In late March I’m off to tour Northland — the north of NZ’s North Island — with a bunch of similarly crazy cyclists. Ten days of cycling a mainly coastal circuit around the beautiful Northland scenery. I just hope some summer weather we haven’t had yet arrives really late!
The area is very familiar, unlike previous South Island & Vietnam cycle trips, Most of it is within a (long) days drive of my Auckland home and the location for many childhood family holidays. I have cycled most the route before but that was long ago (I was 17!). In those days it was ‘proper’ cycle touring pedalling a bike laden with camping equipment and all the gear required to exist on the road.
This trip is not quite as intrepid. It’s a supported tour — bags in a bus, restaurant meals and motel/hotel accommodation — hosted by my favourite cycle tour company: Adventure South (who do the North too!). This will be my eighth trip with them and the group is made up of returning clients, several from my from previous trips. At least Bas, our esteemed guide, will not be able fool me about the terrain this time. He has been known to class the Southern Alps, as “a bit of an undulation”. Northland does not have the South Island’s majestic peaks but there is more than enough up & down to test my puny legs.
Anyway, there is something else happening that week. It doesn’t require you to pedal 690km (now wish I hadn’t totalled up those seemingly achievable daily rides!) and can be enjoyed from anywhere with a web connection. (Un)Fortunately a bicycle on the back roads of Northland is unlikely to provide that facility!
More details on what Autodesk have planned below and registration at:
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