The car journey to cloudy Taupo from sunny Hawkes Bay took longer than usual due to numerous sections of roadworks. The group of 13 Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay riders had an extra a rider from Taupo. We met up at Five Mile Bay and cycled to Acacia Bay. Distance approx. 45/50kms.
On the 8th 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay, Great Northern Tour took place in November 2020. The tour consisted of various rides as a progression towards Northland and the Twin Coast Trail. Rides took place in Tauranga, the Coromandel, Hamilton and Whangarai.
The original itinerary: Great Northern Tour Itinerary and Accommodation final. It was changed due to risk of changes to Covid-19 Alert Levels in Auckland.
Review of the Papamoa, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui Trail (by Charlie Davey, E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay) – This particular trail is one of the rides that the group are riding in November 2020 as part of the “Great Northern Tour”. An opportunity to ride this trail prior to the group tour arose so the opportunity was taken. The ride starts from the roundabout Tweed Street – Oceanbeach Rd Mt Maunganui. The loop is ridden in a clockwise direction.
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A new adventure for the E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group – exploring trails of the Wellington Region. Four days were planned out. Day 1 – Baring Head to Upper Hutt, Day 2 – Upper Hutt to Featherstone, Day 3 – Kapiti Coast and Day 4 – Linton to Palmerston North.
The Pou Herenga Tai (Twin Coast Cycle Trail) is located in the Bay of Islands, Northland – at the top of the North Island Of New Zealand. The trail can be ridden in either direction but you may prefer to descend the 2kms of the steep switchback from Okaihau to Horeke. The landscape is varied, from native bush, forest, scrub and farmland. Occasional glimpses of the harbour edge, creeks and a lake.
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 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.
Members of the Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group spent 3 days exploring the country roads, urban streets and Te Awa River Trails of Cambridge and Hamilton. We stayed at the very comfortable Podium Lodge in Cambridge.
Hawkes Bay Ebike Rides 