Alps to Ocean - Lake Ohau Return
Once again, the day broke with scattered, light clouds and the promise of building heat through the day. Hardly able to contain our excitement for the day ahead, we took a quick breakfast at the campsite. Loading up on protein bars, lunch and plenty of water, we set off for the return ride to Lake O...
Alps To Ocean Day 1
From the website https://www.alps2ocean.com/ "The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is the longest of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand serving up epic vistas from Aoraki Mount Cook to arty Ōamaru beside the Pacific Ocean. One of New Zealand’s truly Great Rides; is the crème de la crème of multi...
Akatrax MTB
Te Ika-a-Maui / North Island of Aotearoa was being battered by Cyclone Gabriel but, here, down on the Banks Peninsula on Te Waipounamu / South Island we only experienced the outer edges of the massive storm. After a couple of days of rain, the skies were blue again, allowing us to get out on the MTB...
Across the Southern Alps to Rakaia Gorge
We needed a rest. The Wilderness Trail (260km and 2000 metres of climbing) over five straight days, had left us a bit tired. Mentally we'd checked out at the end of the ride as the next seven days were to be spent in luxury at the Mt Hutt Lodge in a friend's timeshare apartment. Having said that, we...
West Coast Wilderness Trail - Day 5 - Hokitika to Ross Return (Trail Completed)
The day breaks cloudless, so unusual for the West Coast of Te Waipounamu to have a continuous dry spell with high temps - but we were revelling in it. Anticipation over coffee for another exciting return ride to complete the trail. We'd met quite a few riders who, like us, rode daily sections each w...
West Coast Wilderness Trail - Day 4 - Lake Kaniere to Hokitika Return
Slight rain overnight, but we woke to a fine morning of high clouds and little wind. Up before the powerboats, we were able to enjoy coffee amongst the birdsong. Anticipating less aggressive hills for the return ride today, I lingered for a second cup, as my mind told my legs to be quiet and enjoy t...
36km Loop Ride
We know the area between Raikia Gorge and the Hakatere Conservation Park (west of Mount Somers) well as the family has owned a bach at Lake Clearwater for many years. We were looking for a tough ride that took us out of our comfort zone and into the hills. After some research on various FB groups, w...
Lake Coleridge Return
A day of showers, so we headed out to Lake Coleridge for a look. The clouds parted, showing the stunning beauty of the lake. The last time we were here a northerly wind was blowing a gale creating whitecaps on the lake and waves breaking high over the concrete power station inlet. Today the wind was...
Methven Return Bike Ride
Taking advantage of the glorious morning sunshine, I cycled to Methven and back for a look. The village calls itself "Mount Hutt Village", thus aligning itself with the popular ski field of Mt Hutt which is close by. The township does have an alpine feel with many houses built in an A-Frame shape an...
West Coast Wilderness Trail - Day 3 - Lake Kaniere to Kawhaka Pass Return
Again the rain stayed away and the West Coast of Te Waipounamu put on another Blue Sky day. We packed up the van and drove to Hokitika for supplies and a bit of sightseeing and then up the Lake Kaniere road to the DOC campsite at Hans Bay. Lake Kaniere is a glacial lake, nearly 200 m deep and surrou...
West Coast Wilderness Trail - Day 2
Despite the weather report calling for showers, the morning broke with a cloudless sky. After coffee, honey drink and low GI muesli we set off on the Wilderness trail. Heading almost immediately into thick native bush and with the chill air and beauty of early morning birdsong all was right with the...
Little River Cycle Trail
With the van build complete, we were ready to leave but then decided to test out our bikes on a 3 day trip to Little River campground on the Banks Peninsula. Always seeking the most scenic route we made the choice to take the Summit Road along the top of the Port Hills. A steep climb out of Lyttelto...
West Coast Wilderness Trail Day 1 - Kumara to Greymouth Return
Day 1 - We set off under cloudy skies but the forecast was for clearing weather and so it turned out to but, with a gusty, swirling wind that couldn't seem to make its mind up which way it wanted to blow. The West Coast Wilderness trail runs between Greymouth and Ross and is billed as "one of the co...
Planning for the West Coast Wildernes Trail
Realising we had a week to do a MTB Trail somewhere at the top of Te Waipounamu we took Lewis Pass across to Kumara so as to set ourselves up for the Wilderness Trail. Lewis Pass is the northernmost pass in the South Island and although not crossing the mountainous area of The Southern Alps it does...
Hanmer Springs - Mountain Bike Nirvana
With some reluctance we dragged ourselves (and the van of course) away from the beachfront paddock at Conway Flat. Before we upped sticks, Bruce, the owner, and approaching (I would guess) 80 years of age, regaled us with stories of his long involvement with the farm on which the campground sits. We...
Food & Art
After leaving Orton Bradley we had lunch and took a stroll to Stoddard Cottage "The birthplace of one of New Zealand’s foremost 19th century artists, Margaret Stoddart, the cottage is situated at Stoddart Point, Diamond Harbour.
Absolute Beachfront
After supplies in ChCh we headed north to a campsite that jumped out at us when we were planning our route north. From the web images and descriptions on the NZMCA app it looked like this farmer's paddock had exectly what we needed for a couple of nights. Such was the beauty of the location and the...
First Two Nights Away
We decided to take a couple of nights away not too far from our home base to test gear and layout. There are many beautiful camping locations on The Banks Penninsular including a family favourite at Orton Bradley Park. It was a wise move as we navigated around each other (with no too many raised voi...
Lyttelton - Time to Get Our Shit Together & Head Off !
Our home base at the moment is the historic port of Lyttelton on the east coast of Aotearoa's (New Zealand) Te Waipounamu (South Island). The port has a Maori history going back several hundred years. Three successive phases of Maori tribe settlement took place on the peninsula. Waitaha were the fir...