Cycle Touring Routes Out of Auckland

Route South to Coromandel and Tauranga

Cycling out of Auckland it is not straightforward because of the topography and the motorway system. 

Option A - Through Clevedon and the Firth of Thames Coast

This is one option of riding out of Auckland if you intend to travel down the East coast of the North Island south towards Coromandel and Tauranga. It is recommended because it is mainly on quiet rural although hilly roads. It includes an attractive stretch down the Firth of Thames coastline.
You could also take the ferry to Pine Harbour which would avoid the city traffic and you would also get a look at the Hauraki Gulf which is well worth seeing. Refer my separate post on this option.

You start by heading west from the city centre along Tamaki Drive to St Heliers. This is a busy road so you need to take care on this section.

From St Heliers you ride to Ormiston Road taking the following route:

St Heliers to Sandstone Road

From Ormiston Road you then ride up a steep hill which goes then straight into Sandstone Road. At the foot of the hill in Sandstone turn right into Whitford Park Road and then travel along this road until you reach Brookby Road where you turn right. You then turn left at Twilight Road which is a bush clad hill on a windy road and at the end you turn right and you are in Clevedon.

The ride from Clevedon is again reasonably hilly on the way to Kawakawa Bay. From Kawakawa you go up a steep climb before making your way over to the Firth of Thames coastline. There is then an enjoyable ride down the mostly deserted coastline road. The Firth of Thames is an important feeding ground for shorebirds and waders some of whom travel from far away as Siberia and Alaska.

Clevedon to Thames

Option B - By Train to Papakura

Another option is to the train from Auckland to Papakura and to commence your ride from there. This has the advantage that get out of Auckland quickly and miss the city traffic and traffic lights.

Alternative Route out of Auckland

Food for Cycle Touring

The following is Colin's list of food that he has calculated will meet your daily cycle touring energy requirements.
The food that he recommends is light and so easy to carry and is especially applicable in situations where you cannot buy food on a daily basis.

Daily Menu for Cycle Touring

Breakfast

Muesli (100gm/day = 1 cup)

Dried fruit (100gm/day). A mixture of dried apricots, prunes, peaches, raisins, etc. Chop into small pieces the night before, boil for a few minutes, leave to stand just covered in water overnight.

Milk powder  (30gm/day)

Lunch

Ryvita crackers (6 per meal, 5 meals per packet).

Spreads: peanut butter, hazelnut spread, jam (allow 15gm/day each), sardines every 2nd day, processed cheese slices

Dinner

Macaroni (100gm/meal = 1 cup). Pasta cooks quicker than rice.

1 pkt instant soup for flavouring

Protein: salami or tuna (cans or foil packets)

Surprise peas

Snacks

Muesli bars, chocolate, nuts, tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, condensed milk in a tube, biscuits

All the above will last at least 3 weeks in summer without refrigeration. The total weight of food will be a little under 1kg per day (including packaging). The re-hydrated fruit at breakfast is important to get adequate vitamin C; consider taking additional Vitamin C tablets.

The diet above provides:

Protein 80gm/day

Carbohydrate 340gm/day

Fat 60gm/day

Energy 9,700kJ/day

The protein component is a little lower than it should be, but OK for a few weeks.

Cookers for Cycle Touring

As is the case with all touring gear light is beautiful. There are fortunately cookers on the market that are both small and lightweight and work well.

Cooker

Case - 11cm*6.5cm

The cooker that I use works on butane/propane gas and to make it even better it has a starter so you do not need matches. It has proved to be very reliable and the only downside is that you have to be sure that you can buy gas if you fly to the start of your ride.

Bike Panniers

There are two requirements for bike panniers:

1. They must have a robust system for the panniers to attach to the bike as panniers are subject to a lot of wear and tear in their everyday use.
2. They must be waterproof so that you can carry your sleeping bag and clothes without them getting wet on rainy days.

In general the better panniers are waterproof but they are the most expensive. If you are not going to do a lot of touring a cheaper pannier may do you fine and you can use plastic bags to keep your gear dry.

If you are going to do major tours it is well worth investing in higher quality pannier bags which will give you many years of trouble free service. I have a pair of Ortlieb rear touring panniers which have proved to be strong and waterproof.

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Mangakino to National Park

This cycling route takes you through the King Country which is sparsely populated hilly and a lot of it is covered with native bush. Because it is isolated there are lots of quiet shingle roads to ride on as you head south.

The ride starts on Mangakino and the first town you reach is Bennydale which is a small town 18 kilometres away. Bennydale used to have a coal mine many years ago and is one of the few towns in the King Country that has an English name. 

An option at this point is head to Blackfern Lodge which is located 78 kilometres away. It is situated at the top of a steep hill in an isolated forest valley area on the Ongarue Stream Road alongside the Ongarue river.

Quiet Roads

Blackfern Lodge

Ongarue

This part of the ride can be left out as you have to retrace your steps from the Lodge but it is well worth a visit to experience the isolation and splendour of the King Country.

You then travel on the Ongarue back road to Taumarunui  onto National Park through Hikumutu which is a further 96 Kilometres. Ongarue is a small rural settlement on the west bank of the Onagarue and is 24 kilometres north of Tauramanui. Tauramanui (population 6,000) is where the Whanganui and Onagarue rivers meet.

It is then 47 kilometres from Tauramanui to National Park starting on Hikumutu Road rather than using the main state highway. On the main highway there is a short steep climb as you ride towards National Park town and Tongario National Park which includes Mount Ruapehu. (2,797m).

New Zealand Cycle Touring Route - Clyde to Haast

This cycling ride starts at Clyde which is at the end of the Otago Rail Trail and the first section goes to Wanaka which is a distance of 76.6 kilometers. 

As you head into Wanaka after crossing the Clutha river there is the option of riding on the track alongside the Clutha river into Wanaka which is well worth doing.

Clutha River

From Wanaka it is 63.6 kilometers to Makaroa and then it is a further 79.4 kilometers to Haast township which is located on the west coast.
There is a reasonable hill to climb just out of Lake Hawea and from Makaroa you climb up the Haast mountain pass into Mount Aspiring National Park which reaches a height of 564m at the summit. The reward as well as the stunning scenery is a long downhill into the Haast township. This ride takes you through some great country and there are many highlights including the ride alongside the Clutha river into Wanaka.

Lake Hawea

Great country to ride through

Surprise it is wet on the west coast

Great Downhill Ride into Haast