Auckland Cycleway - North Shore Albany to Takapuna

This cycleway connects Albany to Takapuna and provides a useful link when you are heading from Albany through Milford and Takapuna to Devonport to catch a ferry to downtown Auckland.

From Albany heading east along the Albany Expressway turn right into Bush Road and then left into Rosedale Road and right into Jack Hinton Drive. This leads you to the start of the cycleway which runs through the Unsworth Reserve up to Sunset Road.

This cycleway uses a combination of cycleway and local roads but although it is signposted it is not that easy to naviagate.
 

Cycleway signage

Cycleway Signage

Under the Road

Boardwalk

Heading South

Takapuna Beach

Auckland Cycleway - The North Western Cycleway

This is the most often used cycleway by cycling commuters in Auckland. Going north west it can be joined at the top of the Beach Road to Grafton Gulley cycleway in Upper Queen Street. It is a difficult cycleway to navigate  because of the major upgrade to the North Western motorway. The cycleway mostly runs alongside the motorway so its route is subject to constant change. The cycleway also has sections that are on local roads that were well signposted but with the roading upgrade the route has been changed and there are now no signs in some sections of the cycleway which makes navigation very difficult for the first time user.

The cycleway runs alongside the north western motorway heading north west until Te Atatu Road and then local roads and a further cycleway extension until you reach Lincoln Road. The cycleway will be much improved once the road works are completed and the signage can be reestablished.
The good news is that it will remain open over the motorway construction period. The cycleway suffers from its close proximity to the motorway and with the motorway upgrade many trees that used to line the cycleway have been removed.

Care must be exercised when using the cycleway because it is very narrow in places and there are often cyclists coming the other way.

Western Cycleway alongside motorway

At the new Waterview Interchange

December 2014

Narrow on road bridge

New Bridge - January 2015

 

New Bridge Cycleway - September 2015

New Bridge Cycleway - September 2015

Tunnel under Te Atatu Road - Opened - December 2015

Tunnel goes right under the road.

Auckland Cycleway - Penrose to Onehunga

This is one of the first purpose built cycleways in Auckland which goes from Penrose to Onehunga. It is great to ride on a wide cycleway dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians especially if the tide is in.
The cycleway provides a gateway to the popular ride out to the airport through Mangere Bridge. I am sure that most Aucklanders have no idea of the bikeways that are available that they could use without having to cycle on the roads which for many is to daunting.

There are great cafes at Mangere Bridge and also at the airport. The Jamaica Blue Cafe at the airport provides a bike rack and a bike pump and offers all those who arrive on a bike a discount on their regular coffee prices. As well they are friendly and make good coffee. Mangere Bridge township is also a great place to sit in a cafe under the trees.

To gain access to this cycleway from the Penrose end go to the end of Hugo Johnston Drive where there is ample parking if you are coming by car.

Cycleway alongside the Manukau

Mangere Bridge

Cycle Touring Route in Auckland - Pine Harbour to Clevedon

One of the main attractions of Auckland is its harbour and as a visitor to the city one of the best things you can do is to get out into the Hauraki Gulf which is a marine park that covers more than 1.2 million hectares and is made up of more than 50 islands.

One way of getting an idea of the extent of the Hauraki Gulf is to catch the fast ferry to Pine Harbour from downtown Auckland a journey of around 30 minutes. 

Once in Pine Harbour you can get back on your bike and ride to Maraeti a small seaside town which is 5.3 kilometres away. This is an attractive coastline on a narrow country road. One word of warning is that you should avoid weekend days in the middle of summer as the road then becomes very busy and there are no shoulders. Then ride 15.9 kilometres inland to Clevedon which is a small rural town where there are good cafes.

You can then return to Pine Harbour to catch the ferry the way you came or go in a round trip to Whitford which is 10.9 kilometres from Clevedon and it is a further 10.4 kilometres back to Pine Harbour. 

This ride like the Waiheke ride allows you to get to see a bit of the gulf and its beaches and both rides are well worth doing while you are in Auckland. There is also the advantage that you escape the traffic of the city.
The ferry to Pine Harbour can also be used as a good way of getting out of Auckland when travelling south to the Corromandel and Tauranga. 

Half an hour on the ferry

Pine Harbour

Maraeti

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route from Dargaville to Opononi

Note-This ride is included but I have not done it yet and intend to include it in a future ride.

This is a ride of 85 kilometres and includes around a 1000 metres of vertical climbing on highway 12 and includes Waipoua Forest which is a highlight and why this ride is a high priority for a future ride.

New Zealand Cycling Touring Route from Waipukurau to Masterton

 
Note - I have not yet done this ride but intend to include it in a future ride.

This a ride of 200 kilometres on highway 52 from Waipukurau to Masterton which is a good way of riding South not on the main road.

You travel along a very quiet road on highway 52 on Porangahau road for 45 kilometres to Porangahau which is a small village with a pub and a local store. You then head to Wimbedon Tavern which is 21kilometres away. The next village is Pongaroa which is 112kms from Waipukurau. It has a tavern and a cafe. Then about 9km South is Glenross Lodge backpackers which is a good place to stay overnight. it is then 88ks to Masterton going though Alfredton.

This ride avoids the main roads but is remote so you need to take adequate food and bike tools as there is no back up until you get into Masterton. You will get to see the hill with one of the longest place names in the world. Just do not ask me to spell it!