February 16th – Kerikeri, NZ
All set for a 6am Sunday departure from Cape Reinga to Bluff. A little over 3000km from the top of New Zealand to the bottom!
TA Pre Departure
February 20th – Cape Reinga Lighthouse, NZ
The beginning at Cape Reinga a little over 48 hours ago. 3000 km to go…
Cape Reinga, kilometer 0
February 20th – Te Paki Sand Dunes, NZ
55 miles of riding on sand in 30° heat on day 1
55km long Ninety Mile Beach
February 20th – Waipoua Forest, NZ
Tane Mahuta, a 2000 year old Kauri tree in Waipoua forest
Tane Mahuta
February 20th – The Kumara Box, NZ
Never has beer tasted so good!
Time for a fine tasting beer
February 26th – Taumarunui, NZ
Loving this ride so far – 900km down!
Matamata Hobbiton iSite
Mangakotukutuku Bridge on the Timber Trail
Ongarue Spiral
Mangakotukutuku Bridge signage
Mangakotukutuku Bridge
March 2nd – The Pukemanu Bar & Eatery, NZ
A fellow TA rider told me where to find his house key and to stay over. Very glad I did as Martinborough is a cool little town just under 100km from Wellington where I catch the ferry tomorrow to the South Island. On to pastures new…
Steak, chips and of course a Tui
March 2nd – Iride Store, Wellington, New Zealand
That’s it, 1600km of the north island complete. What an awesome experience so far!
March 3rd – Havelock Cafe & Bakery, Havelock, NZ
Very impressed with Havelock and the ‘sounds’ of New Zealand. Weather is fantastic as usual and with a crap day looming on Tuesday it’s time to bang out some Kilometers. Flat white time first!!!
March 3rd – The Freehouse, Nelson, NZ
After that last ‘Welcome to the South Island’ gravel trail I definitely deserve a pint of aptly named Gnarly Ryde Dude IPA
I had to stop for a Gnarly Ryde Dude IPA
March 4th
A few photos from today’s 151km ride through the South Island.
Maungatapu saddle, a steep slog
March 7th – Stumpers, Hokitika, NZ
…and on the 17th day god provided rain! Over 60km of today’s 153km was miserable riding, although when the sun did appear it revealed how beautiful a country NZ is.
Hokitika clocktower
Miserable Greymouth bar
March 8th – Franz Josef Glacier, NZ
A beautiful day from dawn to dusk. Starting with the remainder of the fast and flowing West Coast Wilderness trail, arriving in Franz Josef Glacier township 140km later
The Bushmans Centre
South Island cows
March 9th – Haast, NZ
With 480km left to Bluff the end is in sight. Four days will see this journey come to an end, but in the meantime here are some shots of NZ’s amazing west coast
Fox glacier viewpoint
Knights Point looking out over the Tasman Sea
March 10th – Lake Hāwea, NZ
Today was all about Wanaka & Hawea, two stunning lakes I passed through after 10km on Haast Pass
Stunning Lake Wanaka
Haast Pass, another slog
March 11th – Deco Backpackers, Queenstown, NZ
A short 115km day with the tours highpoint and plenty of flowing gravel track – what could be better? Oh wait, knowing that I have only 244km to the finish line!
Cardrona Hotel in the Crown Range
Queenstown’s forever busy Fergburger
March 12th
Today, despite being a short 103km was a day of headwinds and rain! From crossing Lake Wakapitu in Queenstown to finishing 6 hours later in Mossburn the weather was miserable. Cursing the god of weather, I was soaked to the skin and cold many hours before limping into town!
TSS Earnslaw at Walter Peak Station
March 12th – Adagio Cafe, Winton, NZ
Nothing like a venison pie, followed by bacon and eggs on toast, all washed down with a large flat white! That should see me through the final 68km to Bluff and the end of this amazing journey!
March 12th – Bluff, NZ
That last 3000km was for you dad – I miss you!
February 20th – March 12th 2017
