most challenging stage never to have been run in NZ before. Stage starts at 350 metres above sea level and over the first 16km it climbs to 1265 metres before descending into the lower valley at 650 metres. The stage then opens out through the two Stations and into the disused gold mining areas of the 1800’s. Running through the valley are numerous water crossings and a small hill of just over 1000 metres where the road narrows considerably before another valley and narrow gorge with plenty of sharp water crossings where care is required. The final 15km is another saddle of just over 1100 metres and a steep winding descent back to 450 metres. Just absolutely magic to drive. | |
| 11A | The Nevis - pt 2 | 24.3kms | 14:05 |
| Baby Fern Rally: | Day Three: Saturday 18 October | 18 October 2008 |
| Stage No |
Name | Distance | 1st car starts |
Status | Description |
| 12 | Hawksburn | 15.5kms | 08:05 | Shortened from what was used in 2006, Starts on hard based public roads with a light metal covering before changing to a power line / farm, access road with a mixture of dirt, light metal and bedrock surfaces. Water holes can develop after periods of wet weather and you need to pick your way around them. Real John Wayne territory so treat it accordingly. Stage ends with great views out over the Clyde Dam and Alexandra before a most interesting descent down past the lookout area to the valley floor. | |
| 13 | Lake Onslow | 93.6kms | 09:30 | Downgraded to a touring stage in 2006 when a snow storm struck the area and a white out occurred. This stage uses a mixture of tight and open roads, Well metalled public roads, dirt roads, patches of bedrock. Great surface when dry or not covered in snow or ice. Easy on tyres, terrific scenery | |
| 14 | Roxburgh | 25.13kms | 11:35 | This is a quick public road stage, starts on seal then changes to a well maintained public road. This is this reverse of the Three Brothers stage used in 2006. Easy on tyres and voted in the top five stages of 2006 | |
| 15 | Lonely Graves | 15.6kms | 12:20 | An interesting road that utilised the old railway track along side of the Clutha River. The location gains its name from an old gold miner who discovered an indentified body in the Clutha River and buried him with a headstone that reads “Somebody’s darling lies buried here”. We pass by that site. | |
| 16 | Bungtown | 37.49kms | 13:40 | Location gains its name from a town that went broke during the gold mining days. This stage is a mixture of the Mahinerangi stage of 2006 then turns right at the top of the hill and descends to Waitahuna. Roads are wide, fast and with a great surface. If it snows again remember to go left rather than through the gateway as was highlighted in the TV coverage of the event | |
| 17 | Berwick Forest | 52.99kms | 14:45 | A mixture of very good public and hard based forestry roads. This version of a stage has never been previously conducted |