New Zealand went into Level 4 lock-down on the 25th March 2020 in an attempt to “flatten the curve” of the corona virus Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone who was not deemed an essential worker was told to “stay at home”. The world came to a halt, as did our Ebike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group rides.
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.
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).
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 destination for this loop is to the well-known Patangata Tavern. The route from Waipawa is along quiet, undulating country roads. The scenery is gorgeous, especially at this time of year (early spring). The glimpses of the Tukituki River are magic. Make sure that your battery is fully charged to cope with the uphills and any head-winds. Est. Distance: 41kms
Charlie and Geoff from the E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group, have compiled a series of ten short local E-bike rides. These rides would suit people who are new to Hawkes Bay and want to find their way around, people who want to get back on a bike and build up fitness, people who may be recovering from a health issue or accident, or people who just want to have a short ride. All the rides include a coffee stop.
Hawkes Bay Ebike Rides 