Dun in a day? Well, this is a welcome change from the multi-day mountain-bike rides I had undertaken to collect data for the Great Rides App. Not only is it a day trip; the Dun Mountain Trail is a glorious loop! Few of the 22 NZ Great Rides are single-day cycling trips and most of [...]
I can still remember when I clicked on a video link and discovered the Link Pathway of the Marlborough Sounds. What I saw was cyclists whipping along a forest path following the turquoise coastal arms that wrap around headland points and seemingly endless bays. The drone footage of hikers and bikers looked surreal. Their joy! [...]
The Dunes Trail has made quite an impression since it was officially opened in mid-2012. It’s now journeyed by around 20,000 cyclists per year, plus many walkers and runners. Intrepid travellers, fitness enthusiasts, families, a Thursday-evening ‘bike, beer and BBQ’ group, youth groups, motorhomers, e-bikers, hand-bikers – they’re all out there enjoying it. Trail counters [...]
Karangahake Gorge is a gateway to memories of my childhood holidays, opening the door to the seemingly endless days spent on Coromandel’s white sand beaches. The long trips from the Waikato with my parents were shared with my sister who continuously teased me in the back of the family Datsun. As always on these trips [...]
Over a sinuous 20km, the Pakihi Track twists from high on the Motu Road to a road-end south of Opotiki, in the eastern Bay of Plenty. The track was reopened after a mammoth effort in 2012. It’s part of the Motu Trails, one of 23 Great Rides on the New Zealand Cycle Trail. While the [...]
The Hutt Valley borders the north side of Wellington Harbour, just minutes away from the central city. It feels like the capital city’s big backyard – full of open spaces to explore. Stop for a cool drink at one of Petone’s many new eateries on the harbour foreshore, and you’re greeted with stories that will [...]
In the past few years most of my bike trips to Nelson were to map (or survive) the advanced mountain bike trails high in the hills behind town. So when I heard a new section of the Tasman’s Great Taste Trail just opened I stripped off my armour shell and popped on a bike bell [...]
As a different way to explore a new region, there’s nothing better than pedalling your way around. You can make the most of hidden gems along the way and take time to enjoy those incredible views. It’s also another way to connect with the land and its people. The Wairarapa, a large geographical area located [...]