Along the coast
December 13, 2024 in 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 ofRead more
Around the Bay of Islands
December 14, 2024 in 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 theRead more
A proper cycleway …. not
December 15, 2024 in 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 theRead more
A rainy rest day
December 16, 2024 in 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 rainyRead more
Tasman Sea
December 17, 2024 in 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 sideRead more
90 Mile beach
December 18, 2024 in 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. IncrediblyRead more
Cape Reinga
December 19, 2024 in 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 CapeRead more
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
December 20, 2024 in 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 fruitRead more
Hihi
December 21, 2024 in 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. AfterRead more
Kerikeri
December 22, 2024 in 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 asRead more
A bus, a ferry and a wee bike ride
December 23, 2024 in 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 theRead more
Along the Pacific coast highway
December 24, 2024 in 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.Read more
A Christmas at the beach
December 25, 2024 in 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 folksRead more
Into the Hauraki plains
December 26, 2024 in 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. ContinueRead more
Bowentown Beach
December 27, 2024 in 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 WaihiRead more
Tauranga
December 28, 2024 in 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 intoRead more
A long day to Rotorua
December 29, 2024 in 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 ItalianRead more
Whakarewarewa Maori village
December 30, 2024 in 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 onRead more
Forest hike and Polynesian spa
December 31, 2024 in 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 theRead more
Happy 2025
January 1, 2025 in 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. HopRead more
To the start of the Timber trail
January 2, 2025 in 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 forestRead more
Timber Trail: Day 1
January 3, 2025 in 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. EventuallyRead more
Timber Trail: Aborted
January 4, 2025 in 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 anRead more
Tongarino Park
January 5, 2025 in 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 LodgeRead more
Waterfall walks
January 6, 2025 in 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 longerRead more