Along the coast
13. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Take a quick tour of
the highlights of Whangerei before making our departure. Opt for a more direct route to the coast. After a bit on the less busy roadway, turn off onto a quiet rural road. Lots ofLæs mere
Around the Bay of Islands
14. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
A beautiful sunny day! Depart our lovely campsite and make our way back to the road to begin our windy and hilly journey along a beautiful coastline. The day heats up nicely and the blue sky turns theLæs mere
A proper cycleway …. not
15. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Turn our backs to the Pacific and begin our journey across the island. Seek out our first ‘Great Ride of NZ’. First check out the famous toilets in Kawakawa - done by Hundertwasswer. Find theLæs mere
A rainy rest day
16. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
With rain forecasted for all day, and tired bodies opted to stay and rest. Meandered down to tiny town, got breakfast and poked around. Back to our site and did very little. Nice way to spend a rainyLæs mere
Tasman Sea
17. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
Nice down hill to catch ferry across the bay. Sunny day on a nice quiet road. Hills don’t seem too bad especially with a nice tail wind. Cross over the ‘mountains’ and cruise down the other sideLæs mere
90 Mile beach
18. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
Early morning to catch the low tides. Hit the beach and begin our journey along the 90 mile beach. Very favorable wind as we cruise northward. As the tide rises look for a spot to wait. IncrediblyLæs mere
Cape Reinga
19. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Swarmed by mosquitoes during the night and into the morning. Make our escape to the kitchen. Spend the morning cleaning sand and salt off the bikes. Ride the remaining 12 miles (hilly ones) to CapeLæs mere
Helene RimbergThey were the worst I have ever seen. The top of the tent was covered. Our nice newish tent has mozzie guts and our blood on it ( mostly fathers).
Southbound
20. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Generally spared from the mozzies in the kitchen. With the wind at our back, head south and roll along amongst the farm animals. So many sheep! Short day and stop at Puken, first stopping for NZ fruitLæs mere
Hihi
21. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
Early morning rain showers delays our departure. But manage to dry out and head out into the sunshine. A lovely flatish section with a generally favorable wind keeps us moving right along. AfterLæs mere
Kerikeri
22. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Beautiful morning light over much calmer bay. Relatively short day to get to Kerikeri and our warm showers stay. Nice flatish section before stopping for lunch before big hill. Pretty poor shoulder asLæs mere
A bus, a ferry and a wee bike ride
23. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Make our departure from our WS stay, and head to catch our bus in Kerikeri. Stop first to see a few historic sites. After a little bit of a kerfuffle (likely my fault) load our bikes and gear on theLæs mere
Along the Pacific coast highway
24. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Lovely cycle path out of our campground and heading south. We are loaded up with few meals as Christmas means closed stores. Stop at beach and go for first ‘swim’ in NZ. Very shallow and cloudy.Læs mere
A Christmas at the beach
25. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
An interesting commingling of cultures for Christmas here in NZ. Our Māori neighbors, dressed is Xmas pjs played morning lawn games, the Asian community has a service and a luncheon and many folksLæs mere
Into the Hauraki plains
26. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
After a stormy night, the skies cleared and dried us out before departing. A few hills before cruising down to coastline. Lovely rising. Duck into a bird reserve just as clouds open up. ContinueLæs mere
Bowentown Beach
27. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Soggy night but lovely morning. Head out of town on Hauraki cycle trail heading for the Karangahake Gorge. Very nice converted rail trail. Lots of people out and about. Very busy road down to WaihiLæs mere
Tauranga
28. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Get an early start to try and get off busy 2 before too much traffic. Generally a solid plan. Turn off and hit cycle path through estuaries, kiwi and avo farms and quiet neighborhoods leading intoLæs mere
A long day to Rotorua
29. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Did not manage to get an early start and a few stops before leaving town caused delays. Did travel on another nice cycleway out of town - though it did get detoured. After advice from an ItalianLæs mere
Whakarewarewa Maori village
30. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Slept in after yesterday’s ride. Short ride to town to Whakarewarewa - a living
Māori villlage and thermal
Reserve. Get a guided tour and then explore steaming lakes, budding mud and steam vents onLæs mere
Forest hike and Polynesian spa
31. december 2024, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Another short ride to Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest. Great big California redwoods! Do a circuit walk and then relax in the hot pools of the Polynesian spa. Celebrate NYE with nice dinner on theLæs mere
Happy 2025
1. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Beautiful morning though the chill is still in the air. Pack up and head once more towards town and then out along relatively quiet HWY 30. Pass through rolling farmland and small mountain ranges. HopLæs mere
To the start of the Timber trail
2. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Take our time getting out - things go slower with out camp kitchens. Ride along the river and to town of Mangakino where we restock food. Head up and into the wind to make our way to Pureora forestLæs mere
Timber Trail: Day 1
3. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Got an early start which was helpful as we had the trail to ourselves for quite awhile. I would consider this a hiking trail which made for challenging riding with a fully loaded bike. EventuallyLæs mere
Timber Trail: Aborted
4. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
With more rain in the forecast and pinch barriers on the trail ahead opted to take the gravel road out to the main road. Pretty farmland and even with the wind, much easier riding. Even passed anLæs mere
Tongarino Park
5. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Though tired, decide to ride on to Tongarino Park. A short ride but mostly up. Take our time and watch as volcanoes come into view. And yes, they are snow covered. Battle the wind to Discovery LodgeLæs mere
Waterfall walks
6. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Amazingly sleep in until 9 - we must have been very tired! Head off on unloaded bikes toward Whakapapa Village. Stop along the way for short walk to an impressive waterfall. At the village do a longerLæs mere