Category: Uncategorized
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Day 27 Hari Hari to Franz Joseph

Stayed at Franz Joseph as rain is forecast and it’s a better place to hole up in than Fox Township according to local we asked, plus it’s before a series of hills over to Fox! Then a day at the Top 10 holiday camp in the rain , full mod cons with a cabin.
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Day 26 Hokitika to Hari Hari

Quite flat day along the east coast trail to The pub at Hari Hari , which was mostly empty/ under refurbishment , as if it’s been saved from dereliction. Pub meal and beers again , easy day?
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Day 25 Kumara to Hokitika

Stunning yet quite easy riding along the West Coast trail up to Cowboys Paradise and back to to Hokitika, a really cool , slightly touristy place looking out to the Tasman sea. The ride is through native woodland , a bit like the timber trail, and then down along old water channels back to the…
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Day 24 Ikamatua to Kumara

Out of the mountains now, down to the coast at Greymouth along back roads, then the west coast cycle trail to Kumara. Starting to get decent mileage in now! Great to see the wild Tasman Coast , just like a film location: long shingle beaches full of driftwood and roaring surf. Lovely camp at Kumara…
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Day 23 Maruia to Ikamatua

Pleasant and fast road cycle over the gradual saddle to Reefton , which is a cute olde worlde sort of place. Decided to bypass the Big River mountain bike section of the TA there, due to reports of trees blocking the way and tbh had had enough of short hike a bike sections, and this…
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Day 22 Murchison to Maruia, close to Springs Junction

Gorgeous gravel riding up a long valley to then over the Maruia pass . Gets close to the hills of the central spine of the island here, and the rivers are tremendous – blue , coursing through wide sweeping valleys. Stayed at a great little motel with a small cafe , not a lot of…
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Day 21 Tapawera to Murchison

Long and varied day through beautiful rolling valleys , to Rotarua lake ( the Nelson one, not the famous North Island one!!) And then over a pleasant gravel pass and down to Murchison. The lake was great , but the area was terrible for bees and sand flies, uurgh ! Met a friendly and chirpy…
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Day 20 Kaiteriteri to Tapawera

Instead of the great taste trail, which goes from Kaiteriteri to Tapawera , where it joins the TA , we went cross country to Upper Moutere and Dovedale on quiet roads through fruit farms , vineyards and hops farms. Gorgeous. Stopped at a great restaurant, Moutere Hills, for a rare posh lunch. Weird campsite at…
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Day 19 Nelson to Kaiteriteri

After a day off seeing friends in Nelson, took a detour to Abel Tasman via the great taste trail. This is a great alternative to the TA just here as it rejoins it further down, just adds a day. We then had a day on a boat/ bike trip before carrying on. Met a few…
