New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Ngaruawhia to Mangakino

This route links up with the Mangakino to National Park Route. The objective when choosing this route is to stay of the main highways and to use the secondary roads wherever possible as set out in the map below.

New Zealand Cycle Touring - Routes in and out of Auckland.

Tamaki Drive

Auckland is the usual starting point for cycle tourists arriving from overseas.
The route from the Auckland International Airport into the city can be difficult because of the lack of dedicated bikeways but the recommended route avoids the busy main roads where possible.




Route from the Auckland Airport to the City

There are three routes out of Auckland depending on which direction you are going to head. If heading south there is generally the choice of the east or west coasts in order to ride south to Wellington. Getting in and out of Auckland on a bike is problematical because most of the roads have high traffic volumes with inadequate road shoulders for cyclists. The following routes are quieter and although usually longer will provide a more comfortable cycling experience.

Route One – Heading South on the East Coast of the North Island
This route starts by taking the ferry from downtown Auckland to Pine Harbour.

Route heading south on the East Coast of the North Island

Alternative Routes – Heading South on the East Coast of the North Island These are alternative routes to head south on the east coast.
Alternative routes heading south on the east coast


Route Two – Heading South on the West Coast of the North Island
This route heads out of Auckland South on the western side of the North Island.

Routes out of Auckland heading south on the West Coast

Route 3 – Heading North on the West Coast of the North Island
This route takes you through Helensville and avoids the busy and narrow main roads to Northland.

Route out of Auckland north on the West Coast

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Hamner Springs to Reefton

This route at the top of the South Island is an option to get from the east coast of the South Island to the west coast if you are heading that way. It is also one of the best rides in the South Island.
From Hamner Springs the road leads you to the Lewis Pass and includes beach forest and mountain scenery especially after the Engineers Camp which is 50 kilometres from Hamner Springs. After a steady 4kilometre climb you arrive at the Lewis Pass which is the most northern crossing of the Southern Alps into Westland. The reward after taking in the views is a long downhill ride to Maruia Springs, where there is a small settlement with a shop where you can have coffee and stock up on previsions.
After a few kilometres the road climbs over a low saddle and then there is approximately another 40 kilometres of mainly downhill riding in beautiful scenery again in mature beech forest with mountains as a backdrop. Reefton is a well-established gold and coal mining town with a backpackers and all amenities.

Towards Reefton

Reefton

South Island Robin

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Taihape to Napier

This 136km ride crosses from Taihape over the Gentle Annie to Fernhill in the Hawkes Bay and is a lot easier than it used be when it was mostly gravel but it is now all sealed. Nevertheless it is still a hard ride with some steep inclines and descents.
The Gentle Annie gets its name from the steep descent into the Kaweka Forest. Approximately halfway between Taihape and Napier after crossing the Ngaruroro river is the Department of Conservation Kuripapango campground which has toilets and there is a hut called Robsons Lodge which must be booked. This can be a good place to stop if 76 kilometres is far enough to travel in one day. The ride features spectacular views as you head down into the Rangitikei Gorge and then fantastic views of the Central Plateau. The route goes through a remote and scenic part of the North Island so it is worthwhile taking an extra day to enjoy the views rather than pushing through to Napier in one day.

Rangitikei River

Ngaruroro River Kuripapango

Heading to Napier

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Gisborne to Napier

It is 215 kilometers between Gisborne and Napier on state highway 2 and the distance from Gisborne to Wairoa is 97 kilometers. There is an option of going on a quieter road to Wairoa via Tiniroto (100 kilometers) which is much quieter road and is a scenic ride with a pub located half way along the road. The second option is to go via the Morere Hot Springs which is 98 kilometers. The attraction of taking this route is that at Morere Hot Springs there is a camping ground and hot pools to rejuvenate in after climbing the 507m Wharerata hill. However if you take this option you need to take great care on this stretch of road as it is windy and narrow with little shoulders.

The irony is that the railway between Gisborne and Napier is closed and there have been suggestions that it would make a great rail trail. On the other hand others are advocating that the railway should be reintroduced. Either way cyclists would benefit.

From Wairoa it is 80 kilometers to Lake Tutira including a steep climb over the Taumatataua hill. There is a cafe in Tutira and a Department of Conservation Camp at Lake Tutira. It is then only 38 kilometers from Lake Tutira to Napier.

If you have more time you could visit the Mahia peninsula is an attractive place to visit with its beaches on the Pacific ocean and has camping facilities.

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Middlemarch to Clyde

The Otago rail trail is 150 kilometers long and extends from Middlemarch to Clyde and can be easily fitted into your cycle touring ride. The surface of the trail is not perfect but can be negotiated on a touring bike provided you are not trying to cover the distance to quickly.

The Otago rail trail has become a very popular ride especially for those just taking up cycling. This is because it is off the road and as it is on an old railway the grades are not too steep and also because there are lots of cafes and accommodation along the way so that you can do shorter distances if you are not yet ready to do 80ks a day or want to take more time enjoying the countryside.

The central Otago landscape is distinctive and is well worth riding through provided it is not in the middle of winter when it can be very cold with a good chance of bad weather including snow.