I like to seize the opportunity to get out riding on quiet country roads. The 53 kms Crownthorpe loop is one of my favourite e-bike rides in Hawkes Bay. The countryside is undulating and scenic. Doing this loop clockwise, the long straight stretch along Matapiro Road is dispensed with in the first half of the ride. There is an option to visit the historic Crownthorpe Church by continuing along Matapiro Road, then coming back to turn into Crownthorpe Road.
Distance approx. 53 kms
The Hawkes Bay Trail alongside the Tutaekuri River on both sides, to and from Puketapu is a popular route. This ride can be extended to approx. 50 kms, starting from the carpark beside the Boat Ramp Eatery in Ahuriri, and taking in the Water Ride from Watchman Road to Park Island, suburban streets and the Iways. This makes a diverse and satisfying e-bike ride.
Distance 50kms
The Waitangi Regional Park to Lappuccino Cafe in Hastings ebike ride is one of our shorter loops at 35 kms. The first part of route begins on the Hawkes Bay Trails along the stop bank of the Ngaruroro River. From this trail it is easy to see why the Plains are so fertile.
For e-bike riders who enjoy zooming along quiet country roads, this route in Central Hawkes Bay, from Waipawa to Hatuma, may tick your box. The roads vary between flat and undulating (and includes one long downhill), and the scenic hills contain an occasional beautiful home. As December is the start of summer, the fields are starting to brown up from lack of rain. This route does a short section of the Hawkes Bay Trails Tukituki Trail from Waipawa to Waipukurau.
Distance: 55 kms (which can be shortened to 42 kms).
Four members of the E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay Group spent a day exploring the Kapiti Coastal Trail, just north of Wellington, on the west coast. Much of the trail is concrete which makes for a smooth cycling experience.
The Guppy Road Riverbank End to Whakatu via Puketapu loop is an alternative to a similar ride that heads east to Waitangi Regional Park. The long loop takes in the Hawkes Bay Trails riverbanks, light industrial areas, country roads and urban roads.
Starting from the Taradale Rugby Grounds Guppy Rd, car parking available at the Taradale Rugby Grounds or Guppy Rd.
Estimated Distance 50kms.
The Timber Trail is a grade 2 / 3 off road trail in the heart of the Pureora Forest (west of Taupo). The trail is generally ridden from Pureora to Ongarue as this offers an easier ride. The attraction of the ride is its remote location, with plentiful native bush and the opportunity to ride over some of the longest cycleway suspension bridges in New Zealand.
Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group rode on various brands of ebikes. Knobbly tyres recommended.
You may have heard about the wonderful Hawkes Bay Trails, an extensive, approximately 200 kms, network of mainly limestone, shared pathways which are very much suited to eBike riding.
“While most cities and provincial areas in NZ now have cycleways and trails, Hawkes Bay has an entire network of pathways, tracks and trails, almost all of which are inter-connected. This enables you to plan your ride to take in coastal paths, wetlands, parks, gardens, wineries, markets, museums, riverbank rides, etc and for the large part, avoiding busy roads. A truly well planned infrastructure. And E bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay has an impressive list of rides on their fb page to help you plan your bike tour. With the summer coming, I recommend that you take a look at the possibilities and get on your bike!!” Geoffrey S Russell (e-biker extraordinaire).
A new loop route for the E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay, starting from Clive and going to Havelock North. The forecast was fine but with strong WSW winds gusting between 31 and 39 kph. The first 25 kms proved to be tough in the head winds. No time to stop to take photos of the beautiful countryside as the focus was on moving forward. We also had roadworks to contend with. This interesting ride will have to be revisited on a less windy day. Distance 36 kms.
The sunny spring weather reverted to being winter-like for our Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay excursion to Ashley Clinton. It was only a brave four who completed the optional loop ride along the undulating country roads. We were lucky to miss the heavy rain that came down when we returned to the start. Through the clouds and low mist, we caught a glimpse of snow on the Ruahine Ranges. Distance 24 kms.
Hawkes Bay Ebike Rides 