RobiNZ Personal Blog

Ti Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai Orakei Cycle Path First Ride | Time Out 2021-22

The Ti Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai Cycle Path (TKACP) runs from Kohimarama Rd to Orakei Basin (Yellow Arrow). It links to the existing Glen Innes (Merton Rd - Kohimarama Rd) path and will link to the Tamaki Drive waterfront path via a mix of boardwalks and roadside paths along Ngapipi Rd (Yellow Dashed Line) that are in the design/consultation stage. New Path (Yellow Arrow), Proposed path (Yellow Dashed Line) Base Image from www.aucklandbikemap.co.nz It was part of a ride from home, variation of a regular ride to explore the new path. Nice day for a ride Towards Onehunga, love... Read more →

Timber Trail Day Two | Time Out 2021-22 Pureora Forest

Woke to a misty view from the Timber Trail Lodge, Piropiro. Better than the heavy rain I heard overnight... After breakfast got kitted up for a damp day and left my overnight bag for the transfer to base. It's nice having change of clothes for the lodge, fresh clean riding kit, and not having to carry it all on the bike! Met Tony, the shuttle driver, again at the lodge. A few of the shuttle staff were going to ride the second part of the trail as part of training/experience. Leaving Timber Trail Lodge, Piropiro Today's ride follows the trail... Read more →

Timber Trail Day One | Time Out 2021-22 Pureora Forest

When I found out about the Waikato River Trail section closure, but had already committed to travel to Taupo, I decided to do a ride previously relegated to my 'next summer' list. I had considered it pre-xmas 2021, but the Auckland COVID-19 lockdown scuttled that. The Timber Trail goes 85km from Pureora Village (about halfway between Mangakino & Taumarunui) through Pureora Forest to Ongarue (near Taumarunui). It's a two-day forest trail ride with a variety of overnight options mid-way: camping, glamping, and a couple of lodges. I'm not camping, especially this time of year, so it was glamp or lodge.... Read more →

Taupo to Taumarunui | Time Out 2021-22 Drive

A relocation day, just a drive to an overnight stop near Taumarunui which was positioning for the next ride departure. Took the long way, via National Park instead of SH41, as had plenty of time and there were a few potentially interesting stops along the way. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't the best. I was OK with not riding today! When you get back to the car and notice the similarity between Italian lines, paint shading, and Lake Taupō cloud layers... Motuoapa Bay Stopped for the nice lake view towards the Great Lake Trails area across the lake. This bay best... Read more →

Huka Falls, Aratiatia & Lakefront Trails | Time Out 2021-22 Taupō

Change of plan today as found out the Mangakino/Mareitai section of the Waikato River Trail I was going to ride is still closed for logging works. When I booked this leg, it was only weekdays, thus the weekend ride plan, but was changed to all week recently. Instead of a 56km rural drive, each way, from Taupō for ~70km of riding it was going to be 70km drive for just a 10km return cycle leg, so scrapped that. Besides, after two big riding days on the Great Lakes & Waikato Trails, it was time for a lazier day. After a... Read more →

Waikato River Trail | Mangakino to Atiamuri | Time Out 2021-22 Waikato

Today I drove North, 56km, to Mangakino to ride another section of the Waikato River Trails. I had hoped to complete the final two sections this trip but the trail North of Mangakino was closed for forestry operations. Oh well, a reason to return! Waikato River Trail | Mangakino to Atiamuri Lake Maraetai, Mangakino Parked up at the Lake Maraetai foreshore, Mangakino. First move was a coffee from the brilliant Bus Stop Café (in the background of the photo below). There was a thick mist hovering over the lake, but (at 11:00) it was finally starting to lift. Just thirty... Read more →

Great Lake Trails | Waihaha & Waihora Return | Time Out 2021-22 Taupō

I had returned to Taupo for some unfinished business on the Great Lake Trails. There are four sections on the lakeside around, and further west of, Kinloch. I did the Kawakawa/K2K and W2K trails at Kinloch in January but still had the more remote Day 1 Waihaha Trail (on the map below) to do. It typically requires a shuttle drop-off at the road end and boat pick-up, from the beach back to Kinloch. I'd contacted an operator saying 'am travelling solo, would be in Taupo Thursday–Friday, could ride either and was happy to fit in with other shuttle/boat bookings' but... Read more →

Te Awa River Ride | Tamahere to Lake Karapiro | Time Out 2021-22 Waikato

Time to return to the Waikato and Taupo for some unfinished business. I had a few Waikato River and Taupo rides left to 'complete the set'. First was a section that was still being built last time I rode the Te Awa River Ride (Waikato River). A new section from near Tamahere to Cambridge which linked to an existing roadside route through to Lake Karapiro. Update: Since I rode, and as I write, another section linking Hamilton Gardens to Tamahere opened completing the full 65km Te Awa River Ride from Ngaruawahia to Lake Karapiro. I need to go back again!... Read more →

The Big Bike Film Night 2022 | Time Out 2021-22

I delayed my second Waikato/Taupo trip a week to be in Auckland for a long-anticipated event. Thanks to COVID-19 lockdown and gathering limit delays the The Big Bike Film Night 2022 was only a few months after the delayed TBBFN 2021! Cycling to the bike movies From home it is a short suburban ride to the nearest (of so many) screening in Avondale. I previously went to the Devenport/Auckland City screenings (after work) so was a novelty to see it out West. Giro ready to roll Crossing Waikumete Stream near home, would reunite with it later tonight. Towards New Lynn...... Read more →

Hillary Trail | Whatipu, Gibbons, Muir, Pararaha Valley Loop | Time Out 2021-22

'Time Out' has been lots of cycling but today was about revisiting Whatipu, a favourite local remote ride, for a bit of a walk. Open, for more than pedestrians/bikes, again! The road, closed for months by a substantial slip, is repaired and a section of the Te Ara o Hillary / Hillary Trail (the Gibbons, Muir and Pararaha Valley tracks) reopened after massive upgrades to protect against Kauri dieback. It's a viral plant disease spread by feet of all kinds. Stopped on Whatipu Rd for the spectacular view, looking back to Huia, and to check out the road repairs. Whatipu... Read more →