This Pauahanui Inlet Loop ride was first suggested by Bill Wilson as a possible ride for the Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group when we visit Wellington in Feb 2021 as an add on the Remutaka Trail Tour. The origins of the route come from the “Chain Gang” Cycling Group Wellington.
The ride itself is a loop that includes Paremata – Gear Homestead – Bothamley Park – Whitby – Pauatahanui – The Te Ara Piko Trail. Est distance is 24 kms.
This initial navigational ride was ridden in a clockwise direction and we started from Pautahanui.
It is intended to start the group ride from Marina View Paremata Beach.

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Trail Surface
The trail surface is a mixture of packed clay, gravel, concrete, road seal, boardwalks and urban streets.
Trail Notes
This trail is a loop trail and is best ridden in an anti-clockwise direction. The majority of the trail is off road and consists of shared pathways, urban walkways and urban streets. There are no sections on unprotected open roads. However there is a protected cycling lane along a short section of Grays Road.

The Bothamley Park and Whitby section is undulating and there are some moderate hill climbs and descents.
The Whitby section consists of a number of linked and at times confusing walking trails. A small number of the walking trails have been removed from the group ride route to aid clarity of the ride and to enable the group to remain in close contact. The removed walking trails do not distract from the enjoyment of the ride. Where the trails have been removed the route consists or urban streets.
Some of the Whitby road crossings include underpasses.
This trail is popular with dog walkers and runners , therefore to ensure that cyclists continue to have access to the trail which in parts has limited visible approaches and is narrow the riders must ride in a responsible manner. This is not a gung-ho bike trail.
Care is required on the urban streets particularly the descents maintain vigilance for cars exiting driveways, car doors opening etc.
I would rate this trail as 80% grade 1 and 20 % grade 2. (Urban streets sections).

Route

The above route shows the start at Pauatahanui. The group start will be from Marina View Car Park which is adjacent to the Paremata Road Bridge.
Route. Marina View Car Park – Follow the under pass at the far end of the left hand side of the car park under the Paremata Road Bridge – Ride across the bridge – once over the bridge turn left to the under pass under the Southern end of the bridge. Ride along the trail to the Paremata railway station car park. Access the platform and ride over the footbridge at the end of the platform. Cross Paremata Crescent to the trail. Turn right on the trail to head South along Papakowhai Rd. Continue along the trail to Whitford Brown Ave. Cross the road and follow the trail to Okowai Rd. Turn right into the Gear Homestead (Note Pottery Sign) . Ride through the homestead to John Burke drive passing the rope adventure area on the right. Remain on the trail which leads to SH1. The trail follows alongside SH1 to Mepham Place. Stay on the trail to Champion St Turn left and follow the trail along Champion St – Enter Bothamley Park. . At this point the trail widens to a hard packed track and climbs steadily. Turn 2nd left onto a similar wide track. The trail heads north and eventually crosses Warspite Ave. After crossing the road continue along the trail to a fully enclosed dog park which will be on the left. Keeping the dog park on your right ride around the perimeter of the dog park. The trail exits on to Parkinson Close –turn right to Staithes Drive. Turn left onto Omapre St – Ride past the BP Service Station on the left and cross Postgate Drive. Pick up the walking trail which is in front of you after crossing Postgate Drive. This short section of trail exits into Azimuth Place. Cross Leeward Drive and pick up the trail in front of you. Continue along the trail which runs alongside Spinnaker Drive. The trail eventually curves right and under Spinnaker Drive (I think). There is a stand of Cherry Trees on the right. This section of the trail is known as the Whitby Walkway. Continue along the trail past the Whitby Collegiate. At Discovery Drive turn left ride East along Discovery Drive. Pick up the trail on the left just after Barque Crescent. Stay on the trail to Observatory Close. Turn right onto Observatory Close – turn left onto James Cook Drive – turn first right to Joseph Banks Drive. Ride all the way down the road toward SH58. At 50 metres before the intersection with SH58 cross the road and ride on the footpath to the intersection with SH58. Turn right onto a trail. Follow this trail to an underpass (Note very tight corners mounted mirrors indicate oncoming cyclists / walkers). The underpass trail exits into the Event Cinema car Park. Stop and take a breath the directions get a whole load easier from this point on. Ride through the car park ignore the DOC walking trail on the left. Exit the car park and turn left. Ride towards the Pautahanui Service Station. The Ground Up Café is on the left. There is plenty of parking for your bikes around the back. After exiting the café turn left towards the general store.

This is the start of the Te Ara Piko Trail. The trail is well signposted as below.
Follow the trail to the Grays Rd car park which is on the left just before the road rises.
Enter the car park and pick up the trail to the left of the toilet block. This packed earth trail is popular with walkers and there are several blind bends so care is required. Stay on the trail riding behind the sheds. The trail exits onto a grassy area, ride along the grassy area which leads to the Paremata Bridge Car Park. The under pass trail back to the Marina View Car Park is to the left of the bridge. Ride under the bridge to your vehicle. Job done.

The Detail
Starting Point. The nominated starting point is the Marina View Car Park.
The location of the car park driving North on SH1 is as follows after negotiating the SH58 / SH1 roundabouts cross the Paremata Bridge and turn left at the first set of traffic lights. This Marina View continue along Marina View passing the back of the Curves Gym on the left to the end of the car park. We were there on a Monday morning and there were plenty of parks and the parking is free and unrestricted. I believe there are cameras in the car park.
There is a café – Café Sofra. The cynic in me suspects it is owned by Curves and sells over size cream cakes.
The nearest public toilets are 300 metres away on the other side of the trail underpass.
The trail passes Aeotea Lagoon we didn’t ride around the lagoon but there is a pathway that can be ridden.
The Royal NZ Police College and Police Museum is also close by.
The ride enters the grounds of the Gear Homestead which I think is open for afternoon teas. There are public toilets in the grounds as well as a pottery workshop.
The trail also passes adventure rope site which consists of brides, climbing areas and other ways of causing serious injury. The area is a commercial concern and climbing harnesses can be hired.
Bothamley Park. The trail goes through Bothamley Park following the Kenepuru Stream. The trail is sided by native bush and ferns. The trail climbs steadily through this section. The signage is poor to non-existent. The rider should turn 2nd left onto a similar broad trail. The left turn is immediately after some “traffic calming posts”. If the turn is missed or there is uncertainty continue up the trail uphill to Warspite Ave and then U turn ride down the trail to first turn on the right.
Whitby Section. The Whitby section consists of a number of walking trails which are loosely linked together. The walking trails have no common identification signage and are just labelled “walking Trail” a number of these trails have no connection to our route. To reduce confusion we are short cutting some of the walking trails by riding on the street. Some of the walking trails appear to have little purpose but to provide dog walkers with an alternative route which loops to a point a few hundred metres from the start.
Joseph Banks Drive to SW58 this is a moderately steep urban street. Before reaching the intersection with SW58 cross the road and ride on the right-hand foot path. Turning left at SH58 leads onto an underpass trail. Note SH58 is very busy (80Kph) so the underpass is a must.
The underpass leads into Pauatahanui.
The Ground Up Café is the only café directly on the trail. At this point we have ridden 2/3 of the trail so a coffee is more than welcome. We found the selection of food available to be more than adequate and the coffee is good. There are plenty of tables outside and under cover. Bikes can be parked around the back of the café in plain view of the café.
The Te Ara Piko Trail (The meandering Trail) goes from Pautahanui to Grays Rd hill. The trail is either off road or inside a protected cycle lane. There are significant boardwalk sections which add to the ride. At the time of our ride the off road section was incomplete but I expect this section to be fully completed by Feb 2021.
From the Te Ara Piko trail the trail consists of an off-road pathway to Paremata. This section of the trail is used by dog walkers and other pedestrians. This section of the trail pass behind the “Sheds” one of which was home to Sam Hunt. His shed is easily identifiable
The ride distance is only 24 kms but allow 4 hours to ride and enjoy the trail. It’s not often that I want to repeat a trail the next day but we rode the inlet section as there and back ride.
Toilets – There are public toilets at Paremata Beach – Aeotea lagoon – Gear Homestead –
Pautahanui and two toilet blocks to Paremata. Therefore from Pautahanui to Paremata beach including the café there are five toilets over a distance of 8 kms. The trail has been designed by a man of my own bladder!
Charlie Davey 15/12/2020

A review of this ride by Charlie Davey – E Bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay.
On the day of this review the trail was ridden by Robyn Davey, Bill Wilson (Our esteemed guide) and Charlie Davey on the 13/12/2020