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 MTBs. The Akatrax MTB club manages an area of hillside just outside of the Akaroa township, so after checking the rides on Trailforks, we packed up lunch and water in the van and set off on the twisty road to Akaroa. The park has a wide range of mountain bike trails catering for most ages and abilities, but riders must register on their website and pay a NZ$20 entrance fee for the day. We had no hesitation in paying for this and once we'd ridden many of the trails, were delighted to have contributed to their upkeep. Not only are the trails well set up and maintained, but the views from the top of the hillside sweep across the harbour and, on a day such as that, are stunning. Lunch on the edge of the harbour, then back to the campsite for an afternoon of books and tea, made a perfect day.