the sun seems to be an entirely different one to the one you get in Scotland and will burn you in ten minutes
Very much this! I was in Australia a couple of years ago (September/October time) and even on overcast days, needed a sunhat and the factor 50, regularly reapplied!
Have a great time TJ, looking forward to the pics. 🙂
the sun seems to be an entirely different one to the one you get in Scotland and will burn you in ten minutes
Yeah at Cambridge NZ you are at the same latitude as Greece os southern Spain. NZ and Australia range from tropical to mid latitude, the most southerly points of South Island and Tasmania is like north France. And there is still depletion in ozone in the southern hemisphere, nowhere near as bad as the 80s but it's not fully recovered, so UV can be far higher at times then you get in the northern hemisphere. So yes the public health advice is for sunscreen and sun block.
I got burnt to shit on a clear 12 degree winter day in Tasmania
Abigale had never had sunburn till she got out to NZ. Now she never goes out without sun screen on. She is working outside every day out on the trails. Some places have sun screen available free to top up when needed.
She sends me a pic most days. Last 2 mornings
Would very much recommend the Queen Charlotte Track that's mentioned on the previous page. We did it back in 2010 and in peak season you could only to two thirds of it on bike, but it looks as though that may have changed. There's probably various ways to do it but we did the luxury option (was on honeymoon), of having the boat drop our bags at a hotel halfway along after it had dropped us off at the start.
Other NZ biking highlight was heli-biking in Queenstown, but that does not sound very "TJ"!
Queen Charlotte Track
I’m very envious TJ! I was at a conference in Rotorua a few years ago and while I agree about the sulphurous smell I really enjoyed the day I took off to go cycling in Whakarewarewa Forest. I still have the map, in the form of a giant glasses cloth…
Have a fantastic trip. Looking forward to the inspirational photos and updates!
How exciting.
Very brave, but you'll soon be relaxed and making friends.
I saw this last time I was in NZ and it really appealed
Sounds like an epic adventure TJ. Enjoy!
Got back from NZ a few weeks ago, and I thought the drivers attitudes towards cyclists was one of the best of all the countries I’ve visited
Aye, i think you may have misread my post. I was referring to Oz drivers being a bit more aggressive. Kiwis were fine if sometimes a bit chaotic IME. 🙂
Lucky bar steward. I would add a vote for Queen Charlotte Trail, although I when I did it ahem years ago it only opened up for bikes for a limited period (in March?). But things may have changed
Good luck and enjoy TJ, looking forward to another of your cycle adventures.
Good luck TJ . I am well and truly jealous have wanted to go to NZ for decades. . Also it's just occurred to me that you could be watching rugby in New Zealand soon. Have a great time
I have arrived in Auckland. Absolutely shatterd. My body clock thinks it's 1812. Feet like balloons
Checked into my hotel. Perfectly acceptable. Big yellow burny thing keeps appearing in the sky.
Just messaged the chap i am getting a bike off to put that off until tomorrow . Need to buy an effing helmet and a pannier rack and chat up the lass in reception to find somewhere to sort the bike
View from my hotel
Congratulations on your arrival in NZ.
Oh shit mate. You've been duped. That's Toronto not Auckland!
"Just need to chat up the lass in reception".I'm starting to like the sound of this adventure.
Lolz at reeksy
Went out for a burger and got free chips. Good omen
Bought a majic plastic hat and found a hipster craft beer place
Welcome, I hope you enjoy your ride through NZ. To add to the others offers, I am out in Papamoa, just south of Mt Maunganui which might be an option if you end up on the rail trail to Waihi and are heading to Whakatane or Rotorua. Its about 3.5 hrs pleasant ride (half cycle trail) north of Rotorua so if you end up this way and need sleep/shower let me know.
My own thoughts/opinions of riding the central North Island for 24 years, the main roads are getting busy, especially in January but if you have time it is worth taking the back roads and quickly finding piece and quiet. As Moonsaballoon says, the 'hardshoulder' can be a bit random but often you get 2m of space even on a main road. DOC campsites and others are generally good, some cost and need booking, others are free and just turn up. The info is all on the doc website. My favourite N Island trail is the timber trail (just north of the central plateau). Went through there last week and saw Kaka (native parrot), bellbirds and a morepork (NZ owl).
Its not too hard to find a diary for icecream and drinks every 2-3 h or so but make sure you have enough water with you. I went through about 7 litres a day doing 11 h days on the bike. Some of the taps in the campsites aren't guaranteed so I carry puritabs.
I do have to disagree with those above who says NZ drivers are courteous. Ride like about 20% want to kill you for being in the way of their oversized UTE and you wont be far wrong.
I spent a month there, walking, diving and cycling. Brilliant place. Try and fit in a cycle tour round the vineyards, and always wear sunblock. Enjoy!
Got my bike sorted today. Bus into the ' burbs to meet a nice chap who sold me a giant liv. Flat bar gravel touring bike. Ok its a ladies bike. I dont care. Only problem its 28/ 38 / 48 chainrings which is a bit high.
So i cycled to T Whites second hand bike shop and after a load of searching thru boxes and faffing about with incompatible parts finnally got a 22/ 32 / 42 triple fitted.. The crankset that came on the bike did not have replacable chainrings so ended up replacing bb crankset and chainrings with a nice secondhand fsa set. The also had some nice sweptback bars and a rack. They let me do all the work in the shop and loaned me tools.
Bike was £225 and all the bits £110. **** bargain. Think i might take them some beer tomorrow
Good luck with the beer TJ. Craft beer is pretty much the standard now.
I live in Hobart now, so if you make it to Tasmania, I'll shout you a beverage of your choice.
Just kidding. It'll be a Cascade pale ale or stout because I live right next door.
Specially for Lowey
PCA
Is that:
Go
Walk out the door
Don't turn around now
You're not welcome anymore
............
I have just realised that TJ apparently never decided on a suitable haircut for a man of his age. Enviable locks there!
I spent a few weeks in the North Island in 2023 doing various routes. I wouldn't rule out going north of Auckland for a bit: the Heart of the Octopus (250-ish miles) takes in the Bay of Islands and the kauri forest on the west coast and is a pretty easygoing introduction:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36144316
I'd second the comment about NZ drivers being terrible - all the advice I had from experience riders was to watch out. The further you get from civilisation, the more redneck the attitudes. I find the driving standards much better in Australia.
Re the Queen Charlotte Track and other popular offroad routes, such as Old Ghost Rd, I think you will have needed to book a spot in a hut months ago. The official routes in national parks are very popular and tightly managed. But I don't know for sure.
NZ Great Rides website has loads of excellent routes of varying degrees of difficulty. Gravel routes like the Molesworth Muster look doable on TJ's new bike. And of course there are the Kennett Brothers books.
Thats just the pose I expected!
Jezza in a helmet.... is hell about to freeze over ?
That's me all set. Bike fully set up. Food bought. Maps downloaded and first night's camping booked at the Upper Mangatawhiri Campsite halfway across the Hunua traverse. 50 ish km and a ferry ride away but loads of flipping hills. Thank goodness I got a granny gear sorted. It's gonna hurt.
Last night in Auckland tonight. Might be a beer or two in my future.
Auckland is a lovely city. I'm well impressed but its time to get out into the hill and find some scenery
Ta corroded
The problem with going north is I will then struggle to have enough time to get down to the south and explore at my pootling pace. I have a tent so not reliant on huts but even campsites need to be booked
Plenty of room for bigger tyres on the bike but I'll keep the 38s on for now and see how I get on
I've got the various websites and a downloaded OS type map and two phones for navigation.
First few days I will be finding out a lot I guess.
Sounds exciting. Enjoy.
Im in a hipster craft beer bar. Had to put my hair in a man bun to be allowed in
I have a tent so not reliant on huts but even campsites need to be booked
Whether this applies to all the trails you are looking at I’m not sure. But when hiking in NZ there were trails where we were told you couldn’t wild camp as there was no where to put a tent. This seemed unlikely to me but there were places where it was true. It seems less likely on a cycle route but ask around
Wild camping is not allowed in NZ. There are basic dept. Of conservation campsites around. You might get away with a late arrive early leave in temote spots but i am not relying on it.
Had to put my hair in a man bun to be allowed in
I read that as "man's bum" but I've heard that about NZ
Just sat at laptop...6pm here awaiting FA cup game on TV...you'll be fine, steady away on the hills....and away....
Loving this TJ!
You will be awesome and laugh at the hills
Now that i doubt very much ?
Plenty of time for a haircut, marginal gains and all that.
First mishap. While loading up the bike a car reversed into it! I was going to give him hell then realised that it was completely hidden in a bush. Broke a pedal but no other damage..
Went to the bike shop for new pedals which was fine but left my card in their machine.
Now waiting for my ferry to pine harbour.
Don't panic ! Arrggghhhhhh.
Brutal climb this afternoon on forest roads into th Hunua park. I think ill lose signal as i drop into the valley where the campsite is. 3 or 4 miles to the campsite. Bloody pannier mounts broke. Thats what i get for buying halfords not ortlieb. Easilybodged tho
Top of the climb. Best part of 2000ft. Took 3 hours ingranny gear
Nice. Love the updates. Enjoy
Flipping freezing here this morning.Mucho jealous.