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Gravel Roads

New Plymouth

Cape Egmont

Moki Tunnel

Steve on the Tuakau Bridge.

A whole new trip - and it is 2008

Hi - we have been a long time getting anything on here - we have ridden for a couple of weekends but this is our first longer trip here.
We decided to cycle the west coast of the North Island to Taranaki then inland, for a short break. We covered just over 700 km.

Day 1 Auckland - Port Waikato
A late and watery start - We stopped for a mirror and on to Pukekohe with a head wind. Lunch with Steve's parents and then back on the bikes - almost lost a wheel at Tuakau. Stayed at Waikatoa Surf lodge at Port Waikato and Liam cooked us an excellent dinner. Thanks.

Day 2 Port Waikato - Waingaro
After a great sleep on the bikes to Limestone Downs - a first of many gravel roads and up and down and up and down and up and down again. Had lunch at Nikau Cave Cafe in Waikaretu - an awesome platter and a great spot. Out to a flat tyre and then cattle on the road. A soak in the pools and an early night.

Day 3 Waingaro - Kawhia
The same flat tyre- and again till we found the piece of glass. A heavy dew so got the tent out at Te Mata while we ate lunch on the domain in the centre of the town. Then 32km of gravel with some great hills- A big thanks to Dave the TipTop man who we met as we came back onto the seal - great ice creams thank you. A wander around Kawhia and back to the tent.

Day 4 Kawhia - Marakopa
NO flat tyres. Pretty much up and down till we came to the bridge that had sunk - luckily you can still get bikes across. A great ride around the harbour then up to the Te Anga road - made yesterdays hills look a breeze. Had lunch out of teh rain in an old farm school bus stop and then on down into Marakopa. The old school ios the backpackers and had time for a walk on the beach.

Day 5 Marakopa - Mokau.
An uneventful ride through great scenery - a little gravel then out onto State Highway 3 at Awakino - Then there was a head wind and traffic. Took a cabin there and went for a stroll to the beach - met Scott and Brent - first people we met that we knew.

Day 6 Mokau - New Plymouth
Had a very slow start as Steve had a bad ankle but it did come right. On to Mt Messanger and all good bar 3 metal trucks that must have been racing home. Stopped on the top after the tunnel then after the initial steep decent a long downhill making up on time. Lunch at a brewery - well we used their table and bought a drink - non alcoholic - not wanting to be sleepy on the bikes. Cruised on into the city and the i centre was very helpful. Along the sea wall to a great camp at Belt Rd.

Day 7 Rest day in NP
Slept in -cycled the sea wall and went to the park. A picnic back by the sea and off to the museum - another early night after a shop and repack.

Day 8 NP - Oponaki
On the road by 7:50 and a great day - Rode through Oakura and stoppeed at Okato at "The Waiting Room" for a great coffee and carrot cake. Excellent side trip to the lighthouse and a gentle run to Oponaki. Got the tent up then wandered into town for a look and out to the lookout. It had been sunny and warm all day.

Day 9 Oponaki - Stratford
Uphill, Headwind and into Rain but not a bad day - Campsite is full of potplants - everywhere - even by the basins in the washrooms. Wandered into Stratford for a look around - some great colour in the trees.

Day 10 Stratford to Whangamomina
Wet wet wet - over 3 saddles but no big hills - the school is now the camp ground so walked around reading all the signs telling you of the history and what had been there - had a coffeee at the pub. Only people in the camp ground - what a surprise.

Day 11 Whangamomina - Taumaranui
A wet morning but 2 saddles then the Tangarakau gourge - metal and a bit sticky in the rain - over another hill and through the Moki tunnel then found a hall to stand by for lunch out of the rain. Then Tunnel hill - wow - we were both off pushing for a while. Stopped at :"Laurens Lavender" out of town for a coke, coffee and cake - what a difference that made to the last few km's. Out 4km to the motor camp but no cabins so back into town and a motel - what a luxury for the last night.

Day 12 Back to Auckland
All packed up and left bikes and trailers at the station - had a look around town then caught the Overlander to Middlemore. Off there and a gentle ride home in teh dark and damp but a grerat trip and planning the next one.