The Tukituki River Trail extension is open and almost complete. We started our exploratory ride at Russell Park in Waipukurau. The new limestone trails are excellent with a good solid base. The loop took us as far as the Ashcott Bridge before we returned on the opposite side of the river. Distance 35kms.
Continue readingThe main purpose of the ride today, was to view the autumn colours at Pukeora Forest of Memories, just south of Waipukurau, Central Hawkes Bay. We began our ride at Waipawa, and rode the concrete pathway alongside Highway 2 to Ford Road, Waipukurau. The Tukituki River Trail between Waipawa and Waipukurau was closed due to works being carried out to salvage the Tarewa Swing Bridge that had been damaged in last month’s floods. Distance: 53.5 kms.
Continue readingToday, 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
Continue readingThe 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.
Continue readingIt 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.
Continue readingA pop-up ride in Central Hawkes Bay for the E-bike Social Riders Hawkes Bay group. Suggested by Jenny and hosted by Geoff. The weather forecast proved to be correct – a beautiful sunny day, no wind and a little crisp. Ten riders in total. Geoff mooted the route from Waipawa to Hatuma via Farm Road and Waipukurau, along mainly quiet, undulating country roads, with no big hills. Farmlands and gentle hills, with wide vistas. The tops of the ranges were covered in cloud, so we missed out on seeing the snow. Good to see the grass greening up again after the recent drought.
Distance: 53 kms (per endomondo.com) 54.69 kms (per e-bike computer)
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).
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
The loop shared pathway between Waipawa and Waipukurau (called the Tukituki Trail) has been made possible due to the construction of a new swing bridge at the northern end, thanks to the local Rotary Club, community and Council as part of the Hawkes Bay Trails. It was completed November 2017.
We started our 21.5km bicycle ride from the CHB Settlers Museum at Waipawa. As the pathways are fairly new, there is a lack of signage in some sections. Also some sections are on a gravel road, while other sections are a road track.
Hawkes Bay Ebike Rides 