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The Grand Adventure
  • Helene Rimberg
  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Leia mais
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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Tongarino Alpine crossing

    7 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 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.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Whanganui River

    8 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Whanganui river road

    9 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Into the wind

    11 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 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.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    To Wellington we go

    13 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ 🌬 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.Leia mais

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    11

    Wellington: Day 1

    14 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    Wellington: Day 2

    15 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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 tall and so life like. Done by Weta studio). Emerge into the sunshine and walk to Mount Victoria lookout and seek out LOTR filming sites. Another stop on the beer route and we are back on the bus towards our ‘home’.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    To the south island we go

    16 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 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 supplies and ride west along the coast to Smith family farms campground. Greeted with banana muffins, a towel and food to feed the animals. After f d inner, walk to the waterfalls and the glow worms.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Our first major mechanical

    18 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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 grapes as we enter one of the premier wine regions. Zip past the wineries - for now. Wait for awhile at the bike shop to then be told it will take 5 days to order the rim, wait for it and then rebuild his wheel. No other options. Make our way to Spring Creek Campground - nice place though on top of busy road.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Wither Hills

    19 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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 for awhile but still windy. Finish our adventures at a winery - of course. Nice first day of being “stuck”.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    White Bay

    20 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 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 - though have a nice tailwind on our way to the campground.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Wairau Lagoons

    21 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 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. Back through town, drop off bike and have local green tip mussels for dinner.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    And the ride resumes

    22 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 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. Wind slows us down but only have to go to Seddon, 20 miles or so. Set up in tiny Motor camp - squished between others.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Ah, the wind at one’s back

    23 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 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 alongside with the mountains, close on the right. Seems to be an alp ridge in the middle of this island. After a lunch spot find ourselves amongst the fur seals - with babies! Long day but make it 64 miles to Kaikoura. Lovely fish dinner.Leia mais

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    Beautiful scenery, treacherous roads

    24 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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 recent earthquake. Head south along the coastline and get some up close views of seal friends. Road becomes more narrow, especially as we head inland. Make it to Cheviot - barely. Find a lovely campground and opt for a nice cabin.Leia mais

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    Into the Waipara valley

    25 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☀️ 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. Small town, surrounded by vineyards. Too late for wine tasting. Stay at campground comprised of old train cars.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    From one gorge to the next

    28 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ☁️ 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 unexpected ice cream. Wind picks up, creating a challenging final leg up and then down to the Raika gorge. Set up in nice campground by the river and head off on a little walk. Very windy!Leia mais

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    Geraldine

    29 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ 🌬 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 - including Mount Hutt, their ski resort. Stop for lunch and have “toasties” (grilled cheese Sammie’s). Wind has changed but we are going slightly down. Make it to Geraldine. Sadly the power is out in the entire town and thus can’t get any food or take showers. Fortunately it is a quick fix. Nice dinner if lamb.Leia mais

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Pints, pizza & PENGUINS

    31 de janeiro de 2025, Nova Zelândia ⋅ ⛅ 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 beautiful gourmet cafe. Eat some sustenance and carry on. Able to get off the highway for a bit. Make it to Oamaru - phew! Head to brewery for pints and pizza. Sadly viewings for penguins returning to land is sold out. Stake out a spot on the beach. Only see them as we walk back to our campground.Leia mais

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