Along the coast
13 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 ofLäs mer
Around the Bay of Islands
14 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 theLäs mer
A proper cycleway …. not
15 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 theLäs mer
A rainy rest day
16 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌧 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 rainyLäs mer
Tasman Sea
17 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌬 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 sideLäs mer
90 Mile beach
18 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌬 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. IncrediblyLäs mer
Cape Reinga
19 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 CapeLäs mer
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, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌬 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 fruitLäs mer
Hihi
21 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌬 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. AfterLäs mer
Kerikeri
22 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 asLäs mer
A bus, a ferry and a wee bike ride
23 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 theLäs mer
Along the Pacific coast highway
24 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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.Läs mer
A Christmas at the beach
25 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 folksLäs mer
Into the Hauraki plains
26 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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. ContinueLäs mer
Bowentown Beach
27 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ 🌬 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 WaihiLäs mer
Tauranga
28 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 intoLäs mer
A long day to Rotorua
29 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 ItalianLäs mer
Whakarewarewa Maori village
30 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 onLäs mer
Forest hike and Polynesian spa
31 december 2024, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ⛅ 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 theLäs mer
Happy 2025
1 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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. HopLäs mer
To the start of the Timber trail
2 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☀️ 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 forestLäs mer
Timber Trail: Day 1
3 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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. EventuallyLäs mer
Timber Trail: Aborted
4 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 anLäs mer
Tongarino Park
5 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 LodgeLäs mer
Waterfall walks
6 januari 2025, Nya Zeeland ⋅ ☁️ 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 longerLäs mer