Two-Wheelin’ Thru New Zealand

Lunch break after 3 hours and 1500′ of climbing.—Wellsford

Outside of Kaiwaka. $30 for a private cabin on a farm, after a few days of riding and sleeping in a tent? Sold!

Eutopia Cafe- Kaiwaka

Whangaruru—crazy tide pools, full of mussels and all sorts of unrecognizable stuff (to me).

Mangawhai Heads

Sandspit—real name, not made up.

Orewa Beach

Coromandel Forest Park is a great getaway, only 45 minutes from the farm. It’s got some really well maintained mountain bike trails, but unfortunately they are not made to be ridden this time of year. A bit muddy and some deeper than expected creek crossings.

The terrain may not be flat here, but at least the cattle line up according to size.

Been staying in a great, little cabin on a farm outside of Thames. It’s a little single room, heated by a wood-burning stove. Right out the front door are the paddocks for the cattle and right out of the back is the fruit orchard full of mandarins, oranges, apples, peaches, plums, avocados and olives. I’m going to miss this place, but I’ve got a lot more of New Zealand to explore.

Almost to the first farm stay. Kauaeranga Valley, Coromandel Peninsula.

Me

Woke up early to get on the Hauraki Rail Trail into Thames. Caught a beautiful sunrise of the Firth of Thames and that was about it. The trail is really nice, maintained gravel, but flat, open to the wind/rain and surrounded by farmland

After a night of recovery in a cabin at Orere, I had a nice, smooth ride into Miranda. Rode the coastal highway around the Firth of Thames—beautiful coast on the left side and rolling farmland to the right. Even though this was pretty smooth sailing compared to the day before, it was a good lesson that Kiwi drivers are not very considerate of cyclists. Warning to anyone looking to ride New Zealand: stay off the main roads, you’re lucky if passing cars give you 2 feet of room.

Also, La Sportiva Blade GTX are the best pair of boots I have ever owned. 10/10, would buy again.

From the peak, for as far as the eye could see, there was just miles and miles of logging road filled with felled trees. I had no choice but to carry my bike back over the way I had came, head back to the main road and make a decision about the best way to proceed.

Was able to catch a snap of her first boat ride— Auckland to Beachlands ferry crossing. This was before shit hit the fan and all hell broke loose on the first day of riding out of Auckland.