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Cycle Tour of New Zealand - North Island, 2004 |
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cycling NZ cycle tour my setup books & links other travel | ||||||||||||
S. Island (wks 1-9) - wk 10 - wk 11 - wk 12 - wk 13 - cycling |
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Marae nr Makomako - 'No Drugs Allowed'! (A Mare is a Maori spiritual meeting house and its surrounding area) |
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Monteith's Radler Beer (Radler is German for 'cyclist', and based on a German beer catering for cyclists! |
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My helmet complete with Magpie Protection (note the fake eyes and zip tie defence system) |
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Day 70 - The New Zealand Rally Section!
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After a shaky start of heading in the wrong direction I made for the historic harbour town of Kawhia. A nice town but little to keep me there for more than lunch and a few photos. Got chatting to the nice old dears in the information centre/musuem whom seemed very shocked and concerned that I wanted to cycle over 30km's of the gravel back road to Raglan. After ignoring their warning of the number of cyclists that got punctures and that the road was so rough that The World Rally Championships used it for the NZ rally stage I set out again in the hot after lunch sun. It was a very tiring and dirty road and as a result I loved it! Stayed at the fantastic Belindsays' $17.
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Day 71 - Day off to sit on the beach
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Bike next to the giant Lemon & Paeroa (L&P is a NZ drink) bottle, Paeroa |
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Ouharoa Falls |
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A typical Corramandel view |
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Day 72 - Back to the highway :(
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Left the East coast and headed inland towards the Corramandel. Nice flat roads made a nice change and a nice easy day! Got to Te Aroha YHA to find it was a pleasant change from my expectations of YHA's (which I only stay at when forced), it was one of the oldest (from the 1960's) in NZ, and slept around 15 people! $19
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Day 73 - My first roadside puncture
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Mmmm yesterday I convinced myself that it was going to rain so I stayed at the hostel instead of the holiday camp - it didn't. Set off and 20km's down the road I got my first, roadside, puncture. After a quick inner-tube change I made it to Whangamata with little effort despite a huge hill towards the end of the ride. Whangamata Backpackers $25
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Hot Water Beach, at high tide |
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Beach near Cathedral Cove |
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View from the beginning of the track to Cathedral Cove |
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Day 74 - Wh'(pronounced thhfff) - Wh'
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This was the day of scenic stops and side trips, including the famous Hot Water Beach & the site of Captain Cook's first NZ landing. The Hot Water beach was nearly the end of my digital camera when I walked around the rocks (right next to the sea and only accessible at low-tide) and a huge wave came and washed around me (I had my digital camera in my cycling pocket and just lifted it clear in time!) I then took off, frantically pedelling in case I missed the last foot ferry between Ferry Landing and Whitianga (nr. Cooks Beach). I made the ferry with a whole 15 mins to spare and stayed at the 'On The Beach' Backpackers, $22.
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Cathedral Cove |
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Cathedral Cove |
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Cooks Landing Site |
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Day 75 - The '309' (Road)
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With the rain clouds lurking overhead I took off heading for the '309' Road, an unsealed piece of 'history'. Luckily it was the weekend so I wouldn't have to endure the logging trucks that Joel (whom I road part of the way with) had warned me about. The rain held off and I completed the rest of the journey dodging the traffic (1 in 3 cars were towing boats, most likely weekend holidaying Aucklander's. Sunkist backpackers $16, very nice though full of the Magic bus backpackers!
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Day 76 - Day off in Thames
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Wasn't tired from the cycling, it was the drinking and staying up till god knows what time!
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Kauri Tree, Coromandel Peninsula |
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The '309' sign post |
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Bike next to Kiwi Sign |
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S. Island (wks 1-9) - wk 10 - wk 11 - wk 12 - wk 13 - cycling |
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