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 sleep in and leisurely breakfast decided to revisit the Rotary Atiamuri Trail and ride the Taupō Great Lake Pathway. My previous post has details and photos of the Rotary trail so this concentrates on a couple of unique experiences of the ride; planned and unplanned...
Leaving 'the lakes' after a lazy morning
Back on the Rotary Trail
Autumn on the Rotary Trail is pretty!
Hello ladies: funny what you notice when you lean your bike against a post to pack a jacket into the front bag.
Huka Falls surprise
Upstream from Huka Falls the trail is high above the river. I noticed some kayakers mucking around, paddling across the river. Thought 'if not careful they'll go down the falls', then realised they intended to!
A sprint down the trail had me at the falls as some of them came through, got some video and photos of them all successfully shooting the channel and falls.
These jet boat riders got a bonus!
One flipped on landing but was quickly upright again, if you got sucked back into the turbulence, at the base of the falls, I doubt you'd get out again
The Huka Falls Kayakers regroup, all accounted for!
Aratiatia Rapids
I missed this last ride, several times a day this tranquil pool fills to feed a raging rapid and the reason for the multiple 'No Swimming' signs soon becomes apparent.
The river is normally diverted through the adjacent power station turbines but part of conditions to build it require several 'Tourist Spills' per day. The gates also open to manage lake level, dependent on river flow, so this can also happen any time.
Aratiatia Rapids at peak flow
I didn't get to the downstream viewpoints this time; didn't want to leave my bike (my 'token lock' was buried in the day bag) and there were a few too many people walking the trail to ride it. These photos are from a previous visit in 2006.
Back to Taupō
Looking back to Wairakei and the SH1 Waikato River Bridge.
The Huka Falls Jet from the western shore viewpoint. It's a better view of the falls but a bit of a walk from the carpark so has far fewer tourists.
Redwoods trail section and the 'Big Bike Film Night' bike. The BBFN initial screening was a fundraiser to repair this after it was vandalised.
Great Lake Pathway
The Great Lake Pathway (Lion's Walk) goes from the Taupo Boat Harbour (where the Waikato River starts) to Three Mile Bay as a concrete path. From there the Five Mile Bay and Awaroa track continues as a gravel path. Rode it on the way back to the motel, scenic but was windy and too cool to hang around on the beach or swim...
Five Mile Bay and Awaroa track end
Birds know where to shelter from the wind...
Back at the motel gave En-Trance a, needed, wash and drivetrain lube ready for the next adventure, into the forest!
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