Tongarino Alpine crossing
7 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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. SunOkumaya devam et
Whanganui River
8 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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.Okumaya devam et
Whanganui river road
9 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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)Okumaya devam et
Whanganui rest day
10 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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 1990sOkumaya devam et
Into the wind
11 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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.Okumaya devam et
More southerlies
12 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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 andOkumaya devam et
To Wellington we go
13 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌬 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 smallOkumaya devam et
Wellington: Day 1
14 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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).Okumaya devam et
Wellington: Day 2
15 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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 tallOkumaya devam et
To the south island we go
16 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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 suppliesOkumaya devam et
Queen Charlotte track
17 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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 toOkumaya devam et
Our first major mechanical
18 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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 grapesOkumaya devam et
Wither Hills
19 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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 forOkumaya devam et
White Bay
20 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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 -Okumaya devam et
Wairau Lagoons
21 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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. BackOkumaya devam et
And the ride resumes
22 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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. WindOkumaya devam et
Ah, the wind at one’s back
23 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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 alongsideOkumaya devam et
Beautiful scenery, treacherous roads
24 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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 recentOkumaya devam et
Into the Waipara valley
25 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 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.Okumaya devam et
Ashley Gorge … and a deluge
26 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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 forOkumaya devam et
A wee tromp to the waterfall
27 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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. LuckilyOkumaya devam et
From one gorge to the next
28 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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 unexpectedOkumaya devam et
Geraldine
29 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌬 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 - includingOkumaya devam et
Onto the Penguin Highway
30 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 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 Ocak 2025, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 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 beautifulOkumaya devam et