Marlborough\West Coast Cycle Day 1 – Christchurch & Hanmer Springs
Port Hills, then driving North to Hanmer Springs
After a bike fit session at “the depot” we bussed to the top of the Port Hills. Felt a bit lazy as we passed cyclists slogging (and it would be a slog) to the top sitting in the air conditioned comfort of a bus but hey, that’s an advantage of this supported touring!
I was using an Adventure South supplied bike, a decent Trek road bike, but it had a double chain ring/compact gearing rather than the triple I use at home so I was quite glad not to start the trip with a hell climb!
Port Hills
It's a bit of an Adventure South tradition for trips to start with a ride in the Port Hills. First, it's a great ride, second, it gives a chance for clients to get used to rental bikes near to the depot if any bike changes are required.
Our riding kicked off with a run along the Port Hills ridge. There are a few warm up climbs (nothing threatening) but the highlight was a rather rapid descent towards Lyttleton Harbour.
It was a lovely day, and the harbour views were spectacular.
It was fast but could have been faster but for the patchy (quake damaged?) road and occasional cattle grate. They are ‘interesting’ on a road bike with 100PSI tyres and no suspension; I imagine they’d be lethal in the wet!
We then followed the coast out to the first refuel stop passing through Charteris Bay. Home to the Yacht Club that introduced the Optimist yacht to New Zealand.
When a little homemade yacht called Muffin first glided out on the waters of Lyttelton Harbour in September 1975, creator Paul Pritchett could not have imagined the waves it would make | Radio NZ
Katie Todd
Diamond Harbour
I thought it was just a coffee stop, before the ferry, so had chocolate cake (with yummy cherry/chocolate icing) and coffee.
That was followed by a wholegrain ham & cheese toasted sandwich and Speights Apple Cider when I found out it was lunchtime and there wasn’t much more riding to complete the day. The new café bar at Diamond Harbour is good!
Ferry to Lyttleton
A short ferry ride took us back to Lyttleton and another short ride back toward Governors Bay.
Then it was on the bus for a drive to Hanmer Springs.
Hanmer Springs
I chose to skip the famous hot pools, it was already 31ºc without getting in hot water!, and had a short wander around town before a long cool shower. It’s a pretty place with, despite the heat, a real alpine village feel.
Dinner was at a French style restaurant. A fine meal, scallop entrée followed by ‘to die for’ rare beef, and splendid company.
Robin Capper
