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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Wellington: Day 1
January 14, 2025 in 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). Walk along waterfront and hang out at a bit of sand for a moment. Water is very chilly. Back through town for a beer stop. After 9 miles of walking opt to take bus back up to our flat. Nice touristy day.Read more
Hannah Boe Duckies! 🦆
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
To Wellington we go
January 13, 2025 in 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 small towns and lovely parks. Follow the beautiful coastline up until we hit the suburbs of Wellington. Struggle up the last climbs to our Airbnb. But we made it.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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More southerlies
January 12, 2025 in 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 and into the wind. Make it to Otago and opt to splurge a bit on an indoor flat. Nice to get out of the wind.Read more
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Into the wind
January 11, 2025 in 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. Carefully continue on. Stop in Bulls for lunch and though we consider a bus, push on into the wind. Take a circuitous path to keep us off the highway but the wind is formidable. Opt to stop at Himitangi beach.Read more
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Whanganui rest day
January 10, 2025 in 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 1990s fashion.Read more
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Whanganui river road
January 9, 2025 in 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) opt to continue on to Whanganui. Check into another Top10, overrun with teenage rowers.Read more
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Whanganui River
January 8, 2025 in 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. Very long and very windy downhill to Pipiriki and Whanganui river and lovely, bike friendly campground. Spend the afternoon hanging out in the cozy reading room and kitchen.Read more
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Tongarino Alpine crossing
January 7, 2025 in 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. Sun tries to come out but we climb into a cloud. Difficult to see much of anything. Pretty brutal conditions but press on. Make it to Red Crater - the top - and quickly slide down the scree with hordes of others. Nice views of alpine lakes. As we descend it gets clearer and less windy. Nice, warm lunch spot looking out to Taupo lake. Hike through forest to the trail end (19 km later) and hop on our shuttle. Relax in the sunshine for the rest of the day.Read more
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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 longer walk to Taranaki falls. Nice views of the mountains as well. Skies cloud up as zip back down again. An active “rest day “.Read more
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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 Lodge and our camping hut.Read more
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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 an alpaca farm. Made it to Tauramina, and set up in nice campground by the river.Read more
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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. Eventually other riders caught up with us and zoomed ahead on e-bikes or mountain bikes. Rain began making the trail muddy. Add a few terrifying suspension bridges and it was a banner day. Made it to our campground and set up before more rain. Ate nice dinner at nearby lodge.Read more
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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 forest and campground at the start of Timber trail.Read more
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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. Hop on Waikato cycle trail - a windy and undulating cycle trail along the river. Stop at free campground - Dunham reserve.Read more
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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 the Barbie.Read more
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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 on our own. Fascinating- they cook in the thermal pools! After head to town and Government gardens. Unexpected rain dampens us a bit. Pick up groceries and head backRead more
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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 Italian cyclist, opt for quieter (longer) road to Rotorua. Good choice though very. Interesting landscape as we head up into the hills. Finally get to Okere falls. Doug has a flat. Push on alone to campground while he fixes it. Exhausted!Read more
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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 into Tauranga. Check in to campground early, do some bike cleaning (lots of tar and embedded rocks) and then take the bus to the city for pizza dinner.Read more
Hannah Boe So cute 🥺
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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 Waihi Beach. Very crowded. As stopped by the side of the road, a bike shop guy helped us in finding us a place to stay. Very crowded but pleasant Bowertown beach campground. Welcome to Kiwi summer holidays.Read more
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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. Continue onward and turn inland. Lots of traffic - summer vacation had begun. A few more big bursts of rain before arriving in Paeora. Manage to stay dry amongst a lot of rain.Read more
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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 folks like us hit the beach. Nice little walk and afternoon chill. Made a nice lamb dinner.Read more
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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. Head into hills and arrive at Orere point campground.Read more
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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 the bus and head to Auckland. Arrive a mere 5 hours later and hop on a ferry to Beachlands - making a hassle free escape from Auckland. Set up camp at Omana cliff top campground.Read more
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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 as we make our way up and cruise back down to the coast. Stop at Rainbow falls before heading to Bruce and Barb’s lovely home. Very nice evening.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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. After chatting with a local, backtrack to visit a lovely Kauri gallery. Fuel up with pastries and continue along the northern coast. Windy lunch stop by the bay and make final push to Hihi beach. Lovely, isolated campground.Read more
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