Week to kill - North Island loop

[50Shades]

Screen shot from Sports Tracker

[Waihou Thumper]

​It's windy ain't it.....hence the max speed (Wine Dee......Not Blow ee.... )
Plus, plenty to look at...

[Frodo]

Ooh, l ike this idea. I've added in Cape Palliser. I've previously done the east cape by pedal cycle, and am planning for a Northland trip later this year as I've never made it north of Akl.

My trip was:
Day 1: Kapiti to Awakino via Cape Egmont
Day 2: Back roads up the west coast via Raglan to Shelly Beach on Kaipara Harbour
Day 3: Ruawai, Opononi, Rawene ferry, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, to Henderson Bay
Day 4: Maitai Bay (short ride, but the country is so nice)
Day 5: Bay of Islands, Auckland to Whangamata
Day 6: Bay of Plenty to Waikawa Bay
Day 7: East Cape lighthouse to Tokomaru Bay
Day 8: Home via Napier.

Love to do this again soon!

[50Shades]

​It's windy ain't it.....hence the max speed (Wine Dee......Not Blow ee.... )
Plus, plenty to look at...

Yes, single lane road through fields track, with some road works going on and some patches of tar that need road works, a few sheep, and was expecting tourists and farmer hiluxs, didn't meet a single vehicle

[Waihou Thumper]

That explains it..
Nice ride, well done! Hope to get there soon on my way south!

[BMWST?]

My trip was:
Day 1: Kapiti to Awakino via Cape Egmont
Day 2: Back roads up the west coast via Raglan to Shelly Beach on Kaipara Harbour
Day 3: Ruawai, Opononi, Rawene ferry, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, to Henderson Bay
Day 4: Maitai Bay (short ride, but the country is so nice)
Day 5: Bay of Islands, Auckland to Whangamata
Day 6: Bay of Plenty to Waikawa Bay
Day 7: East Cape lighthouse to Tokomaru Bay
Day 8: Home via Napier.

Love to do this again soon!

where is waikawa bay?

[Frodo]

where is waikawa bay?

Delightful bay between Te Kaha and Waihau Bay.


Its a private camping ground where you pay the owner five bucks or so for the night. I've stayed there a couple of times with a bike - this is the only photo. And took the family there a while back.

[BMWST?]

Cool,could only find Picton!

[DamianW]

Another vote for East Cape. Lovely stop off point at a macadamia orchard cafe in Whanarua Bay a few clicks past Te Kaha. Just watch out for the spent maca shells in the carpark, they're like big marbles and a foot deep in places :eek

[Duncan74]

Well D-day has arrived. Bags packed, tank full and GPS all programmed. Next stop Wairoa. Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

[eldog]

Another vote for East Cape. Lovely stop off point at a macadamia orchard cafe in Whanarua Bay a few clicks past Te Kaha. Just watch out for the spent maca shells in the carpark, they're like big marbles and a foot deep in places :eek

I was going to stop here on my recent East Cape escape, but it didn't look all that inviting and I was on a time restriction, maybe next time.

Harcourts have it for sale OP 4347

[Duncan74]

Made it to Gisborne. Gorge was ok, on the gizzy side seal was starting to bleed a bit and there were a few minor slips left with some minor gravel on road, but nothing major.

Having a break now before pressing on as was getting. Tired towards the end.

[Duncan74]

[Duncan74]

And now in castlepoint. Weather didn't play nicely today, and whilst I didn't have much rain, it was cold all day. Glad I had my polyprop with me. Route 52 I spent most of panicking about fuel as I missed the station at the northern end of Wimbledon road. In the end was fine and had third of a tank spare, but thought the last leg from masterton to castlepoint was shorter, hence the distance to masterton and fuel further.

Started at 7am, rode to Napier for breakfast. Then a (too) long run from there to masterton with only 3 short pauses for animals in the road. Was cruising, but was solid riding from 930 to 1340 on route 52. Most was good, but there is a bit in the middle that has no markings, is narrow, twisty and sketchy road surface.

Ready for zzzzz tonight.

[eldog]

And now in castlepoint. Weather didn't play nicely today, and whilst I didn't have much rain, it was cold all day. Glad I had my polyprop with me. Route 52 I spent most of panicking about fuel as I missed the station at the northern end of Wimbledon road. In the end was fine and had third of a tank spare, but thought the last leg from masterton to castlepoint was shorter, hence the distance to masterton and fuel further.

Started at 7am, rode to Napier for breakfast. Then a (too) long run from there to masterton with only 3 short pauses for animals in the road. Was cruising, but was solid riding from 930 to 1340 on route 52. Most was good, but there is a bit in the middle that has no markings, is narrow, twisty and sketchy road surface.

Ah the joys of riding down the East side of the Norf Is, such fun, it always seems cooler south of Hastings and the roads longer. Jealous I am.