About Hwenley

I moved to Hawkes Bay in 2015. I bought a new bike but after a year, decided that an ebike was the best way to explore Hawkes Bay. It meant that I could go further and arrive back home exhilarated, instead of exhausted. The ebike has put the fun back into cycling.

Waipawa to the Lindsay Water Tunnel

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Hwenley

Today, Simon and I with two other friends, tried out the new extension of The Tukituki Trail. We started from Waipawa and rode the existing trail to Waipukurau. From there we hopped onto the new extension on the northern side of the Tukituki River. The surface is still new and soft. The weather was glorious, and the hills and fields were bathed in sunlight and fresh, green, spring growth. The new extension continues past a carpark and picnic spot beside Lindsay Bush Reserve (where we ate our picnic lunch) and then onto the end, where there is a short walk to the Lindsay Water Tunnel. Distance approx. 32 kms.

Author: Helen Wenley

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Napier – Cross Country Drain Loop

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Hwenley

The whole of New Zealand went into Level 4 Lockdown when Covid-19 was found to be in the community in August 2021. This meant that we were no longer able to ride in a group or to call in to cafes. My husband and I decided that we would aim to ride this approx. 30kms Napier-Cross Country Drain loop daily, alternating between clockwise and anti-clockwise. It’s been wonderful to observe the start of spring and to see the daily changes along the route. We have also been very lucky with the weather as it has been mostly fine.

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Maraekakaho Woolshed Tour and ride

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Hwenley

This was my first time doing this eBike ride loop along quiet country roads, starting from the Maraekakaho Farm with the well-recognised historic woolshed. There are plenty of hills, with beautiful views. The section along the 100km/h stretch of Highway 50 isn’t too long and we were fortunate that it was quiet at the time. We all enjoyed a good lunch at The Chook and Filly pub (NB as at April 2022, the pub is closed). After lunch, Simon provided a tour of the historic farm buildings. An alternative start point suggestion: The Maraekakaho Hall (Kereru Road off Highway 50 beside the school). Distance approx. 30kms.

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Waipawa to Onga Onga

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Hwenley

The landscape on the 55kms ride from Waipawa to Onga Onga varies from river valleys to hills to horizon reaching flat plains. The Onga Onga Road road out from Waipawa is a steady climb and provides view of the Waipawa River below. The route passes through farm lands and orchards. An ideal region for agriculture on the vast, flat plains. At Onga Onga we stopped at the General Store for refreshments before visiting the Onga Onga Historical Museum.

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Waipawa to Tikokino

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Hwenley

It was a very warm (28 degrees) autumn day for our ride from Waipawa to Tikokino (Central Hawkes Bay). The ride is mainly a there and back, with a small loop. The roads travelled were very low traffic (open speed limit) with only a short section of State Highway 50. Apart from the hills around Lime Rock Wines, the roads are flat. The scenery consists of farmland. The trees were displaying the last of the autumn colours.

Distance 49kms.

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Wellington Regions Re-visited

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Hwenley

On the 8^th February 2021, seventeen members of the Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group set out for 5 days of cycling around the Wellington Region and enroute rides in Greytown and Palmerston North.

Having just a little bit of fun…

Day 1. The first stop off in Greytown involved a ride around the historical town followed by a ride out to Woodside Railway Station, after meeting for lunch in Greytown. (A suggestion for next time, would be to meet at Woodside Railway Station and then ride to Greytown for lunch/coffee.)

Day 2 Baring Head to Upper Hutt. The following day, we followed the same plan as last year, the shuttle bus and trailer carried us out to the carpark for the Baring Head Lighthouse, and we rode from there back to our accommodation in Upper Hutt. This year we had a head wind. The group was the first to stop at the Baring Head Visitors Centre before the official opening, that day. It is worth a visit.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Loading the ebikes

Getting ready to ride

Got to get over that hill

Made it up the hill. It was pretty easy.

Assembling at the top of the first hill

Wow what a view

Riding into the headwind

Baring Head Lighthouse

First lighthouse in New Zealand to be electrified

Hutt River Trail

Day 3 Upper Hutt to Featherston. The morning was rainy as per the forecast, and after discussing the options we decided to go ahead as planned. The rain lasted 3 hours and the afternoon burst with sunshine. The downhill trail after the swing bridge across Siberia Gully, had been worked on since our last visit, it is now wider, and it had been laid with shingle. The Cross Creek track is still narrow and stony.

Looking gloomy ahead!

Coming out of the first tunnel

Into the hills!

Into the tunnel

Summit lunch stop

We were fortunate to have local riders join us and share their knowledge on these rides. The scenery on the Remutaka Rail Trail is still glorious and some trees have been removed to provide more vistas. See the blog post from last year’s ride HERE.

Inspired Rides – Remutaka Rail Trail video

Day 4 Pauatahanui Inlet Loop. Charlie and Robyn had previously scoped the route for this intricate loop. There are lots of twists and turns and beautiful scenery. We were lucky to have a sunny day with just short blasts of wind.

Gear Homestead

Day 5 Palmerston North to Linton Camp. We joined up with a few members of the E-Bike Social Riders-Manawatu group. The scenery along the He Ara Kotahi was beautiful with lovely river scenery, a wide trail, and a beautiful bridge. A very pleasant way to end our trip.