Tongarino Alpine crossing
7. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Early morning wake up to catch the 6 am shuttle to the start of the hike. Quite cool out, especially with wind. Arrive at the trailhead with many other hikers and head up and into the fierce wind. SunLæs mere
Whanganui River
8. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Relatively quiet road as we head south and away from the mountains. Opt to ride on, first stopping at Raetihi for a snack. A woman in the cafe asks if she can buy us coffee - we graciously accept.Læs mere
Whanganui river road
9. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Begin ride along beautiful and quiet river. A few bigger rollers keeps us working. Stop to investigate historical sites like the flour mill. After having lunch in the free campground (not much there)Læs mere
Whanganui rest day
10. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Opt to stay put and check out the town. Short ride to the city and then walk around the seemingly “old” town (by NZ standards). Enjoy the vast museum, with everything from Māori canoes to 1990sLæs mere
Into the wind
11. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Chilly morning but need to move on. Ride along the river and use the tunnel and elevator to top the hill out of the city. Great view and no sweating. Enjoy a quiet ride until we hit the main highway.Læs mere
More southerlies
12. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
And the wind continues. Seems to be ever present. First part of the ride into Fulton is pleasant. Visit the little main square that seems to have Dutch roots. Rest of the day is on a busy road andLæs mere
To Wellington we go
13. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
And yes, more wind is forecasted. However, hit a cycle path almost immediately and enjoy quieter and safer riding. Though at times it is right next to the highway it is much better. Ride into smallLæs mere
Wellington: Day 1
14. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Sunny day for a tour of Wellington. Meandering up for good views and then down through the Botanical Gardens. Downtown seems very slick and modern. Even their government buildings are sleek (beehive).Læs mere
Wellington: Day 2
15. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Museum Day! Walk ourselves back down to the waterfront and the Te Papa (museum of NZ). Spend the next 3+ hours in a mix of natural, cultural and social history. (The ‘people were about 8 feet tallLæs mere
To the south island we go
16. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Up early to catch our 8:45 ferry. Easy check in and boarding! Find some nice seats and get comfy for our 3 1/2 hour ride. Beautiful day for a crossing. Arrive on the South Island, get some suppliesLæs mere
Queen Charlotte track
17. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Beautiful but chilly morning. It warms up quickly once the sun clears the hills. Ride to the start of Queen Charlotte track and walk along coast and ridge line. So many colors in the water! Manage toLæs mere
Our first major mechanical
18. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
As we need to get to a bike store before it closes, get an early start to Blenheim. Beautiful and quiet coastal road gives way to busier road, winding through a valley. Livestock gives way to grapesLæs mere
Wither Hills
19. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Hit a chocolate factory and farmers market before heading up into the Wither Hills. Lovely, almost 360 views of the hills surrounding us and valley below us. Sunnier and warmer than it’s been forLæs mere
White Bay
20. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Another ‘rest day’ for exploring. This time head to the coast - Rarangi. Hike up the coastal hills and drop into scenic White bay. Relax as the waves crash and tides slowly turns. Back we go -Læs mere
Wairau Lagoons
21. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Transition to campground closer to town and the bike shop (much quieter). Ride south to Wairau Lagoons. Nice walk though seems to be part of wastewater management system. Quite a few birds. BackLæs mere
And the ride resumes
22. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Spend much of the day at the campground waiting for the bike to be finished. Finally hit the road at 2:30. Ride the Whale Trail safely out of town, up the mountain and back into wine country. WindLæs mere
Ah, the wind at one’s back
23. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Up and out early to catch the favorable northerlies. Road is fairly quiet and has big shoulder. Roll through the brown hills and grapes until we cross over and plunge down to the sea. Ride alongsideLæs mere
Beautiful scenery, treacherous roads
24. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Misty morning, this we take our time. Ride along the peninsula in search of more sea creatures. Do see some dolphins from afar and more seals. Walk amongst rocks that were displaced from most recentLæs mere
Into the Waipara valley
25. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After yesterday’s adventures, opt to get off busy main road for a bit. Unfortunately, it turns to very loose gravel and we struggle for the next 20 km. Return to the highway and breeze into Waipara.Læs mere
Ashley Gorge … and a deluge
26. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Short distance to Amberly for breakfast. Load up on food and hit the country roads. Nice tailwind keeps us moving - but not fast enough to beat the downpour. On the plains there is nowhere to duck forLæs mere
A wee tromp to the waterfall
27. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Poured all night and we stayed dry. Opt to stay another day. Sun appears allowing for better mountain views. Nice trail to the waterfall but choose a very sketchy (unformed) trail to return. LuckilyLæs mere
From one gorge to the next
28. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Hug the mountain range as we go further into the Canterbury plains. Not much around besides sheep. Beautiful, sunny day - best we have had in awhile. Stop in tiny towns for lunch and the unexpectedLæs mere
Geraldine
29. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
Incredibly windy night. Carries on into the morning. Finally settles a bit and we crawl out of the gorge. Fortunately we turn with the wind and have happy cruising along the mountain range - includingLæs mere
Onto the Penguin Highway
30. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Opt for a short ride to seaport town of Timaru. Meander onto windy beach and see where penguins come ashore. Late in the season so only a few still around. Check out town and then back to campsite.
Pints, pizza & PENGUINS
31. januar 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Set our sights on Oamaru to visit a larger penguin colony. Only 56 miles or so away. Ride highway 1 but it has a nice shoulder. Stop for strawberries at a converted church. Then fall upon a beautifulLæs mere